Terrorist rockets exploded near Manera last night and Israeli artillery retaliated in a new flare-up along the Lebanese border which had been quiet for some time. The shooting followed a search-and-destroy mission by Israeli units who entered the Lebanese village of Mis-a-Djabel about a half mile inside the border to blow up a building used by terrorists and their collaborators. No Israeli casualties were reported and no damage was caused by the Katyusha rockets fired later at Manera which is some two miles from Mis-a-Djabel.
That hamlet, inhabited by about 2500 Arabs of the Methusalian sect, has been the target of several Israeli army strikes against terrorist bases. Informed sources said that Soviet-type bazookas have been fired at Israeli patrols in the vicinity and Israeli artillery has returned the fire.
Defense Minister Shimon Peres, who held an impromptu press conference at Kibbutz Hanita near the border today, said it was still unclear who controls southern Lebanon. He said Lebanese army regulars still have not returned to the positions they abandoned during the recent civil war in Lebanon but Palestinian units apparently have not taken over the positions. Peres said the main threat to peace is Syria which has increased its influence in Lebanon and is trying to turn that country into a confrontation state against Israel.
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