One man was killed, 12 injured and another is missing following an accidental explosion in an ammunition factory “somewhere in central Israel,” it was reported here. The 12 were hospitalized though not seriously injured. According to a report, the explosion occurred in a bunker of explosives. The precise location was not given for security purposes.
Two Israeli soldiers including a major, were killed Friday during several hours of sporading fighting at the Suez Canal. The clash started in the Qantara area, extended to the Firdan Bridge area opposite the Giradi Pass. Egyptians used tanks, mortars and artillery as well as machine guns in their attack, an Israeli military spokesman said. Artillery and small arms fire flared across the Suez Canal for seven hours Thursday an Israeli spokesman said. Six soldiers were injured. Egyptians fired artillery salvoes and small arms at Israeli forces near Qantara.
Two Israeli soldiers were killed Thursday in a surprise attack of Jordanian tanks and artillery in the Damiya Bridge area. Jordanian forces reportedly opened fire while the bridge was crowded with Arabs, and with Israeli and Jordanian inspectors nearby. Israeli and Jordanian forces took shelter while the Arabs fled in panic. Israel returned heavy fire and reported some hits.
Israeli jet fighter planes took to the air Thursday afternoon to intercept two MIG-21 fighter planes violating Israeli air space over the Golan Heights in the Kuneitra area and shot one down in a dogfight. The clash took place at a 12,000-foot altitude. One of the MIG-21s was hit and crashed almost immediately near the cease-fire line. The pilot was seen hailing out. The Israeli planes returned safely to their base.
Israeli military sources said there was strong evidence that Iraqi units stationed in Jordan were involved in the shelling of Jewish settlements and positions in the Jordan River area just north of the Dead Sea. Splinters of shells fired at Kallia settlement on the northern tip of the Dead Sea during shelling Wednesday and Wednesday night, were identified as 122 mm, guns–a type with which the Iraqi artillery is equipped.
Although it had been reported that a large part of the expeditionary force that Iraq has maintained on Jordanian territory had been withdrawn because of the Iraqi involvement with the rebellious Kurds, it would appear that a number of Iraqi units are still in position in Jordan and are participating in actions along the entire Jordan River front.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
