Iraqi forces stationed in Jordan took part in yesterday’s artillery attack on Beisan Valley settlements, a military spokesman revealed today. He said shell fragments found in the settlements showed that they came from Russian-made 122-mm. field guns and 120-mm. mortars, weapons used by the Iraqi Army but not by the Jordanians who are equipped with British and American-made guns.
The disclosure followed a demand by Israel at the United Nations yesterday that the UN get an affirmation from the Baghdad Government of its acceptance of the 1967 cease fire agreement and a pledge that all Iraqi forces will observe it. Ambassador Yosef Tekoah, chief Israeli representative to the UN, noted in a letter to Secretary-General U Thant that Iraq was an active participant in the June, 1967 Arab-Israeli war but “has been evasive in respect of its acceptance of the cease fire.” He maintained that Iraq has based forces in Jordan close to the cease fire lines which have participated in breaches of the cease fire and have supported terrorist actions against Israel. Yesterday’s artillery duel across the Jordan started as a small arms skirmish, the military spokesman said. Iraqi artillery then opened fire but was silenced by Israeli return fire and air strikes, he said. A munitions dump-in Manshiyeh village was hit. There were no casualties reported on the Israeli side.
Two Israeli border policemen were injured today when their patrol was attacked near Ashdot Yaacov in the Beisan Valley. The fire was returned and the injured men were hospitalized.
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