Israeli forces opened fire last night across the Jordan River at marauders retreating to Jordanian bases in the second such incursion since King Hussein of Jordan pledged on Feb. 16 that his Government would bar use of Jordanian territory to anti-Israel terrorists. Five Arab terrorists were killed during the previous night in a clash with an Israeli patrol north of the Allenby Bridge near Jericho. No Israeli casualties were reported in either incursion.
The attack last night on the Masada kibbutz, southeast of the southern tip of Lake Tiberias, began with firing of 60-mm mortars. Several of the shells fell within the kibbutz housing perimeter. One exploded near an infants home where many babies were asleep. None did any significant damage. Watchmen later said they heard machine gun bursts from a distance aimed at the kibbutz area, but could not pinpoint the location.
In the Jericho incident, the patrol intercepted the terrorists on the west bank of the Jordan River about four miles north of the bridge, an army spokesman said. Two Russian-made assault guns. a Communist Chinese machine gun and explosives were found on the bodies of the slain intruders.
The intrusions confirmed a warning by Maj. Gen. Chaim Barlev. Israel’s Chief of Staff, who visited the Jordan and Beisan Valleys on Thursday to inform settlers that the Israeli army was taking all necessary steps to assure continuation of normal life in the affected settlements. He said then that the “current lull” in terrorist activities was deceptive because Israel could not accept King Hussein’s assurances that he would stop intrusions from Jordan.
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