Persistent Syrian attacks on Israel’s northern border, climaxed by an incursion last night in which two Israeli settlers were killed, and an air battle today in which Israeli jets intercepted and shot down a Syrian Mig-15 plane over Lake Tiberias, spurred Israel today to make a formal request for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to take up the swiftly deteriorating border situation.
The Israel Cabinet met in emergency session this morning and decided to appeal to the Security Council, after hearing a report on the night incursion near Almagor, north of Lake Tiberias. The Cabinet was told that a group of Syrian soldiers crossed over into Israeli territory under cover of darkness and ambushed three youths on their way home from the fields on a tractor. The third Israeli youth escaped, unharmed.
An Israeli Army communique said that a number of Syrian Soviet-made Mig-17’s tried to cross over Israeli territory, and were intercepted by Israelis flying the French-made Mirages today. In a brief air clash which followed, the Syrians fled, but one plane was seen falling as parts of it disintegrated. On the ground, the area was generally quiet today except when Syrian gunners fired one burst from automatic weapons against Ashmura.
(Washington reports said a new armed clash on the Israel-Syrian frontier occurred today, in which Syria claimed heavy casualties had been inflicted on the Israelis, and that Israel armored forces took part.)
GOLDA MEIR CONFERS WITH U. N. TRUCE CHIEF; COMAY RETURNING TO N. Y.
Earlier in the day today, Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel’s Foreign Minister, conferred with Lt. Gen. Odd Bull, chief of staff of the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organization, who came to the Foreign Ministry at Mrs. Meir’s request. Ambassador Michael S. Comay, head of Israel’s Permanent Mission at the United Nations, interrupted a vacation in Israel, and left tonight for New York to attend the expected Security Council. The Israel Parliamentary Committee for Security and Foreign Affairs will hold an extraordinary meeting on the Syrian situation tomorrow.
Israel lodged a complaint with the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission over the incursion and killings last night, and UN observers began an investigation of the incident. That attack followed reports that Syrian artillery had been moved into villages along the Israel border and trained the guns on Israeli villages. Israel previously denied as “propaganda” Syrian charges that Israeli forces were being massed on the frontier.
Experts on Arab politics here indicated they felt that both Iraq and Syria view the arrival of an Iraqi military delegation in Damascus yesterday as a token of the armed support Iraq promised Syria in the event of a Syrian-Israeli clash. The head of the Iraqi military group in Damascus is Brig. Hardan Takriti, Iraqi Air Force commander. It was also learned that President Arif of Iraq was planning a visit to Cairo tomorrow. He will be accompanied by six Ministers and the Iraqi Chief of Staff.
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