Israeli forces assaulted terrorist hideouts in southern Lebanon again last night. It was the second attack in two nights on the so-called “Fatahland” region. An Israeli soldier was wounded by terrorist fire from a building in Shuba village. The building was blown up killing an unspecified number of terrorists inside, a military spokesman reported. Israeli forces also blew up four houses in Halta village used to shelter terrorists. The occupants were evacuated before the buildings were destroyed, the spokesman said. No other Israeli casualties were reported.
The Israeli actions, described as “combing” operations, are intended to destroy terrorist strongholds and restrict terrorist movements in the border region. During last night’s and Saturday night’s raids, roads culverts and bridges were destroyed by Israeli forces blocking communications between the three largest villages in “Fatahland.” As a result, the terrorists can reach their forward base at Shuba only by foot as vehicular movement has been blocked, at least for the time being.
The villages used by terrorists all lie below a 1500-foot ridge of Mt. Hermon known as Har Dov, which is patrolled by Israeli forces. A terrorist ambush of an Israeli half track on Har Dov Saturday morning in which four Israeli soldiers were wounded, touched off the latest series of Israeli counter-actions in southern Lebanon.
The recent incidents indicated a change of terrorist tactics. Instead of trying to infiltrate across the Israeli border, the terrorists now remain on Lebanese territory, firing Katyusha rockets at Israeli frontier villages and bazookas and small arms at Israeli border patrols and positions on Har Dov. The repeated attacks on the ridge were seen as an attempt to dislodge Israeli forces which have a commanding view of “Fatahland” and can easily spot terrorist movements.
It was reliably learned, meanwhile, that there has been no-evidence so far that Palestinian units under Syrian command have entered Lebanese territory. The Lebanese army, however, has become more active against Israeli forces. On several occasions, Lebanese artillery has shelled Israeli units combing terrorist centers in “Fatahland.”
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