Terrorists Shell Two Settlements, No Casualties; Firmer Action Against Terrorists May Be Taken, Isra

Tension continued to mount along the Israeli-Lebanese border as Arab terrorists once again shelled Israeli settlements from Lebanon early this morning. Katyusha rockets launched from Lebanese territory hit fields near Kfar Giladi and Misgav Am, two Israeli settlements in the northernmost finger of Israel in the upper Galilee. No casualties were reported. During the past few weeks, terrorists have carried out a series of raids on Israeli civilian areas either from Lebanese territory or from Israel itself after crossing the border from Lebanon.

Retaliating against the terrorists’ activities, Israeli soldiers attacked terrorist strongholds in Lebanon Monday night. It was the first raid into Lebanon in many months. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and one was wounded, and Israeli accounts indicated that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties.

This morning’s terrorist attack was the second since the Israeli raid, and Israeli sources indicated that firmer action than that incursion into Lebanon will now have to be taken to push the terrorists deeper into Lebanon. The sources said that while Lebanese authorities pretend to take action to prevent attacks against Israel from Lebanon, the Lebanese army allows free movement to terrorists.

Israelis said this morning’s terrorist attack was carried out from an area dense with populated villages–a site near the Lebanese village of Adeissa, northwest of Misgav Am–and where there are ample Lebanese army patrols. Yet the Israelis pointed out, the terrorists come and go unhampered. Meanwhile, a wanted terrorist who was apprehended by a security patrol in Gaza threw a hand grenade at the patrol in an attempt to escape. He was shot and killed. The grenade did not explode and there were no Israeli casualties.