The Israeli force encountered no opposition in the villages but was fired on from a Lebanese army post while on its way back to Israeli territory. There were no casualties. The Lebanese army position was shelled later by Israeli artillery. Reports from Lebanon said the Israeli raids caused no casualties among the Arab villagers.
PART OF PREVENTIVE ACTION
Last night’s operations were described here as part of Israel’s policy of preventive action against terrorists in southern Lebanon. The region had been relatively quiet for the past two weeks. But Israeli security sources had reason to expect a new flare up of terrorist activity on Jan. 1, the tenth anniversary of El Fatah. The day is known as “Fatah Day” and in past years has been marked by shooting across the border and attempts at infiltration.
The high state of alert of Israeli forces was credited for the swift interception and destruction of the three terrorist infiltrators last night only a short distance from the border. The men were wearing semi-military uniforms and carried Kalachnikof assault rifles and large quantities of ammunition.
Defense Minister Shimon Peres described last night’s operation as routine. He noted that the PLO observes many anniversaries during the year by mounting assaults on Israel “and Israel consequently steps up its state of alert.” He said, “We will continue to act as we have in the past — to hit the bases, and if they get into Israel, to deal with them here.”
Peres also warned the Lebanese government not to heed the advice of other Arab states to allow the use of its territory for incursions against Israel. “That will endanger Lebanon more than help it,” he said. The anniversaries on which the PLO and other terrorist groups launch attacks on Israel include Balfour Day, the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration; Nov. 29, the anniversary of the Palestine partition decision; and May 14, the day Israel’s independence was declared.
Lebanese television broadcast a Fatah Day message from PLO chief Yasir Arafat yesterday urging unity among all Arab factions in “the struggle for Palestine.” The plea was seen here as an indication that the gap is widening between the PLO and the various splinter terrorist groups.
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