An uneasy quiet prevailed in south Lebanon today after a weekend of artillery and mortar duels between Palestinian terrorists and Christian forces commanded by Maj. Sood Hoddod. The exchanges of fire, described as the heaviest in months, followed preemptive Israeli ground and naval attacks on terrorist bases and other targets inside Lebanon
An alert was in effect in Upper Galilee today after a number of shells of undetermined origin exploded harmlessly yesterday in the area between Metullah and Kiryat Shemona, But life proceeded normally with formers tending their fields, workers at their jobs and children in school.
An army spokesman announced last Friday that Israeli units entered Lebanon the previous night in actions aimed specifically against terrorist targets. All Israeli forces returned safely to their bases. No details were given.
The operation was the second since the terrorist attack on Kibbutz Misgav Am last month, aimed at dislodging terrorists from their bases in order to prevent the organization of new assaults an Israel An Israeli patrol killed three terrorists last Wednesday night who were trying to cut through the security fence on the Israeli border.
SIX TERRORISTS KILLED
The terrorist radio in Lebanon reported Friday that Israeli naval units shelled the Tyre area while Israeli artillery shelled the Nabatiyeh area in south Lebanon. A Lebanese newspaper reported that six terrorists, members of the Syrian-backed Al Saiqa group, were killed while trying to dismantle a booby-trapped radio transmitter left an the Lebanese shore near Sidon, apparently by Israeli commandos. The explosion also demolished the terrorist command post, the report said.
Israeli sources denied terrorist reports that Israeli artillery look port in the shelling between Christians and Palestinians yesterday. According to the sources, the terrorists precipitated the battle on Friday by shelling villages in the Christian enclave. They rejected a cease-fire demand by Hoddod, at which point Christian artillery shelled Tyre and the Sidon area. The fighting continued through most of yesterday but diminished by evening. The terrorists reportedly use 160mm. artillery, 120mm, mortars and Katyusha rockets.
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