Syrian troops stationed along the cease-fire line are under orders to assist Palestinian guerrillas operating against Israel, but only if they have written permission for their operations from the Defense Ministry in Damascus, an Israeli military spokesman disclosed today. He said this and other information was gleaned from the interrogation of 33 Syrian soldiers taken prisoner during Israel’s retaliatory armored thrust into Syria last Friday, The Syrians, all enlisted men, disclosed that they had been abandoned by their company commander who left just before the battle on the pretext of gathering more intelligence. They said that assistance to the guerrillas took the form of supplying provisions, information and covering fire. If Israeli opposition at one point seems too strong Syrian troops re-direct the guerrillas to other points along the cease-fire line. Nevertheless, Damascus maintains strict control over the guerrillas’ activities, the soldiers revealed. They also reported that Syrian military authorities are delaying the discharge of some conscripts due to be released from service. The Army announced the final tally of Syrian casualties and losses in last week’s fighting. According to a military spokesman, Syrian forces suffered 103 men killed, 131 wounded, 21 tanks burned out, 10 tanks damaged by direct hits, nine anti-tank guns and recoilless cannons destroyed along with 49 bunkers and shelters, three vehicles and 16 other structures.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
