Fighting continued today between Israel and Syria as Israeli forces fug in stop the snow covered peak of Mt. Hermon. The peak, which was under heavy Syrian artillery fire all day, was visited by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, who inspected the position and talked with the officers and men. Two Israeli soldiers were wounded while Dayan was there.
Dayan was told by the troops on Mt. Hermon, who are fighting in three feet of snow, that the thin air on the summit makes every physical effort difficult. But Israel has decided to keep its forces permanently on the peak because of Syria’s continued efforts to recapture it.
Reserve Maj. Gen. Chaim Herzog, Israel’s foremost military commentator, said he expected Syria to continue trying to retake the peak for political and strategic reasons. He said the Syrians wanted to be able to negotiate a separation of forces agreement from a position of strength. They would also like to retake the area because of its value as a high observation point overlooking wide areas of Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Israeli forces can now observe from the Mt. Hermon peak Syrian positions as far back as Damascus.
Meanwhile it was reported from Beirut that the Lebanese army has moved tanks, armored cars and personnel carriers into the southern areas bordering Israel in the wake of Israel’s raid last Friday.
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.
