- Title: LEBANON: GOLAN HEIGHTS FIGHTING CONTINUES - SYRIAN JET CRASHES IN LEBANON.
- Date: 7th October 1973
- Summary: 1. LV & GV Syrian/Israeli border seen from Lebanon showing smoke from exploding shell (2 shots) 0.14 2. SV U.N. vehicles. 0.19 3. GV and SV U.N. Observer looking across to Golan Heights (2 shots) 0.26 4. GV and GV PAN damage at border village (2 shots) 0.38 5. SV Bomb crater 0.42 6. GV PAN AND GV Lebanese/Israeli border. 0.53
- Embargoed: 22nd October 1973 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ISRAELI/LEBANESE BORDER AND BAR ELIAS (BEKKA VALLEY), LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Reuters ID: LVA5QV36AGO3CONADGEZ7CNG4SMF
- Story Text: After almost 36 hours of fighting in the new Arab Israeli war, an Israeli Army spokesman claimed on Sunday night (7 October) that heavy armour and artillery battles had continued throughout the day on the Golan Heights. He admitted that the Syrians had made some gains, but claimed that in most cases they had been forced back.
The spokesman said that the Syrians still held a position in the central sector of the area, that had formerly been held by Israeli since the 1967 war. But there too, they were under heavy pressure.
From Beirut in Lebanon, Palestinian Commandos claimed that they had occupied Israeli positions next to the Syrian front. As a result, they claimed they were in a position to threaten Israel's northern settlements.
The Palestinian News Agency stated that the guerrilla leader, Yasser Arafat was personally directing commando operations against Israeli troops. The Agency quoted a Commando spokesman as saying that the guerrillas were still fighting Israeli troops in the Argoub area of Southern Lebanon, and shelling several areas.
However, independent observers reported everything quiet on the Israel/Lebanon border, apart from the distant sound of artillery fire from the Golan Heights. One Lebanon village, was apparently hit by accident by Syrian jet fighters during Saturday (October 6) afternoon.
During Sunday afternoon, a Syrian MiG 21 fighter was shot down by Israeli fire, and it fell on the Lebanon side of the border. The Syrian pilot parachuted out and was lightly wounded.
SYNOPSIS: Villagers in the Southern tip of Lebanon have been able to look across their border with Israel and watch the battle for the Golan Heights. Heavy armour and artillery battles between Syria and Israeli forces continued throughout Sunday, watched anxiously by United Nation's Observers patrolling the fragile Lebanese cease-fire line. Israel said Syria had made some gains, but had been forced back.
On Saturday, shortly after the fighting began, one Lebanese border village was allegedly hit by Syrian jet fighters by accident. Some buildings were damaged, and a few people were slightly injured.
The villagers were lucky; it could have been worse. For most of the first thirty-six hours of fighting, independent observers in Lebanon reported the border quiet. But in Beirut, the Palestinian News Agency said that Palestinian commandos had occupied positions close to the Israeli front, and were a ???e to threaten Israel's northern settlements.
During Sunday afternoon, a Syrian MiG 21 fighter was shot down by an Israeli jet in an aerial battle over the Golan Heights. The Syrian plane crashed across the border in Lebanon. The pilot managed to bale out, and landed quite near, slightly injured. Some witnesses said the MiG was attacked while pursuing another Israeli plans. Observers say the pilot was immediately transported back to Syria. On Sunday night an Israeli Army spokesman said that the Syrians were still holding a position in the central part of the area. It had previously been held by Israel after the 1967 War. The spokesman said the position was under heavy Israeli pressure.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None