LEBANON: Bomb blast hist Shi'ite village and Israelis hunt guerrillas

Record ID: 357161

  • Title: LEBANON: Bomb blast hist Shi'ite village and Israelis hunt guerrillas
  • Date: 4th March 1985
  • Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (2-3 MARCH 1985) (VISNEWS): GV PAN Building SV & GV Wrecked car and bloodstains on road (3 shots) SV & CU INTERIORS Hospital with injured (5 shots)
  • Embargoed: 19th March 1985 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TYRE, MAARAKEH AND BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVABDSZR9BPLS9TTCNNRUNZMNWL
  • Story Text: Israeli troops pulling out of Southern Lebanon have maintained an "Iron Fist" policy in dealing with Shi'ite Moslem guerrillas. The normally busy city of Tyre has been under virtual siege for the past two weeks as Israeli troops mount their assaults against suspected Shi'ite guerrillas. One doctor accused the Israelis of snatching patients from hospitals in their drive to round up suspects. The Israeli cabinet confirmed on March 3 that it would go ahead with the second stage of its unilateral withdrawal from the territory it invaded in June, 1982. But the announcement has brought no respite from the guerrillas who have killed 10 Israeli soldiers since mid-January. For the past two weeks, the Israelis have been mounting almost daily assaults against Shi'ite villages. In their latest swoop, 800 troops, according to Lebanese security estimates, moved into the village of Maarekeh on March 4. Two days after their arrival there a massive car bomb ripped through the village's religious centre, killing 11 people and wounding 40 others. Security forces said the dead included Amal guerrilla leader Mohammed Saad. The 25-year-old leader was flown by helicopter to a United Nations hospital but died later of his wounds. Another leader, Khalil Jeradi, was reported to have been crushed to death under the rubble. Israeli has denied it was behind the planting of the bomb. The blast came the day after rival Moslem militia and the army in Beirut traded artillery fire, sending shells crashing into residential areas for two hours. There were no reports on casualties or damage to property.
    DG/BB
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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