- Title: EGYPT: ISRAELIS BOMBARD ISMAILIA DURING DAY LONG ARTILLERY DUEL ALONG SUEZ CANAL
- Date: 28th September 1967
- Summary: STREETS OF ISMAILIA; WRECKAGE; WRECKED BUS AND TRAIN; HOSPITAL; OPERATION IN PROGRESS; WOUNDED MAN IN BED. Initials JP/VS/MR Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th October 1967 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ISMAILIA, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Reuters ID: LVADW57N2DZMMXFEVMC1I4R3595J
- Story Text: Israeli forces pounded Ismailia with about 1,000 shells yesterday (Wednesday) in the bloodiest clash along the Suez Canal since the June war. Thirty-six Egyptians were killed and 85 wounded in Ismailia. The Israelis reported 14 dead - six Israelis and eight Egyptians - on the east bank of the Canal during the day-long fighting.
Foreign journalists who toured the town after the battle saw two-burned out passenger trains, which had been hit by incendiary shells. Nearby was a bullet-ridden bus. Local officials said five bodies had been dugout under the ruins of a coffee shop. Each side blamed the other for starting the fighting, which Israel said ended only after six United Nations attempts to impose a cease fire.
It was the third outbreak of fighting in a week. Israel said Egypt provoked the clashes by firing on two Israeli jeeps on the eastern side of the Suez Canal. The Egyptians said the Israelis opened fire from an armoured car and followed up by shelling Ismailia.
The Egyptians claimed that they wiped out an Israeli radar-station, a goods train and more than two dozen tanks during the battle.
Israeli forces pounded the Egyptian Suez Canal town of Ismailia with about 1,000 shells yesterday (Wednesday) in the bloodiest clash along the canal since the June war.
An artillery battle raged all day and at the end of the fighting there were many casualties. Thirty-six Egyptians were killed and another 85 were wounded in Ismailia. The Israelis reported that 14 died on their side of the canal - including eight Egyptians.
More than 20 houses were destroyed in the Egyptian town during the bombardment. Foreign journalists who toured Ismailia after the fighting found a bullet-ridden bus.
At the station were two burned out trains, which the Egyptians said had been hit by incendiary shells.....
Doctors and nurses worked far into the night to try and save the lives of the wounded. Local officials said five bodies had been dug out under the ruins of a coffee shop.......
Each side blamed the other for the fighting, which Israel said only ended after six United Nations attempts to impose a cease fire. It was the third outbreak of fighting in a week.
Israel said Egypt provoked the clashes by firing on two Israeli jeeps on the eastern side of the canal. But the Egyptian s said that the Israelis opened fire from an armoured car and followed up by shelling Ismailia. The Egyptians claimed that they wiped out an Israeli radar station, a goods train and more than two dozen tanks during the battle.
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