LEBANON: SCENES OF DESTRUCTION AS ISRAEL TROOPS WITHDRAW AFTER FOUR DAYS OF ACTION AGAINST GUERRILLA BASES.

Record ID: 400076

  • Title: LEBANON: SCENES OF DESTRUCTION AS ISRAEL TROOPS WITHDRAW AFTER FOUR DAYS OF ACTION AGAINST GUERRILLA BASES.
  • Date: 29th February 1972
  • Summary: 1. GV Wreckage of houses & vehicles (2 shots) 0.05 2. CU & SV Sign TILT DOWN TO wrecked building 0.14 3. SV & SV PAN Wrecked Landrovers(2 shots) 0.26 4. GV Smashed Windows & shelled wall ZOOM TO hole 0.34 5. SV More smashed windows 0.37 6. SV Rubble of houses 0.42 7. CU Man reading Israeli leaflet 0.46 8. GV Israeli j
  • Embargoed: 15th March 1972 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Rachaya Foukhar & Habbariya, Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA6QCF9C1WEYJ8ODW9YALPET7RB
  • Story Text: Lebanese troops and palestinian guerrillas began moving back into towns and villages in the mountainous Arqoub region of southeast Lebanon on Monday(28 February), soon after Israeli forces ended their four-day operation against guerrilla bases in the area. The Israeli attack has been condemned by the United Nations Security Council.

    As the Lebanese forces, accompanied by press and cameramen, entered the area, two Israeli jets flew low overhead, apparently reconnoitring the scenes of destruction in the villages and refuges camps.

    In the wake of the Israeli withdrawal, it was learnt that Israel has threatened further military action if the Lebanese Government does not curb guerrilla attacks on Israeli territory. In Cairo, it was reported that Egypt had appealed to Lebanon not to take reprisals against Palestinian commandos.

    Israeli Government sources claimed 50 guerrillas killed and 100 wounded in the four-day action.

    SYNOPSIS: In south-east Lebanon, officials and villagers are counting the cost of four days of Israeli military action in the mountainous region of Arqoub. The thrust followed Israeli reports of ambush and sabotage by Palestinian guerrillas operating across the border. And Israeli sources said their Government had warned Lebanon that it would take further military action if guerrilla activities were not curbed. Meanwhile, reports from Cairo said Egypt had appealed to Lebanon not to take reprisals against the Palestinian commandos.

    The Israelis left leaflets warning villagers against sheltering guerrillas. Hours after the Israeli forces withdrew, Israeli jets swooped over the area, apparently surveying the damage caused in the four-day action.

    As the lebanese army moved into the damaged towns and villages, crowds gathered around a knocked-out Lebanese tank, a victim of Israeli gunfire.

    Exact casualty figures are not yet known, but Israeli sources claimed at least 50 guerrillas killed and 100 wounded. Israel's own losses were put at 11 soldiers wounded.

    The fur days of fighting have left many homeless, and some villagers sought sanctuary away from the border area after collecting belongings. The Israeli action was condemned at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. And as villagers left, Lebanese troops moved in to secure the area.

    The guerrillas who'd withdrawn to the hills were also moving back into the towns.
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