COMMAND CAR AT ALMAGOR; WRECKED TRACTOR AT KIBBUTZ NINE MILES (15 KM) FROM AOMAGOR.




Initials PBS/V-S/BHH/EEH



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Background: ACTS OF SABOTAGE, WHICH ISRAEL HAS ALLEGED WERE COMMITTED BY SYRIAN INSURGENTS, WERE FOLLOWED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY AN ISRAELI AIR ATTACK ON SYRIAN ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT BEING USED TO DIVERT THE RIVER JORDAN.

THE SYRIAN ARMED FORCES GENERAL COMMAND HAS DENIED SYRIAN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENTS. THE ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF SABOTAGE OCCURRED DURING THE PAST THREE DAYS. TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND TWO OTHERS INJURED WHEN MINES EXPLODED NORTH OF THE SEA OF GALILEE.

IN ONE OF THE MINE EXPLOSIONS, AT ALMAGOR, A CIVILIAN WAS KILLED AND TWO SOLDIERS INJURED WHEN A MILITARY VEHICLES WAS WRECKED. ONE OF THE SOLDIERS LATER DIED.

IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, A BODY AGED FIFTEEN WAS INJURED WHEN THE TRACTOR HE WAS DRIVING WAS BLOWN UP.

TODAY, THERE WAS ANOTHER EXPLOSION WHICH WRECKED AN UNOCCUPIED HOUSE AT KFAR YUVAL IN THE FAR NORTH OF ISRAEL.

OFFICIALS OF THE ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY AND THE UNITED NATIONS CHIEF OBSERVER IN ISRAEL, GENERAL ODD BULL, TODAY CONFERRED ABOUT THE INCIDENTS.

TODAY'S ATTACK BY ISRAELI AIRCRAFT WAS DESCRIBED BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AS 'RETALIATION FOR FOUR GRAVE ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY SYRIA'. THREE WAVES OF ISRAELI PLANES TOOK PART IN THE ATTACK. A SYRIAN FIGHTER -- ONE OF FOUR THAT MET THE ISRAELI PLANES -- WAS SHOT DOWN.