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GV Israeli plane attacking, and firing off decoy flares for defence against missiles (2 shots)
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GV Bomb exploding on ground
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GV Israeli planes continue to attack, dropping more decoys
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GV Smoke rising from explosion on ground
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GV Israeli plane making defensive manoeuvres
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GV Bomb exploding and smoke rising
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Reuters said this was the first known instance of Sam-9 rockets being used in Lebanon. A radical commando group, the General Command faction of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP-GC), said its air defence system had "intercepted" the Israeli planes, which they said missed their targets.





Initials PM



EUROVISION SATELLITE TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INTRODUCTION: Israeli aircraft attacked Palestinian guerrilla bases in Lebanon on Wednesday (28 May), the day after the United States special envoy Mr. Philip Habib was recalled to Washington. Eyewitnesses said more than 10 Israeli planes launched a series of strike around the coastal township of Damour and nearby Na'Meh, about 24 kilometres (15 miles) south of Beirut. In Tel Aviv, an Israeli military spokesman said the planes had destroyed a Libyan-operated SAM-9 missile installation. Reuters news agency quoted foreign correspondents who had recently been in Damour as saying they had seen no signs of Libyan rockets or personnel there. Beirut Radio, which is run by the State, said at least 25 people were killed or injured in the air strike.

SYNOPSIS: The Israeli spokesman said the planes destroyed both a Libyan missile installation and a Palestinian base in the area after missile had been fired at the aircraft during a reconnaissance flight. The planes fired off decoy flares to attack heat-seeking missiles.

Israeli military correspondents say the Libyans installed the missile batteries near Damour last month (April). The correspondents have reported that Libya recently supplied the Palestinians with long-range cannon, medium-range artillery and ammunition.

The SAM-9 is a short-range weapon compared with the long-range SAM-6 missiles the Syrians installed in eastern Lebanon last month (April), triggering the latest crisis. United States officials in Washington said the Israeli strike could have been a psychological blow against a reportedly busier Libyan presence here.