Syrian planes fire 2 air-to-air missiles at Israeli jets on reconnaissance flight over northern Lebanon, no hits reported; Israelis deny Lebanese report that pilotless...
Fighting between Sunni and Shiite militias in Tripoli; Chouf region tense following more clashes, IDF surrounds Brih and Kfar Nabrakh to stop fighting; Phalange calls on...
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Military Action:
Christian suburbs north of Beirut fired on from Syrian-controlled mountains; Syrian Army position attacked in Tripoli; fighting continues in Chouf.
Casualties:
1 Syrian soldier wounded in Tripoli; dozens of marked and unmarked graves, used by IDF to bury bodies of Palestinians, Lebanese and Syrians killed in Lebanon, discovered in northern Galilee, IDF denies it is mass grave site.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin, citing personal reasons, postpones visit to Washington scheduled for July 26-29; leaders of Druze community in Israel ask government to remove Phalangist militia from Chouf before IDF withdraws, say they fear massacres.
US and Other Countries: Gemayel arrives in Washington for 3 days of official meetings.
Military Action:
Syrian planes fire 2 air-to-air missiles at Israeli jets on reconnaissance flight over northern Lebanon, no hits reported; Israelis deny Lebanese report that pilotless drone plane was shot down over Bekaa by SA-6 missiles, say that reconnaissance flights will continue; Phalange and Druze militias exchange fire south of Beirut.
Casualties:
1 IDF soldier killed, 14 injured when explosion damages troop bus in eastern Lebanon; Lebanese military prosecutor demands death penalty for pro-Iranian Lebanese Shiites charged with killing 6 Lebanese Army soldiers in March.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: MK Shulamit Aloni says over a period of years settlers in West Bank have committed many dozens of murders, assaulted and harassed Arabs, and committed hundreds of acts of vandalism all with backing of military government and former Defense Minister Sharon; Knesset votes 41-32 against motion calling for full parliamentary investigation of Jewish vigilantism in West Bank, Defense Minister Arens says only way of ameliorating legal situation in occupied territories is by applying Israeli law; police release suspect in grenade attack during February 10 Peace Now demonstration; Israeli Druze communities call for total strike to protest inability of IDF to halt Phalange-Druze battles in Lebanon; Arab local councils in Galilee and Triangle hold 2-hour strike to protest inclusion of Arab-owned land in jurisdiction of new Misgav regional council; Israel warns Syria not to play with fire after attack on Israeli jets; prototypes of Israeli-made missiles shown at International Aerospace show at Le Bourget, Israel Aircraft Industry spokesman says prototype of Lavi jet fighter will make first flight in February 1986; Israeli bus and car damaged by stones in West Bank; anti-Arab slogans written on walls near Bethlehem; security forces disperse residents of Hussan, in Bethlehem area, trying to stop Israeli surveyors.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fateh Central Committee, meeting in Damascus, cuts off food, fuel and pay to dissident PLO forces, estimated to number 150-500; Lebanese Foreign Minister meets ambassadors of 10 countries contributing to UNIFIL, would like troops to be deployed in Chouf region.
Arab Governments: North Yemen opposes Israeli-Lebanon agreement, calls for immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops.
US and Other Countries: All European Community members except Greece support Israeli-Lebanese troop withdrawal agreement.
Military Action:
Fighting between Sunni and Shiite militias in Tripoli; Chouf region tense following more clashes, IDF surrounds Brih and Kfar Nabrakh to stop fighting; Phalange calls on East Beirut residents to cooperate with Lebanese Army as it moves into center of East Beirut with support of French and Italian forces; US Marines postpone deployment into East Beirut; 6 Israeli Druze in IDF court-martialled for entering Lebanese Druze village without permission; Finland agrees to send 460-man battalion to replace Nepalese soldiers in UNIFIL in South Lebanon; grenade tossed at IDF vehicle in center of Sidon, following similar incidents along coastal road.
Casualties:
Estimates of 8 to 20 Lebanese killed, over 21 wounded in Chouf fighting; UPI reports death toll in Beirut massacre now estimated at 1,962; IDF concedes troops looted in Lebanon "in a number of isolated instances," but claims all looters were severely punished.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli foreign ministry official claims 2-3,000 PLO guerrillas have infiltrated into Bekaa since evacuation from Beirut in August, another 4-5,000 in camps around Tripoli; Shamir, in Knesset debate, defends Government policy in Lebanon against Labor Party attacks, says IDF will remain until "peace for Galilee" achieved, and berates Gemayel government for "negative tones"; aide Avi Dudai says Sharon personally gave order allowing Phalange to enter camp, in closed testimony before Commission of Inquiry; protests continue throughout Occupied Territories, leading to closure of Ramallah Teachers College; al-Fajr journalist Samaan Khoury gets one-year suspended sentence for possessing banned magazine; Jewish settlers hold emergency meeting to discuss growing attacks on settlers; Gush Emunim announces new yeshiva to be opened at site of Joseph's tomb in Nablus; Housing Minister David Levy announces plans for 5 more settlements on West Bank.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel meets with officials seeking to halt spread of fighting in Chouf; Wazzan says government has agreed on new measures to stop fighting.
Arab Governments: King Fahd visits King Hassan in Fez to discuss diplomatic campaign for peace settlement.
US and Other Countries: White House announces Begin to meet Reagan November 19 during "private" visit; Italian Prime Minister Spadolini, following meeting with Reagan in White House, says US and Italy exploring ways to increase presence in Lebanon.
