Shelling continues in Beirut's southern suburbs; PSP militia and LAF battle at Souq al-Gharb; Marine positions hit with small arms and artillery fire; shells fall near...
Heavy artillery, rocket and mortar exchanges continue overnight and throughout the day between LAF, PSP and Amal militias; bazookas, light arms fired at IDF HQ in Sidon,...
IDF reports that army engineering corps is building fortifications on 50 km. line along Awali river, constructing 40 km. of new roads, improving 50 km. of existing roads,...
IDF Chief of Staff confirms that first stage of pullback will be to Awali river; IDF plans to double number of village militias in South Lebanon from 50 to 100.
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Military Action:
Shelling continues in Beirut's southern suburbs; PSP militia and LAF battle at Souq al-Gharb; Marine positions hit with small arms and artillery fire; shells fall near Jounieh port, north of Beirut; British MNF patrol fired on in Beirut; US jets buzz Beirut; Baddawi camp comes under rocket and artillery fire as heavy fighting continues, Arafat forces establish positions in Tripoli, shells land in city; head of IDF-backed militia in Nabatiyeh assassinated, fifth attack on militia leaders in two months.
Casualties:
1 civilian killed, unspecified number wounded in shelling in and around Beirut; 1 Marine, 1 LAF soldier wounded; Beirut airport closed to incoming flights; police estimate at least 200 killed, 300 wounded in past 4 days of fighting around Tripoli; oil storage tanks hit again by rocket fire, severe fuel shortage in Beirut, Tripoli; IDF permits limited pedestrian and vehicle traffic across Awali bridges, tension high as thousands of stranded persons wait to cross.
Political Responses:
Israeli/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet approves $2 b. budget cut, new austerity measures, including higher costs for education, health care, economists predict recession, rise in unemployment from current 4%o to 7%o; rallies, strikes, and official expressions of support for Arafat in East Jerusalem, West Bank towns and refugee camps, 1 boy wounded by IDF fire at Dheisheh; IDF announces test mobilization of forces, says it is routine and not meant as threat to Syria.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Resumption of Geneva talks among factional leaders postponed until at least November 20.
Arab Governments: Saudi envoy travels to Damascus to intervene with Assad over Tripoli fighting; Jordan declares support for Arafat; Syrian army, including reservists, mobilized.
Military Action:
Heavy artillery, rocket and mortar exchanges continue overnight and throughout the day between LAF, PSP and Amal militias; bazookas, light arms fired at IDF HQ in Sidon, IDF position near Zahrani river; IDF closes Awali bridges for third consecutive day; Marines close off section of Corniche near British embassy in Beirut; at Tripoli, anti-Arafat forces move toward Baddawi camp, pro-Arafat forces attack positions on Mount Torbol.
Casualties:
3 LAF soldiers, 2 civilians killed, 1 LAF soldier injured; 1 IDF soldier wounded near Sidon; 20 killed, 100 wounded in Tripoli; 12 of 35 fuel storage tanks near Baddawi camp burning.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Government says Syria must have known about and given tacit support to Friday's bombing of Tyre IDF HQ.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Head of Islamic Unification Movement in Tripoli says his militia will fight with Arafat; Fateh Central Committee meets in Tunis, expels 10 rebel leaders.
Arab Governments: King Fahd, President Mubarak call on Assad to halt fighting in Tripoli; Egypt denies it is supplying arms to Arafat.
US and Other Countries: Eagleburger leaves Israel after week of meetings, Shamir and Arens to visit US later this month.
Casualties:
Beirut airport reopens, Saudi and Jordanian envoys reportedly mediate between Jumblatt and Gemayel.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF Chief of Staff Levy says no fence will be constructed along Awali line, amount of Lebanese farmland taken for new fortifications will be on very small scale.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Phalangist leaders welcome Arens on surprise visit to Beirut, where he inspects Lebanese Forces, lays wreath at martyr's grave, holds press conference; US Marine Corps commandant visits Beirut.
US and Other Countries: Details of classified State Dept. memo on Palestinians in Lebanon notes dramatic increase in threats to life, desire of government to evict up to 75% of 400,000.
Military Action:
IDF reports that army engineering corps is building fortifications on 50 km. line along Awali river, constructing 40 km. of new roads, improving 50 km. of existing roads, redeployment cost estimated at $30 m.; IDF statistics show 263 attacks against IDF positions and personnel during 1983, with 32 killed and 180 wounded.
Casualties:
Christians from villages near Kfar Falus hold sit-in demonstrations at Phalange barracks, block IDF removal of militiamen.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: McFarlane meets Shamir and Arens, who reportedly reject Lebanese request that Israel publish timetable for complete withdrawal of IDF; Druze IDF captain resigns from army to protest treatment of Lebanese Druze, will form group to support demand for IDF expulsion of Phalangists from Chouf.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Central Council meets in Tunis.
Military Action:
IDF Chief of Staff confirms that first stage of pullback will be to Awali river; IDF plans to double number of village militias in South Lebanon from 50 to 100.
Casualties:
IDF commander in Tyre says policy of large-scale detentions has proved its efficiency and will continue; Israeli High Court refuses POW status to Ansar prisoners, rules that Geneva Convention on treatment of populations in occupied territory does apply; curfew lifted on 2 South Lebanon villages.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens says restoration of Hebron Jewish quarter will be like that undertaken in Old City of Jerusalem after 1967.
