French Army HQ and Italian munitions depot in Beirut hit by rockets; 4-8 French Super Etendard jet fighters, based on French carrier Foch, attack PSP and Syrian gun...
2 US warships engage in first direct military support of LAF, bombard PSP positions near Souq al-Gharb with 350+ rounds of 5-inch shells (heaviest naval bombardment since...
US warships respond to shelling in area of US Ambassador's residence and Defense Ministry, where US advisers are based, fire an estimated 60 rounds from 5-inch guns,...
1500 men in 2 LAF battalions open broad offensive along ridge between Souq al-Gharb and Bais- sour, make some advances; Lebanese Air Force enters combat for first time...
Relatively light exchanges of artillery and machine gun fire between LAF units and PSP militia at Souq al-Gharb and Khaldeh; IDF position 8 mi. east of Tyre attacked with...
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Military Action;
French Army HQ and Italian munitions depot in Beirut hit by rockets; 4-8 French Super Etendard jet fighters, based on French carrier Foch, attack PSP and Syrian gun emplacements near Sofar, Dour Choueir and elsewhere, first combat use of airpower by MNF; rockets hit Lebanese Air Force base at Jubeil, LAF positions at Khalden; battle for Souq al-Gharb continues.
Casualties:
4 French soldiers wounded in HQ shelling, 2 others wounded by grenade thrown at truck, French casualties now total 50 wounded, 16 killed; Italian MNF munitions depot destroyed.
Political Responses:
Palestinians/ Lebanese: 600-2000 Druze civilians demonstrate in Beirut against US support for LAF and LF, march to temporary US Embassy, present letter to US official.
US and Other Countries: House Foreign Affairs Committee by 30-6 vote approves compromise formula to allow deployment of US troops in Lebanon for additional 18 months.
Military Action:
2 US warships engage in first direct military support of LAF, bombard PSP positions near Souq al-Gharb with 350+ rounds of 5-inch shells (heaviest naval bombardment since Vietnam war) after militiamen penetrate Souq al-Gharb defenses, capture 3 strategic hilltops; PSP says it downed Lebanese Air Force fighter-bomber; air Force attacks, damages anti-aircraft batteries near Batroun, north of Beirut; artillery barrages hit East Beirut; 24 hour curfew imposed in Beirut's southern suburbs; bomb damages IDF convoy near Nabatieh.
Casualties:
Heavy but unspecified casual- ties reported on both sides of Souq al- Gharb battle, including casualties from naval bombardment; 5 IDF soldiers wounded near Nabatieh.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Druze citizens of Israel demonstrate outside US Embassy in Tel Aviv to protest US military support for LAF.
US and Other Countries: US officials say use of naval gunfire at Souq al-Gharb (when no direct threat to US personnel existed), is necessary because successfui LAF defense of the area is vital to safety of US personnel, and loss of the position could undermine stability of Gemayel government; French Foreign Minister says US shelling is not best way to solve Lebanese crisis.
Military Action:
US warships respond to shelling in area of US Ambassador's residence and Defense Ministry, where US advisers are based, fire an estimated 60 rounds from 5-inch guns, targets reportedly are artillery positions in Chouf; fighting continues between LAF and PSP forces along Souq al-Gharb Baissour ridge, hand-to-hand combat reported in Kaifun; Lebanese Air Force renews attacks on artillery positions; 3 British aircraft carriers head for eastern Mediterranean.
Casualties:
PSP reports 15 militiamen, 45 LAF soldiers killed.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: 4 Palestinians wounded by grenade thrown into Hebron market shop.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Abu Nasser, commander of September Martyr's Battalion, says 500 anti-Arafat men are fighting with PSP and Amal militias against LAF; PSP spokesman says 150 Palestinians were in Aley but are not longer involved in battles.
Arab Governments: Syria says it will retaliate if areas it controls in Lebanon are attacked by US Marine or Navy units supporting LAF.
Military Action:
1500 men in 2 LAF battalions open broad offensive along ridge between Souq al-Gharb and Bais- sour, make some advances; Lebanese Air Force enters combat for first time since 1976, 5 Hunter Hawkers attack PSP and Palestinian positions; heavy shelling hits Beirut hillsides, neighborhoods in East and West Beirut; shells land in Marine compound at airport, and near British Embassy.
Casualties:
LAF losses are 2 killed, 11 wounded; 1 Lebanese plane downed, another damaged; 9 PSP T-54 tanks destroyed.
Political Responses:
Palestinians/Lebanese: Arafat retums to Lebanon for first time since June, is warmly received at Baddawi refugee camp near Tripoli.
US and Other Countries: Reagan administration says efforts by Congres- sional Democrats to invoke War Powers Act may endanger US forces.
Military Action:
Relatively light exchanges of artillery and machine gun fire between LAF units and PSP militia at Souq al-Gharb and Khaldeh; IDF position 8 mi. east of Tyre attacked with bazookas; Lebanese Air Force planes overfly PSP positions in Chouf; Israeli jets fly reconnaissance mission over Beirut.
Casualties:
2 French soldiers wounded by hand-grenade thrown by passing motorcyclists, total French casualties are 15 killed, 42 wounded in past year; 1 IDF soldier killed, 7 wounded near Tyre.
Political Responses:
Israeli/ Occupied Territories: Begin submits formal resignation as prime minister.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Cease-fire discussions, mediated by McFarlane and Prince Bandar, continue in Damascus, Beirut and Cyprus.
US and Other Countries: Senate Democrats introduce resolution requiring Reagan to acknowledge that US troops are engaged in hostilities, thereby invoking need for Congressional approval under War Powers Act to keep Marines in Lebanon longer than 60-90 days.
