Sunday, August 7, 1983

Military Action:

Artillery and rocket duels spread to a dozen Chouf villages over Saturday night; IDF line across South Lebanon will consist of string of static forts, within eye contact of each other, supplemented by look-out posts, roadblocks, mobile patrols, and sophisticated electronic equipment.

Casualties:

Car bomb at entrance to fruit and vegetable market in Baalbek kills 33, injures 125, 15 buildings damaged or destroyed, Front for Liberation of Lebanon from Foreigners claims responsibility; demonstrations against continuing IDF occupation occur in dozens of villages in Sidon area; Lebanese security officials estimate that 400-500 people, mostly civilians, have died in car bombings and other random violence since end of last summer's invasion; total IDF killed since June 1982 now 506.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: 7 more Birzeit students sentenced to prison for 18 months, one for 24 months for participating in July 27 demonstration; Arens meets six prominent Palestinians in Hebron.

Arab Governments: Assad has 6-hour meeting with McFarlane, Syrian position unchanged; McFarlane travels to Saudi Arabia.