June 28, 1983

Military Action:

PLO rebels, supported by PFLP-GC and Saiqa fighters, launch series of attacks against loyalist positions along Beirut-Damascus highway toward Shtawra, taking 3 to 6 positions.

Casualties:

15 killed, 20 wounded among Fateh loyalists, commander of Yarmouk brigade reportedly captured by rebels; Lebanese police report total of 28 deaths in Beqaa fighting since Monday.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat travels to Algiers.

Arab Governments: Egypt's newly appointed ambassador to Israel says he will not take up residence there as long as Israeli troops remain in Lebanon without timetable for their withdrawal; Habib meets King Fahd in Riyadh, then travels to Cairo.