U.S. warships in Gulf halt but do not board 2 Iraqi cargo vessels in 1st test of naval blockade; allow vessels to sail on after ascertaining ships carried no cargo [NYT 8/18].
IDF, claiming PLO breaches cease-fire, attacks Palestinian neighborhoods, artillery positions in West Beirut by land, sea, air (hour-long air strike hits Ramlet el-Baida,...
IDF jets attack West Beirut at 10 AM, on day 50 of invasion, hitting same targets as day before, following night-long artillery duels between IDF and PLO (first evening...
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U.S. warships in Gulf halt but do not board 2 Iraqi cargo vessels in 1st test of naval blockade; allow vessels to sail on after ascertaining ships carried no cargo [NYT 8/18].
State Dep't reports Iraqi officials have moved 35 Americans from Baghdad hotel to another hotel where communications with U.S. diplomats have been cut off [NYT 8/18].
1,000 Iranian prisoners, held by Iraq since Iraq-Iran war, are released under supervision of Red Cross [INA 8/17 in FBIS 8/17].
Citizen's Rights Movement MK Yossi Sarid, who supports Palestinian state in O.T., writes in HaAretz: "If it is permissible to support Saddam Hussein, who murdered tens of thousands of 'opponents of the regime' . . . perhaps it is not so terrible to back the policies of Shamir, Sharon, and Rabin. In comparison with Saddam Hussein's crimes, the Israeli government's sins are as white as the driven snow" [MEM 8/17; WP 9/1].
Israeli Pres. Chaim Herzog, speaking on Israeli radio, charges that the world has overfocused on Arab-Israeli conflict, and lost sight of more dangerous issues in the Middle East; he blames media for ignoring "bloodshed in the Arab world" [MEM 8/17].
PLO's Salah Khalaf says in interview that PLO is not pro-Iraqi, but pro-Arab, and seeks an Arab solution to the problem [MEM 8/17].
Israeli troops shoot dead 2 guerrillas in Israel's self-declared "security zone" in S. Lebanon [MET 8/28].
Military Action:
IDF, claiming PLO breaches cease-fire, attacks Palestinian neighborhoods, artillery positions in West Beirut by land, sea, air (hour-long air strike hits Ramlet el-Baida, Sabra, Lailake, Shatila, Burj al-Barajneh, Verdun Street, stadium, race track areas; bombardment follows rocket, artillery duels between IDF and PLO; fighting shatters growing optimism as trucks collect garbage for first time in ten days, hundreds of cars seek to enter West Beirut); Habib arranges new cease-fire for 9 PM.
Casualties:
Heavy casualties from IDF bombardment of W. Beirut; IDF blockade of all water and electricity into West Beirut continues for fifth day (risk of typhoid/ paratyphoid epidemic rising; all main West Beirut reservoirs dry; private wells becoming depleted, increasingly unpotable); huge fires started in Palestinian neighborhoods; hospitals, experience critical shortages of food, water; two IDF soldiers reported wounded; IDF refuses to allow entry of $1 m. in US-provided medical supplies into West Beirut (after intervention of ICRC, supplies earmarked for AUB Hospital allowed in); IDF burns three vegetable-laden trucks near southern suburbs; Tyre still without electricity; PLO offers to compensate UNRWA for blockaded relief supplies PLO refuses to allow to be removed from Beirut.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin tells Knesset before bombing starts that IDF will step up military pressure on Beirut if PLO does not leave (claims Habib has failed to receive "unequivocal commitment" by PLO to withdraw, reportedly opposes proposal to keep IDF out of sight of Beirut-Damascus highway during any PLO retreat); IDF plan for storming West Beirut reportedly finalized; Begin postpones trip to Africa scheduled for Monday; Shamir dismisses Arab League statement, flies to Switzerland and the US.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: New PLO proposal for leaving Lebanon presented to Wazzan; Salam expects agreement between PLO and Lebanese government in "a week to 10 days"; Wazzan accuses IDF of picking political rather than military targets to press home its demands, threatens to suspend negotiations unless blockade ended; Camille Chamoun criticizes blockade as "cruel," "unjustifiable"; Butros returns from Arab League meeting in Saudi Arabia unoptimistic, reportedly rejects PLO proposed withdrawal timetable; PLO reportedly insists that only regular troops of the Palestine Liberation Army should leave.
Arab Governments: Egypt's Foreign Minister Ali meets with Reagan in Washington, seeks to link PLO withdrawal from Beirut with longterm solution to Palestinian problem; Iraq claims Iranian offensive crushed.
US and Other Countries: Reagan meets with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ali in Washington.
Military Action:
IDF jets attack West Beirut at 10 AM, on day 50 of invasion, hitting same targets as day before, following night-long artillery duels between IDF and PLO (first evening raids on Shatila, Sabra, Burj al-Barajneh camps complicate rescue efforts); only small arms fire reported in Bekaa as Syrians reposition troops, strengthen them; PLO mounts another ambush behind IDF lines in the Bekaa area (patrol hit; 8 IDF soldiers wounded, two vehicles destroyed); IDF forces in Lebanon variously estimated at 120,000.
Casualties:
WAFA reports 12 casualties today, 200 in last four days; IDF bomb hits fuel tank owned by air cargo carrier at airport; ICRC personnel visit Ansar detention camp.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Economy Minister Meridor warns Syria against introducing any new weapons into Lebanese fighting; Sharon reports to Knesset committee on Thursday operation; Shamir reportedly plans visit to US later in the week, Begin set to visit Zaire; Cabinet reportedly approves daily military pressure on Beirut; Israeli officials skeptical of Arafat statement to US Congressional delegation.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Negotiations stalled during Habib tour; PLO says statement it signed for US Congressman McCloskey represents restatement of longstanding positions.
Arab Governments: Habib meets Mubarak in Egypt, reportedly fails to get agreement to take PLO fighters; Habib flies to Rome for talks with Foreign Minister (reportedly plans to meet Hussein of Jordan in London); Egyptian foreign minister plans visit to the US; Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah meets with Assad in Damascus, as Khaddam meets Libyan envoy.
US and Other Countries: Rep. Paul McCloskey (D-CA), visiting Beirut as part of a Congressional delegation, claims Arafat signs document accepting all UN resolutions recognizing Israel's right to exist, urges US to open dialogue with PLO.
