Israelis Attack Guerrilla Sites in S. Lebanon

Israeli troops supported by helicopters Wednesday attacked guerrilla installations two miles north of an Israeli-designated security zone in south Lebanon, the army announced.

It was the first time in 10 months that the army has reported carrying out a ground operation beyond the buffer zone. Israel kept the six- to 10-mile security belt in south Lebanon after withdrawing the bulk of its troops in June, 1985.

All Israeli troops returned safely to their base, the army communique said.

A guerrilla group known as the Islamic Resistance Front said that its fighters shot down an Israeli helicopter with a SAM-7 ground-to-air missile. The army denied it.

The attack took place at Maidun. The area is patrolled by Christian militiamen from the South Lebanon Army backed by about 1,000 Israeli troops.

Base of Operations

Military officials said guerrillas used the village as a base for operations. The soldiers fired at guerrilla-occupied buildings and destroyed two vehicles, one carrying a heavy machine gun, said the officials, who demanded anonymity in keeping with military regulations.

The last previously announced Israeli operation north of the security zone was in February, when Israeli troops launched a big manhunt for two soldiers captured by the fundamentalist Shia Muslim organization Hezbollah. The soldiers are still missing.

Meanwhile, Shia Muslim militiamen in Lebanon continued their two-month-old battle in Beirut against Palestinian guerrillas inside two refugee camps.

Police sources in Beirut said nightlong clashes around the Chatilla and Borj el Brajne camps continued sporadically Wednesday. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Three people were killed and 12 wounded in similar battles Tuesday.