18 Guerrillas in Security Zone Slain, Israel Says

Muslim guerrillas clashed with Israeli troops and militiamen Saturday inside Israel’s “security zone” in southern Lebanon, and both sides claimed they inflicted heavy casualties.

Israel said it killed 18 guerrillas and suffered only four wounded, but the guerrillas said they captured an Israeli post, killing between 30 and 40 Israeli soldiers.

U.N. sources in southern Lebanon confirmed several guerrilla attacks and said Israeli troops and units from the South Lebanon Army, its surrogate army, responded with a heavy barrage of fire.

In Tel Aviv, a spokesman for the Israeli Defense Forces said guerrillas of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah (Party of God) movement attacked two positions at 4 a.m. inside the three-to-nine-mile deep security zone that Israel has maintained in southern Lebanon since withdrawing the bulk of its troops from a 1982 invasion.

Manned by SLA Militia

He said the positions north of the village of Qantarah, five miles west of the border, were manned by the South Lebanon Army militia--trained, financed and equipped by Israel as its surrogate force in Lebanon.

“The terrorist attack was frustrated by an SLA force and IDF force. The forces pursued the retreating terrorists to the border of the security zone. Eighteen slain terrorists were found,” the army said.

The military spokesman said four Israeli soldiers were slightly wounded by ricochets, but two were back with their units by Saturday afternoon.

He said that while at least 18 guerrillas were killed, “Signs were also found (that) the terrorists had additional casualties.” He did not elaborate but said large quantities of personal weapons, ammunition and rocket-propelled grenade launchers were discovered.

Claims 30 Israelis Killed

The Islamic Resistance, a coalition of Shia Muslim fundamentalist groups, said it captured an Israeli post, killing between 30 and 40 Israelis, wounding others and destroying three Mirkava tanks.

It said Israeli helicopter gunships were met by “a hail of anti-aircraft fire” and were powerless to beat back the attacks.

Israeli officials have reported a recent surge in guerrilla attacks against Israel and its mainly Christian allies in southern Lebanon. Last week, two Israeli soldiers were killed and two wounded when their army convoy was attacked near Qantarah.

In another incident, a resident of Marjayoun in southern Lebanon was killed when a rocket slammed into the Christian village, Israel radio reported.

The radio quoted security sources as saying that guerrillas have been trying to disrupt Easter celebrations in Christian villages in southern Lebanon during the past week.