More Scuds Hit Israel; 1 Dead

Iraq sent a fifth round of Scud missiles blasting into Israel today, and military sources said one person was killed and 40 were wounded as metal rained from the sky.

Several of the seven Iraqi rockets fired were shot down by U.S.-supplied Patriot missiles, the army said.

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a Patriot missile destroyed one Iraqi-launched Scud above the city tonight, but another Scud apparently impacted on the ground, apparently killing one person.

In Tel Aviv, Israeli military sources said one person was killed in the Scud attack, and army spokesman Nachman Shai said he knew of 40 wounded.

“Seven missiles were fired today, according to our estimation,” army chief Lt. Gen. Dan Shomron said.

“I suppose that most of the missiles were hit by the Patriots, but as we know fragments fell, in some cases the warhead fell. It’s hard to tell exactly what was damaged,” he told Israel television.

Most of the wounded suffered slight injuries, but it was not clear whether the wounds were caused by falling debris or by an exploding Scud warhead.

On Tuesday, a Patriot deflected but failed to destroy a Scud that slammed into Tel Aviv, killing three people and wounding 96.

Israel has so far bowed to U.S. pressure not to retaliate for the attacks, five in one week. Just before the latest attack, the army said the United States had sent more Patriot batteries to Israel but did not give numbers.

Earlier today, Foreign Minister David Levy said his German counterpart, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, has offered to send Israel some Patriots from Germany’s arsenal. Apparently no shipment was agreed on.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is apparently trying to widen the Persian Gulf War and splinter the Western-Arab alliance ranged against his occupation of Kuwait by goading Israel into retaliation.

“There is no doubt that we have the ability for quick and severe retaliation,” Shomron said.

“But as long as the civilian population can truly endure as it has until now--and I very much appreciate this ability--it will allow flexible decision-making at the political level between the urgent, immediate and painful and . . . what is important for the long term which will influence the whole Middle East.”