S.A.M.s fired at jets

Press, 15 May 1981, Page 8

S.A.M.s fired at jets

NZPA-Reuter Chtaura Syria fired missiles against intruding aircraft over east Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley yesterday and some reports said an Israeli aircraft was shot down. Three missiles flew up into the clear blue sky, exploding in quick succession at 9.13 a.m. local time (7.13 p.m. NZT). Eye-witnesses were alerted by the explosion of the first missile; it seemed to come from a site on the western side of the valley near the town of Chtaura. Looking up into a clear sky this correspondent, and hundreds of other people, saw a bright red flash and trails of white smoke emanating from its centre. There was no sign of debris falling out of the sky from an aircraft that might have been the target of the missiles. But a small white object was clearly visible drifting slowly away from the midair site of ’the first explosion towards the snow-covered peak of Mount Hermon. Some observers suggested it might be a parachute carrying the pilot of the jet. Within seconds two more missiles were seen streaking across the sky from another missile site close to the Masnaa border, post on the eastern side of the valley. .These also exploded almost simultaneously at the exact spot where the first explosion was seen. The white object could be seen continuing to drift eastwards after the second explosion. Hundreds of people rushed into the streets and on to balconies for a grandstand view of the spectacular fireworks. The missiles sailed through the clear blue sky leaving a streak of vapour behind them. Then they exploded with a flash of bright red , flame and turned into a puff of greyish smoke. The three missiles were fired five hours after Israeli jets flew over the valley just before sunrise at high’ altitude on reconnaisance flights without drawing either missile or conventional anti-air-craft fire.