The World - News from March 31, 1988

Militiamen of the Israeli-allied South Lebanon Army, backed by tanks and Israeli helicopter gunships, raided a Shia Muslim town in south Lebanon, killing seven people, wounding 15 and knocking down scores of houses, police reported. U.N. observers said the militiamen, backed by 12 Soviet-designed tanks that Israel captured from Arab armies, advanced to Kfar Roummane, just outside Israel’s self-proclaimed “security zone” in south Lebanon, and fought guerrillas of Hezbollah (Party of God). Police said five civilians and two Hezbollah fighters were killed as the militiamen made a house-to-house search before withdrawing.