Israeli says a Lebanon step threatens war of attrition

The Israeli chief of staff said Sunday the entry of LEbanese Army soldiers into southern Lebanese villages could allow Palestinian guerrillas to infiltrate the area and lead to a war of attrition between Israel and the guerrillas. Lt. Gen. Rafael Eitan's warning, in an interview with Israel Radio here, was the harshest of several issued by Israeli leaders in the past few days. The warning followed the deployment of Lebanese Army regulars in the Lebanon village of Kantara last week with the encouragement of Gen. William Callaghan, commander of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon.