News In Brief

Israel plans to keep hitting guerrilla bases in Lebanon

Israel said Wednesday it would continue striking at guerrilla bases in Lebanon following the evacuation of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and forces loyal to him.

Briefing parliament within minutes of an Israeli air strike against a Shite militia camp in Syrian-controlled Lebanese terrain, Defense Minister Moshe Arens vowed there would be no slackening in the government campaign. His statement underlined that the Syrian-backed rebels would now bear the brunt of Israel's longstanding policy of hitting the guerrillas whenever it chose.

The Israeli jets struck the Sheikh Abdullah Barracks near Baalbek.

Meanwhile in Beirut, at least 14 people, including a French soldier, were killed Wednesday in bomb explosions at a hotel and outside the main base of the French contingent to the Beirut multinational peacekeeping force.