On this day 42 years ago, on November 17, 1983 (October 13, 1983 lunar calendar), French "Super-Flag" aircraft bombed the Bekaa Valley. On the afternoon of November 17, 1983, French "Super-Flag" aircraft carried out two bombings on the camps of the Iranian Volunteer Army and the Muslim "Amal" group east of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, killing at least 25 people and wounding 120 others. French Defense Ministry officials said the operation was carried out on the instructions of Defense Minister Ernie and the staff of the 3rd Army. According to reports, the French aircraft took off from the aircraft carrier "Clemenceau" anchored in the Mediterranean Sea for bombing. While two French aircraft carried out dive bombing, another 12 were on air alert nearby. At the same time, Israeli military aircraft flew over southern Lebanon. Israel welcomed the action by the French aircraft, which also bombed the Amal training camp south of Baalbek, killing 35 people and wounding 85. The deadly bombings in Beirut on October 23 killed 58 members of the French army in Lebanon. French President François Mitterrand said in a televised speech on the evening of Nov. 16 that "this crime will not go unpunished." On Nov. 17, White House press secretary Michael Spikes said, "We do exchange information among the multinational forces. We do exchange information and cooperate with France."