THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001000010039-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 18, 2006
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: July 18, 1966
• Content Type: IM

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PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
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18 July 1966
Several engagements have been reported in the
US/ARVN operation under way near the Demilitarized
Zone.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
US and South Vietnamese forces continue to encounter
Communist troops in northernmost Quang Tri Province
(Para. 1). Operation HAYNES, a border-surveillance
campaign in western Kontum Province, began yesterday
(Para. 2). An operation to clear Route 1A in Binh
Duong Province, Operation CEDAR RAPIDS, began on 17
July (Para. 3).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
The South Vietnamese Government plans to release
about 20 North Vietnamese prisoners for repatriation
on 20 July (Para. 1). Premier Ky may visit the Philip-
pines next month (Para. 2). The Viet Cong are plan-
ning to use terrorism to disrupt the September elec-
tion in Khanh Hoa Province (Para. 3). Recent reports
indicate that divisions within the Buddhist Institute
remain unresolved, and Institute policy toward the
government and the September elections remains unset-
tled (Para. 4).
III. Military Developments in North Vietnam:
MACV's latest figures on infiltration in 1966 (Para. 1).
Elements of the 324th NVA Division--numbering some
5,000 men--are accepted in Quang Tri Province (Paras. 2-4).
One of the captured North Vietnamese naval personnel
reports on sea infiltration (Paras. 5-8).
IV. Other Communist Military Developments: There
is nothing significant to report.
V. Communist Political Developments:
The Chinese reaction to Ho Chi Min
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recent speech appears unlikely to cause much joy in
Hanoi (Paras. 2-3).
VI. Other Major Aspects: Two days of rain have
reportedly cut one of the USSR/China rail lines that
carry some Soviet aid shipments to Vietnam (Para. 1).
18 July 1966
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1.,''Joint US - South Vietnamese Opera-
tion HASTINGS/LAM SON 289 is continuing near the DMZ
in northernmost Quang Tri Province with many platoon-
and company-size engagements reported throughout the
day. One of the South Vietnamese battalions.partic-
ipating in.the operation reported a heavy engage-
ment with an estimated battalion-size Communist
force. The friendly battalion was reinforced by
the South Vietnamese Black Panther Company, 11 tanks,
and a battalion of South Vietnamese Army troops. Pre-
liminary information for today's engagements indicate
five US Marines killed and five wounded and eight
South Vietnamese wounded with a total of 21 enemy
dead reported. Cumulative casualties for this oper-
ation, which began on 7 July, included 33 Americans
killed and 62 wounded with more than 150 Communists
killed.
2. In a continuation of the allied border sur-
veillance campaign in the high plateau region of
central South Vietnam, one battalion of the US 1st
Cavalry Division (Airmobile) began Operation HAYNES
yesterday in northern Kontum Province. The US force
will conduct reconnaissance operations against known
and suspected Communist infiltration and supply
routes. Two North Vietnamese Army regiments--the
24th and the 88th--with a total strength of 3,800
are reported to be in the area of this operation.
3. Two battalions of the US 1st Infantry Divi-
sion, in conjunction with a South Vietnamese Army
regiment, began search-and-destroy Operation CEDAR
RAPIDS in Binh Duong Province on 17 July, The area
of operation is along Route 1A north of Saigon, This
operation is designed to secure Route 1A to allow
the movement of supply convoys from Saigon to Phuod
Vinh.
18 July 1966
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4. Operation DECK HOUSE II, conducted along
the northern coast of northernmost Quang Tri Prov-
ince, ended today. The US Marine force engaged in
that operation will join other US forces now partic-
ipating.'in Operation HASTINGS. No significant
action was reported in DECK HOUSE II, but three
enemy snipers were killed. There were no American
casualties.
18 July 1966
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II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. The South Vietnamese Government is planning
to release about 20 North Vietnamese prisoners for
repatriation. The prisoners are being released as a
humanitarian gesture in deference to the 12th anni-
versary of the 1954 Geneva Accords. The prisoners,
all of whom apparently will have signed voluntary
repatriation agreements in advance, will be released
at the border between North and South Vietnam on 20
July, with International Red Cross representatives
probably witnessing the event. Thus far, North Viet-
namese press commentaries have been critical of the
forthcoming event, but have not indicated what type
of treatment will be afforded the repatriates.
Premier Ky Apparently to Visit the Philippines
2. According to the South Vietnamese ambassa-
dor in Manila, President Marcos today agreed to ex-
tend an invitation to Premier Ky for a three-day
visit to the Philippines beginning 10 August. No
further details of the proposed visit are yet avail-
able, although it may have been prompted by President
Marcos' recent signing of the Philippines' aid-to-
Vietnam bill.
VC Terrorist Plans
3. The Viet Cong are planning to use terrorism
to prevent or disrupt the September election for a
constitutional assembly in several districts of Khanh
e Viet ong are also planning to con-
an an selection campaign in Tay Ninh Province.
Buddhist Developments
4. Conversations yesterday and today between US
Embassy officials and Buddhist Institute representa-
tives indicate that policy and leadership problems
18 July 1966
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in the Institute remain unresolved. Moderate Insti-
tute chairman Tam Chau has been visiting monks
still under government detention in an effort to
regain influence among the Buddhists, but he appar-
ently has not been attending Institute council meet-
ings. Some eight or nine Buddhist monks still re-
main in government custody following the release of
about 60 monks on 15 July.
18 July 1966
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