TEL AVIV, Israel -- Maj. Gen. Yekutiel Adam, a former deputy chief of staff and one of Israel's chief military planners, was killed in a guerrilla ambush in Lebanon during the invasion he helped design. He was 55.
Adam, a native of Tel Aviv, returned from a study leave in the United States to participate in Operation 'Peace for the Galilee.' He died Thursday, the fifth day of fighting with Palestinians, in an ambush near the Lebanese coastal town of Tyre.
Former Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur told Israel Radio that Adam was personally involved in planning the invasion.
Gur called the slain general a fighting officer and an army scout of the first order, who loved life in the field, nature and the archeological treasures of Israel, the radio said.
Adam most recently headed the operations branch at the Israel Defense Forces' general headquarters. When he was passed over for the army's top job in 1978, he agreed to serve as deputy to Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rafael Eitan.
Adam's distinguished military career began in the pre-state Haganah defense force. He fought in all of Israel's campaigns, rising to rank of general as the southern commander shortly after the 1973 Middle East War.
Unconfirmed reports from Europe said he was slated to take over Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad, at the end of his study leave in the fall.
He is survived by his widow, a son and a daughter.
