On this day

November 5, 1983

Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from November 5, 1983

'WE'LL HIT BACK,' ISRAEL'S DEFENSE MINISTER VOWS

By David K. Shipler, Special To the New York Times

Israel reacted to the bombing of its headquarters in Tyre, Lebanon, today with a series of military steps and statements designed to regain a posture of determination and resolve. Defense Minister Moshe Arens indicated that retaliation might be taken beyond the two air strikes conducted against Palestinian factions near the Beirut-Damascus highway. ''We'll hit back against those who commit these criminal acts,'' he said on the army radio. ''We, of course, will investigate what happened, how it happened, what must be done in order to assure that this won't happen in the future.'' He ordered the appointment of a commission of investigation.

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JETS STRIKE PALESTINIAN SITES

By Terence Smith, Special To the New York Times

A truck loaded with explosives crashed through the entrance to an Israeli headquarters compound here today and detonated near the main building, killing at least 39 people and wounding 32. A few hours later, Israeli jets struck at Palestinian targets along the Beirut- Damascus Highway, knocking out a command post and a number of tanks and artillery pieces. Some reports said they also attacked Syrian positions.As many as 60 people were reported killed. (Page 8.)

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U.S. MAKES PUBLIC ARMS PACTS IT SAYS GRENADIANS MADE

By Philip Taubman, Special To the New York Times

The Reagan Administration made public today copies of what it said were five secret military cooperation agreements concluded by the former Government of Grenada with Cuba, the Soviet Union and North Korea. Administration officials said the documents called for the delivery of $37 million in military equipment to Grenada and the permanent basing of 27 Cuban military advisers there. Administration officials said the documents, which were found by American forces that invaded the island last week, supported President Reagan's assertion that Cuba and the Soviet Union were turning Grenada into a military bastion. 49 Russians Leave Grenada Early today the 126 occupants of the Soviet Embassy in Grenada, including 49 Soviet citizens, 53 Cubans and 15 North Koreans, were flown off the island and taken to Merida, Mexico. (Page 4.)

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U.S. AND ISRAELI INTERESTS

By Bernard Gwertzman, Special To the New York Times

News Analysis WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 - The suicide attacks on American, French and Israeli forces over the last 12 days have quickened Washington's determination to alter its policy in Lebanon by forging a closer strategic bond with the Israelis, American officials said today. They said they hoped to create such a bond now to take advantage of what they regard as a growing convergence of American interests with Israel's. By coincidence, Under Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger was in Israel winding up a mission aimed at reducing the misunderstandings and distrust of the last two years when the terrorist explosion occurred at an Israeli compound in Tyre. A goal of his trip was to persuade the new Prime Minister, Yitzhak Shamir, to make an early trip to Washington for discussions on how the two countries can collaborate in these tense times in Lebanon and the Middle East. A Major Shift for U.S. This represents a major shift in American thinking about Lebanon, a shift caused both by the diplomatic stalemate over the country's future and a major buildup of Syrian forces. Ever since Israel pulled its troops back from the Shuf Mountains against the advice of the American and Lebanese Governments in early September, the Administration has feared that the Syrians may be under the impression that they can force Israel and the United States out of Lebanon without making any concessions themselves.

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U.S. PRESSES SALVADOR TO ACT ON MEN TIED TO DEATH SQUADS

By Lydia Chavez, Special To the New York Times

The United States Embassy here is pressing the Government to take action against a number of army and security officers who are said to be ''highly suspected'' of involvement in assassination squads, according to high-ranking embassy officials. The officers said to be involved include the head of security for the Constituent Assembly, two provincial commanders and the directors of intelligence for two of the country's security forces. Hector Antonio Regalado, the head of security for the Constituent Assembly, is said to be the ''head of the thing,'' according to well-placed officials here. Many Thousands Killed Mr. Regalado is known as a close friend of Roberto d'Aubuisson, the president of the Assembly, and was hired by Mr. d'Aubuisson to direct security for the Assembly.

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of November 2, 1983, covering November 5, 1983.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Synchronicity by The Police

    Synchronicity

    The Police

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    19
  2. 2
    Album cover for Thriller by Michael Jackson

    Thriller

    Michael Jackson

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    46
  3. 3
    Album cover for Metal Health by Quiet Riot

    Metal Health

    Quiet Riot

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    3
    Weeks
    29
  4. 4
    Album cover for Faster Than The Speed Of Night by Bonnie Tyler

    Faster Than The Speed Of Night

    Bonnie Tyler

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    14
  5. 5
    Album cover for An Innocent Man by Billy Joel

    An Innocent Man

    Billy Joel

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    12

Notable Births

Alexa Chung

1983Alexa Chung, English model and television host[†]

Alexa Chung is an English model and television personality. Chung pursued a modelling career as a teenager after being scouted by a modelling agency at the Reading Festival. She has walked for brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney and Miu Miu, as well as being the face of Pepe Jeans, Lacoste, DKNY Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger and Longchamp.

Mike Hanke

1983Mike Hanke, German footballer[†]

Mike Hanke is a German former professional footballer who played the position of forward. He has been described as a player who "gives it his all in attack and is always dangerous in the opponent's penalty area."

Juan Morillo (baseball, born 1983)

1983Juan Morillo, Dominican baseball player[†]

Juan Bautista Morillo is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and Minnesota Twins, in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the EDA Rhinos.

Historical Events

Byford Dolphin

1983The Byford Dolphin diving bell accident kills five and leaves one severely injured.[†]

Byford Dolphin was a semi-submersible, column-stabilised drilling rig operated by Dolphin Drilling, a subsidiary of Fred Olsen Energy. Byford Dolphin was registered in Hamilton, Bermuda, and drilled seasonally for various companies in the British, Danish, and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea. In 2019, Dolphin scrapped the rig.

Historical Context for November 5, 1983

In 1983, the world population was approximately 4,697,327,573 people[†]