Soviet Advisers and Technicians May Have Been Killed in Israeli Air Raids over Egypt

A State Department official said yesterday that it was “quite likely” that some Soviet technicians and advisers have been killed in Israeli air raids over Egypt. The official added, “We have no firm indication of how many casualties there might have been.” He said there was no indication that any of the casualties were Russian pilots shot down by Israeli aircraft. The State Department’s comment was prompted by persistent press reports that Russian personnel stationed in Egypt have suffered casualties, some fatal. But the reports have received no confirmation from Egyptian, Israeli or Russian sources. The State Department official indicated that the American assessment was based in part on the law of averages inasmuch as Moscow has been sending technicians, advisers and military personnel into Egypt since the June, 1967 Six-Day War.

Informed sources here said Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban warned the Nixon administration when he was here last week that Russia may be planning to force the re-opening of the Suez Canal under its own auspices. Mr. Eban was said to have based his warning on Israeli intelligence reports that the increased Soviet military activity in Egypt appears aimed at achieving aerial dominance over the waterway. In the Israeli view the Soviet strategy is to inch up to the canal cautiously and eventually to challenge Israeli air power forcing Israel to withdraw from the east bank of the canal.