Rioting and demonstrations erupted throughout Syria today as mobs demanded that Israel be reduced by “fire and iron.” Over 10,000 persons demonstrated in Damascus shouting anti-Western and anti-Jewish slogans. Police took up positions in front of the American, British, French and Turkish embassies.
The Commander-in-Chief of the joint Syrian-Egyptian military forces said today both nations are now ready to “launch a war of liberation against Israel whenever public opinion of both countries demands it.” Egyptian General Abdel Hakim Amer said joint forces linked in a military pact against Israel now are sufficiently strong to defeat the Jewish State. Both armies would retaliate with force if Israel sought to challenge Egypt’s blockade of the Israel port of Elath, he announced.
Gen. Amer revealed Egypt is now producing training planes for its air force and that Egyptian factories will soon be turning out fighter planes, heavy arms and equipment. He said Egypt and Syria have already taken joint steps to check “any Israel aggression” against either country.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a communique stating: “In the view of the desire to consolidate and strengthen existing ties of friendship between the governments of Syria and the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics, it has been decided to raise the Syrian Legation in Moscow and the Soviet Legation in Damascus to Embassy level.”
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