Continuous Israeli aerial bombardment has virtually destroyed Egyptian radar and missile sites in the Suez Canal zone, according to two British newspaper correspondents recognized as among the best informed persons on events in the Middle East.
Clare Hollingworth, writing in the Daily Telegraph, said that in November Israel began to systematically destroy SAM ground-to-air missile bases on the west shore of the Suez Canal. She said that reports from Algerian and Sudanese officers on the canal front suggested that the Israelis were “amazingly successful” in the way they knocked out base after base. The raids were followed by concerted attacks on Egyptian radar stations not only in the canal zone but on the Mediterranean coast west of Alexandria, Miss Hollingworth reported.
The Daily Mail’s Mideast correspondent, Christopher Dobson, said the attacks on the radar and missile bases “have been so heavy and so sustained and accurate that Egypt is now virtually defenseless against air attack.” Mr. Dobson said Egyptian fighters no longer challenge Israeli planes and Egyptian anti-aircraft gunners rarely score a hit. Mr. Dobson said “fear remains that the temptation to deal finally with Egypt will be too great for the eagles in the Israeli cabinet.”
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