Israel Reports It Shot Down Three Egyptian Migs and Hit Missile Site Near Cairo

Israel claimed today that it shot down three Egyptian MIG-21 jets during a bombing raid on a ground-to-air missile base near Duhmeis in the Nile Delta about 75 miles north of Cairo. A military spokesman said the three MIGs were downed in a dogfight that erupted when a “large flight” of Egyptian planes rose to challenge the Israeli jets. He said all Israeli aircraft returned safely to base after completing their mission. The raid near Duhmeis began at 2:30 p.m. local time. At 11 a.m. another flight of Israeli jets blasted Sam missile sites at an Army camp 19 miles west of Cairo and returned safely to base. No Egyptian planes attempted to intervene in the earlier raid, a military spokesman said. An Egyptian military spokesman said eight Egyptian soldiers were wounded in the morning raid.

The three MIGs downed today brought to 71 the number of Egyptian warplanes reported shot down since the June, 1967 war. Israel has reported also shooting down 17 Syrian planes in that period and concedes the loss of 19 of its own. Egyptian jets attacked Israeli positions in the northern section of the Suez Canal zone today but caused no casualties. Mortars were fired from Lebanese territory at Zarilt settlement in Upper Galilee last night but caused no damage or casualties. Saboteurs attempted to infiltrate Kibbutz Hanita in Upper Galilee last night but were driven off by watchmen who opened fire. They left behind a quantity of explosives and other sabotage equipment.