Soviet Sam-3 Anti-aircraft Missiles in Egypt Confirmed; Russian Troop Presence Reported

The delivery of large numbers of Soviet-made SAM-3 antiaircraft missiles to Egypt along with Soviet troops apparently to install and operate them, was confirmed today in reports reaching here from Cairo and other capitals. The deliveries took place during the past three weeks, as Israeli officials grew increasingly uneasy over the unexplained delay in the promised announcement of President Nixon’s decision on Israel’s request to buy more Phantom and Sky hawk jets. (In Jerusalem, Israeli diplomatic circles warned today that the operation of Soviet SAM-3 ground-to-air missiles in Egypt by Soviet personnel introduces a new element into the Middle East conflict which Washington should take heeds of when considering Israel’s request to buy more Phantom and Sky hawk Jets. The diplomats said the delivery of the sophisticated SAM missile systems to Egypt made it clear that there was no possibility of an arms embargo in the Mideast. The Israelis said the news of the SAM-3 deliveries was “disquieting” in light of reports from Washington that Israel would not be granted the right to buy more Phantoms and Sky hawks at this time. Officials here would neither confirm nor deny reports that Israel would receive massive financial aid from the U.S. in lieu of further aircraft. Foreign Ministry officials said they could not express views solely on the basis of press reports.)

(In New York, a United Nations spokesman said today that Secretary General U Thant has no official information regarding Soviet troops or SAM-3 missiles in Egypt. A spokesman for the British UN delegation said his delegation had no further knowledge of reports that the United States and the Soviet Union have reached an agreement on a Mideast arms embargo. He said Britain’s position remained in favor of an embargo or, failing that, a limitation on arms shipments to the Mideast. Concerning the Big Four talks, today at Lord Caradon’s residence, a British source said no new British initiative was contemplated at the session. He described the talks today–the 32nd meeting on the Mideast since last April–in the same terms as those held here Mar. 5 and 12–as intended for “a further thorough exploration of views on how best to proceed” with the possible resumption of Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring’s peace mission in the Mideast. At the same time, the United Nations special Mideast peace envoy, Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring, continued his meetings with the Big Four UN representatives.)

The Soviet SAM-3 missiles comprise a highly sophisticated anti-aircraft defense system to cope with Israeli low-level attacks that have virtually destroyed the SAM-2 missile sites previously installed in Egypt as well as Egyptian anti-aircraft guns and radar tracking stations. The SAM-2s are effective only against high altitude aircraft. The SAM-3s are reportedly being set up at the port city of Alexandria, at an air base west of Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt. According to reliable reports, some 1500 Russian troops have arrived in Egypt since the SAM-3 deliveries began. Russian soldiers have been reported driving missile carriers along the Alexandria-Cairo highway which has been periodically closed to foreigners and may be closed indefinitely.

SOVIET TROOP DEPLOYMENT TO EGYPT SEEN AS PRECUSOR TO DIRECT INTERVENTION

The deployment of Soviet troops in Egypt to operate that country’s air defense system was viewed by some observers here as a possible precusor to direct Soviet intervention in the fighting between Egypt and Israel. These observers reasoned that if Soviet personnel suffered casualties in Israeli attempts to knock out the SAM-3 sites, the Russians might feel compelled to send fighter squadrons to protect the missile launching pads. In such an event, aerial combat between the Israeli and Soviet air forces enters the realm of possibility. The latest reports of SAM-3 deliveries to Egypt confirmed a report earlier this week by Barrie Dunsmore, the American Broadcasting Company’s Rome Bureau chief. Mr. Dunsmore stressed that’ the SAM-3s were strictly defensive and said there were no signs that the Russian’s were sending the powerful supersonic MIG-23 fighter bombers to Egypt to counter Israel’s American-made F-4 Phantom jets.

But Israeli sources say the Soviets have supplied Egypt, Syria and Iraq with over three billion dollars worth of arms and military equipment during the last 30 months alone. They feel that U.S. hesitancy in supplying more Phantoms to Israel will worsen the situation by leading the Arabs to infer that Washington is wavering in its support of Israel. Israelis are not optimistic over the decision on the Phantoms now scheduled to be announced next Monday by Secretary of State William P. Rogers–rather than by President Nixon himself. They expect a general statement that the planes will be available to Israel whenever its aerial superiority over the Arabs appears to be in danger but no definite commitment. Israelis believe considerable psychological damage has already been done by President Nixon’s failure to honor his self-imposed deadline for announcing his decision on the Phantoms. The President said on Jan, 30 that his decision would be made in 30 days.

SOVIETS INDICATE ARABS WILL RECEIVE HELP IF ISRAEL GETS JETS FROM THE U.S.

In the opinion of Israeli diplomats the delay encouraged Moscow and the Arab states that their “hot-and-cold” tactics in the Middle East crisis were succeeding in driving a wedge between

Washington and Jerusalem. The Israelis say the Soviet Arab tactics consist of vaguely conciliatory gestures by Soviet Ambassador Jakob Malik at the Big Four talks and a “moderate” stance taken by President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt in interviews granted selected Western news media. But Nasser’s so-called moderation is never reflected in the Arab press. For example, in a New York Times interview on Feb. 15, Pres. Nasser said “…we accept the sovereignty of Israel, the right of Israel to live, the right of passage through waterways…” This statement, however, and other moderate statements in the New York Times, Le Monde of Paris, and the Los Angeles Times, was deleted from the Egyptian press and radio according to Israeli experts on the Middle East. Moscow meanwhile is engaged in an unprecedented campaign of anti-Israel vituperation at home coupled with repeated expressions of support for the Arabs, the Israelis say.

(The Soviet Journal Krasnaya Zvezda linked “Israeli provocations” with aid Jerusalem receives from the U.S. The writer, R. Vasilyev, claimed that “Israel is now waiting for President Nixon’s decision on the delivery of a new large consignment of Phantom and Sky hawk jets. Although this decision is somewhat delayed, Tel Aviv expressed confidence that it will be favorable…It is this support by Washington that accounts for the brazenness of the Israeli aggressors and hampers a settlement of the Middle East crisis.” The article claimed that American aid would bring Israel “only a temporary success and warned that “The Arab people do not stand alone, either. As long as the aggression continues, their friends will unceasingly give them the necessary support in strengthening their ability to safeguard their security and their just interests.” The article was summarized in the press digest distributed by the Soviet UN Mission in New York.)