The State Department has condemned last Saturday’s overflight of the Sinai peninsula by two Soviet MIG-23s as a clear violation of the cease-fire. Observers here described this as the “most unequivocal” and “strongest” statement by the Department in recent months on cease-fire violations. A Department spokesman yesterday told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the overflight was “in clear violation of the cease-fire. We have repeatedly said that any violation of the cease-fire does not help reach a peaceful settlement.”
The MIG-23s, which are piloted only by Russians and are the world’s fastest and highest flying combat aircraft, traversed the Sinai on a roughly north-south course in less than three minutes at an altitude of 70,000 feet. They were able to photograph Israeli positions in both the Sinai and Israel proper. Israeli jets sent up to intercept them were unable to make contact. The overflights were believed to have had a two-fold purpose: reconnaissance and intimidation of Israel.
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