State Department sources privately confirmed Friday that Syria is receiving shipments of arms from the Soviet Union although publicly the Department is saying it will neither confirm nor deny the reports. “Soviet shipments have been continuing and we are watching them.” the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was informed. The sources declined to discuss details.
Regarding reports that Syria has moved mortars and heavy artillery into the buffer zone on the Golan Heights, the U.S. sources observed that this is “a technical matter” involving caliber of guns and stationary tanks and that the Israelis are discussing the matter with the United Nations. The sources regard the Syrian activity as a minor matter.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.