The Department of Defense is skeptical of reports that MIG-23 jets have been delivered by Russia to Egypt, although it was deemed possible that a few of the advanced supersonic fighters had been flown to Cairo for propaganda and demonstration purposes.
Officials commented on a recent report from Morocco that the MIG-23 had arrived in Egypt. Known by the NATO code name. “Foxbat.” the MIG-23 is a twin jet multi-purpose fighter capable of attacking at speeds three times the speed of sound. Authorities said here that MIG-21s had been supplied in quantity to Egypt and that the flow of SU-7 ground attack fighters was increasing. The MIG-23 is still being tested by the Soviet Air Force. It has not yet been delivered in quantity to Russian squadrons. The MIG-21 remains in general use.
President Johnson today joined visiting Prime Minister Amir Abbas Hoveyda of Iran in pledging “all possible support” to efforts to bring about a United Nations settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute. A joint statement released by the White House said the two leaders “agreed that Iran and the United States should continue to give all possible support to the efforts of Ambassador Gunnar V. Jarring to bring about a just and lasting peace in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution of Nov. 22, 1967.”
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