Groups of Russian rocket experts have been arriving in Egypt recently along with considerable quantities of Russian anti-aircraft weapons and air-to-air missiles, the London Daily telegraph correspondent reported here today from Beirut.
He said that according to reliable Middle East sources, the rocket experts included men shifted from Cuba. The correspondent asserted that, following the announcement last Tuesday in Moscow of a new Russian agreement to provide aid to Egypt, it could be expected that the number and size of Russian rockets going to Egypt would increase.
He also reported that preliminary work had been started on sites in Egypt for medium-range missiles supplied by the Soviets. Cairo Radio reported yesterday that the new Russian-Egyptian agreement would “strengthen Egypt militarily and economically.” The correspondent declared that the development was a further setback for President Kennedy’s policy of regarding Egyptian President Nasser as Washington’s “chosen instrument” in the Middle East.
He reported that Egypt was known to already have four Russian-equipped launching sites while several squadrons of Russian MIG-21 Jet fighters have been equipped with air-to-air missiles serviced by Russian technicians. A Russian naval mission is training Egyptians in the use of Soviet-built Komar-class missile-launching ships, he added.
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.
