Egypt’s Air Force Aiding Sudan Government in Battle to Crush Southern Sudan Revolt

Two Sudanese rebel leaders charged today that the Egyptian Air Force was aiding the Khartoum government in its battle against the revolt in the southern Sudan. They said Egyptian aircraft were bombing and strafing. African guerrilla camps to soften them for Sudanese ground attacks, The rebel leaders were interviewed by an Israeli military networks correspondent in London. Their account was broadcast by the Israeli Military Broadcasting System, “Galei Zahal.” They said the Egyptians maintained an Air Force academy in Khartoum and an Air Force base outside of the city. The academy was turned over to Egypt by the Sudanese Government to protect it from expected Israeli air attacks and is now serving as Egyptian headquarters against the rebels. The rebel leaders said the Egyptian air activity in the Sudan was a rehearsal for future combat against Israel. Observers here noted that this is not the first time Egypt embarked on military adventures abroad. They recalled that five years ago a 50,000-man Egyptian army and Egyptian Air Force units were fighting in Yemen on the site of republican forces against the royalist government.