NEW SOVIET MISSILES ARRIVE IN SYRIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000100530004-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 13, 2007
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: January 17, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2011/02/23: CIA-RDP88-01070R000100530004-3
RADIO TV REPORTS, I NC
PROGRAM ABC World News Tonight STATION WJLA TV
ABC Network
DATE January 17, 1983 7:00 PM CITY Washington, DC
New Soviet Missiles Arrive in Syria
TED KOPPEL: Another military threat surfaced today in
the Middle East. New and more modern Soviet missiles have just
been delivered to Syria.
story.
Pentagon correspondent John McWethy has more on the
JOHN McWETHY: U. S. intelligence sources say that
at least a dozen long-range SA-5 anti-aircraft missiles, like
these, arrived in Syria over the weekend aboard a Russian ship.
Analysts say the new missiles, with a range that could knock down
Israeli planes over all of Lebanon, will be placed at three sites
around Damascus, the capital city of Syria, along with shorter-
range missiles designed to protect the new SA-5s.
Several hundred Soviet technicians are expected to
actually man the sites.
Intelligence sources say that Syria is bringing in the
longer-range Soviet missiles as a face-saving gesture prior to
agreeing to a full withdrawal from Lebanon, rationalizing that
with the missile's greater range, Syria could still defend the
skies over Lebanon without actually basing troops there.
Sources say Israel is tolerating the new missile because
the Begin government wants badly to get its forces out of Lebanon
as well, to reduce both the financial and political costs at
home. They also point out that Israel could destroy the new
missiles almost at will if fighting again resumes.
John McWethy, ABC News, the Pentagon.
Approved For Release 2011/02/23: CIA-RDP88-01070R000100530004-3