MIDDLE EAST SITUATION REPORT NUMBER 7 (AS OF 1200 EDT)

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0
Release Decision: 
RIPLIM
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
January 11, 2017
Document Release Date: 
August 11, 2010
Sequence Number: 
20
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
October 7, 1973
Content Type: 
MEMO
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PDF icon LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0.pdf225.6 KB
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C`> -e4P`- 73'3 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 CEMAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 7 Ds~=ti a Z- Y INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM DIA and State review(s) complete 25X1 blII)DLE EAST yw+ S:it:ua "tigti - ox-t- umV_er_ _7 25X1 TI MILT.TAY SITUATION .GENERAL the Syrian effort to take t ef#orts on the Syrian front in a 1, 'Tsracli military forces are focusing their maim concerted attempt to halt 2.' Isriieli. forces -along ;the Egyptian front. are fighting a 'holding action. ? The Egyptians fm'iled to move much eq-iiprt.er-t or troops across. the canal over night, but resumed movement across sit bridges at dawn, The Egypti.Aits and concettteatinT their efforts at crossings- leading to the Mitla and Gidi passe', -Egyptian forces do not appear: to be exploiting their bridgehead, and there Is no evidence of any significant Egyptian. penetration into Sinai thus far. Ths"Israeli air force st:rizck eight Egyptian fighter, bases early this morn ,tig in an attanpt to~ erippLe Cairo..'s fighter force. No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 25X1 EGYPTIAN FRONT 3. Israeli and Egyptian military spokesmen announced the Egyptian military forces continued to cross the Canal this morning but the I-sraelis report that little was moved over he six bridges across the canal during the night. 4.' According to an Ysrx,eli assessment given at 1330 local time (11302 ) tice Egyptian forces seem to be focusing at Ismailia 'and north of the r.ity,. of Suez. which. leads to the roads entering th*o Gidi. and riitla Passes. The Israelis stated .that they are now consolidating their, own forces along ? the canal. 25X1 ' 25X1 Wsre, ].os;t to EtcvtStian SAMs. 1:sraali aircraft noted in 5. ?According to an Israeli spokesman, the Israeli Air? *Forc?e struck eight Egyptian air bases Witb 40 sorties early this tao'rning, including Tanta airfield nor.thvrest of Cairo where Libyan Mirages are stationed. An unknown number of Egyptian aircraft were de utroyed on the ground and at leas :four, w#tr't shot down. Two IsraeliSkyhawk fighter-bombers 6. Egyptian TU-16 bombers attacks.d and d6atroyed the Israeli radar facility -at Sharm ash-Shaykh at the tip of the Sinai peninsula today, according to all ieraeli spokesman. lie Also stated that -an Egyptian naval force of three boats- including two that .carried missiles-and a minelayer attacked Sharnt ash-.Shaykh., but. provided no derails on the result of this raid . . . No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 V. No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 25X1 0 THE SYRIAN rRON..C ? 7. ? Intenrse Syrian attacks against Israeli positions on the Golan heighLs are continuing. According to an Israeli spokesman this morning, the Syrians broke through Israeli. positions at several places and were attempting to cfvelop. Israel.i.'?posit_ions in the Qunel.tra and R-afid areas on the Heights. The Israelis' have admitted losing at least one Outpost near Quneitra. They stated that Israeli armored units were disengaging at various ,places to-allow Choir air 'force to blunt the Syrian attacks. 8. The Is r aeiis acknowledge 'that the Syrian front is their primary focus of concern for the moinene and that they are crsing most of their air force against the Syriatis. Tel Aviv hopes that by noon tomorrow they will be able to 25X1 launch a major counterattack in the area. The Israelis attribute the Syrian success to boldnq,ss, a characteristic that they have not seen exhibited. as yet by the Egyptians along .the canal'. They Also report that they have destroyed Live Syrian naval., combatants without suf?faring any losaee them- selves. 25X1 ARAB MILITARY SUPPORT 11. The Arab League secretariat in Cairo has called on 1 11 lemenr~ the ea ue's mutual: defense all,' Arab states to iuc treaty. 25X1 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 25X1 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 . 25X1 Sudan have made promises of practical support for the battle but.. their -specific ?contr,ibutians?? have not been announced. No Iraqi 1 r and force movements into Syria have been repurte'd elsewhere. Saudi; Arabia has put its air force -ou alart, including he aiming of F5 and Lightning aircraft at Dhahran, but no preparations for involvement. have' been 'obaervod. TUNISIA 14. President Hourguib?a announced today that Tunisia would send. trov'pu to the Syrian and Egyptian fronts, but that it would be several days before these contingents reached their destinations. He- warned his audicncc, however, .that he would not tolerate, a repetition of the June 1967 anti.-Jewish, av ti-'Corei ;n demonstrations.. No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 MOROCCO W 15. King Hassan announced-that he is sending another contingent of troops to the Syrian front and would open a registration office in Rabat for Moroccan army personnel and those with previous military service who wished to voluntee?;. 16. According to the .Algerian . nets media, President Aouihadiene has placed the "full- resources of the country at the disposition of the Arab front," but the press was not specific. T eanwhile,' Algerian. coverage of the fighting has been measured and cautious. SOVIET MILITARY ACTIVXT3' 17. There has been little change reported in Soviet naval deployments since our last Sitrep. By'taarn1n.g of 7. October, all Soviet ships had l.aft Egyptian parts except for one 1i.ashtn--c'lasa destroyer and some auxiliaries in 'Alcxandr1a. Most of the Soviet Mediter.r'anean squadron is still located in. the vicinity of Crete. One Soviet mntell~ igence collector--probably accompanied by a mirt.esweeper---is located aipproriniately 100 miles off the Syrian-Israeli border. A Kashin-class destroyer :apparently has been assigned responsibility for surveillance of the U'SS ltidepend- ence task group which left' Athens early on 7 October. 18. There is no evidence of :.unusual ,Soviet military 'activity in other areas. No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11: LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 F_ No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0 ? LATE 1Tris ; 21. Egyptian DLili.tary objective is to establish multiple position, along the Bar-Lev line and hold those po: itious until a ceaaafirc: is arranged. The Egyptians estimate Ithat would take about two days, and that pressure, from :the "'waxld powers" would enable Cairo to obtain its limited objectjve of holding a `thin strip east of the' canal.. I 22. The source said '.that; "unquestionably" the Egyptians had attacked fi.rat. ' :Ile said the Soviets were aware of E4,ryptian plans by early 4atober, but did not know the specific' timing. ' When' Sadat asked for full Soviet backing, Moscow -refused and began to evacuate, technicians and dependents,. No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-542-16-20-0