SYRIANS MAY ACQUIRE NEW SOVIET WEAPONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000100530002-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 13, 2007
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: January 4, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/03/14: CIA-RDP88-01070R000100530002-5
RADIO TV REPORTS, INC.
ABC World News Tonight
STATION W J L A T V
ABC Network
DATE January 4, 1983 7:00 PM CITY Washington, DC
Syrians May Acquire New Soviet Weapons
FRANK REYNOLDS: The United States made it clear today
it is disturbed by reports that Syria may soon acquire new
weapons from the Soviet Union; weapons that because of their
long-range capability pose an increased threat not only to
Israel, but also to American military forces in the area.
Pentagon correspondent John McWethy has this report.
JOHN McWETHY: U. S. intelligence sources tell ABC News
that there are no Soviet long-range SA-5 anti-aircraft missiles
in Syria yet. Nonetheless, these sources say new missile sites
are being prepared in Syria -- they could be operational in weeks
-- and the SA-5s themselves are on their way from the Soviet
Union by ship, representing a major escalation by both Syria and
Russia.
At the State Department, there were warnings.
JOHN HUGHES: Obviously, any exacerbation of tensions in
the region from anybody would be something we would regret.
McWETHY: If the SA-5s arrive in Syria, U. S. officials
predict trouble for two reasons. First, the SA-5 is far more
capable than anything the Soviets have thus far supplied to
Syria. The SA-6, for example, which is fielded in Syria, has a
range of 19 miles. The SA-5s have a range of 185 miles, meaning
from Syria the missiles could shoot down Israeli planes over
every square inch of Lebanon and much of Israel as well.
The missiles could also threaten U. S. planes flying
from aircraft carriers off the coast of Lebanon.
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Approved For Release 2007/03/14: CIA-RDP88-01070R000100530002-5
 Approved For Release 2007/03/14: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100530002-5
Second, when the SA-5s are deployed outside the Soviet
Union, like these in Afghanistan, Soviet technicians and soldiers
come with them to run the system.
Some U. S. analysts say if Syria deploys the new
missiles, Israel will try to destroy the missiles and the
Russians operating them immediately, even if it involves risking
another war.
John McWethy, ABC News, the Pentagon.
Approved For Release 2007/03/14: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100530002-5