The World - News from July 27, 1987

Syria has received its first shipment of Soviet-built MIG-29 fighters, but the top Soviet warplane is not seen as a threat in Israel, defense sources in Tel Aviv said. Syria, which received about 10 MIG-29s last week, is due to get 30 of the planes, a number insufficient to challenge the Israeli air force, the defense sources said. Israel’s air force commander, Maj. Gen. Amos Lapidot, referring to the expected shipment, said: “It will improve the Syrian air force. . . . We have to find ways to match this plane.” Several Soviet-built MIG-23s, formerly Syria’s top fighter, were shot down by the Israelis in 1982 during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.