Soviet Spy Ship Off Lebanon, Israel Says
A Soviet spy ship has moved close to the Lebanese coastline in a move apparently connected to a dispute between Syria and Israel over the deployment of mobile anti-aircraft missiles in Lebanon, Israel radio reported Sunday.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of the report, attributed to “reliable sources” in Jerusalem.
According to the broadcast, the Soviet vessel has been cruising off the Lebanese coast since last week and recently joined an undisclosed number of Soviet spy ships already in the eastern Mediterranean.
The Soviets apparently are trying to monitor the situation because of border tension that has increased since Israeli jets shot down two Soviet-built Syrian MIG-23 warplanes Nov. 23.
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