[sukhoi-30mki]

[econjack]

Remember the 1967 Gulf War between Egypt and Israel? Egypt got it’s ass kicked and the rumor is that the hottest industry in Egypt after that war was the production of backup lights for their tanks.

[KarlInOhio]

I had never heard this story before. Thanks for posting it and also thanks for posting all of it.

[C19fan]

“Egyptian Air Force officials heard about the dogfight they rejoiced over the Soviets’ defeat. The Soviet pilots had apparently been very dismissive of their Egyptian peers, and the Egyptian pilots were happy to witness their downfall.”

Read something similar occurred during the Spanish Civil. The Italians sent an armored unit to Spain to support Franco and they were an arrogant bunch. They dissed the Spainards. The unit was sent to attack a Republican position and got their arses kicked. The Nationalist forces cheered seeing their fellow Spainards even if they were on the opposite side give the Italians a beating.

[Ancesthntr]

Thanks for posting this - it is an interesting tidbit of history that most of us would never hear about.

I do question whether it was the only instance of Israelis fighting Russians/Soviets. How about the massive air combat in June of 1982, in which the Israelis downed 79 (or 85, depending on sources) Syrian jets without a single loss of their own? The Syrians had the most advanced Russian Migs of the day, and there were undoubtedly Russian pilots - I remember hearing reports that Israeli pilots heard lots of radio chatter in Russian.

FYI, I took a military strategy course from Edward Luttwak (a noted strategist and consultant to the Reagan transition team and the DoD) the following year. He indicated that “big changes were coming” in relations with the Russians. He specifically cited this incident, and reports that the Soviet General Staff told the Politburo that “we can’t beat the West” because of what Israel did, and basically to “cut the best deal that you can.” Shortly thereafter we got Gorbachev and a thawing of relations.

[mosesdapoet]

Thanks for the posting

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

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The Bekka Valley air battle in 1982 cost Syria around 85 or 90 planes and 30 SAM batteries at a cost of 2 F15s, an F4, and a drone. Many people think there may have been Russian pilots flying for Syria, but in any case it was Russian hardware.

[Oatka]

Don't just strive to engage the [fill in the blank] -- take them down.

Too bad that isn't our motto.

Then again, Trump evidently believes that. :-)