The Soviet-Israeli War, 1967–1973. The USSR’s Military Intervention in the Egyptian-Israeli Conflict

THE SOVIET–ISRAELI BATTLE IS JOINED

down earlier.^48 As this is of some importance, it calls for further inquiry: if true, it
would qualify as the only Soviet kill in air combat against Israel. Even if it reflects as
in other cases a hit that did not bring down the Skyhawk but left some debris on the
ground, it marks the start of the Soviet–Israeli air war earlier than previously
acknowledged, and considerably enhances the Soviet airmen’s hitherto inglorious
record against the IAF.