MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA BRIEF (DELETED) FOR 28 DECEMBER 1983 - 1. SOUTH AFRICA-ANG

Created: 12/28/1983

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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OT:lOZ DEC 83

THE SOUTH AFRICANS SAID ON MONDAY THAT THEY HAD MOVEDILOMETERS INTO ANGOLAREEMPTIVE ATTACKISPERSEO SWAPO FORCE THEY CLAIM TOTALS SOMEUERRILLAS. PRETORIA SAYS THAT GUERRILLA UNITS ARE PROTECTEDNGOLAN AND CUBAN FORCES AND THATWAPO PERSONNEL HAO SOUGHT SHELTER AT THE GARRISON IN CAHAMA. MJMJI

THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENSE CHIEF HAS PUBLICLY ASSERTEO THAT. WHILE SOUTH AFRICA OOES NOT WANT TO ENGAGE ANGOLAN OR CUBAN TROOPS. IT WOULOO IF THE ANGOLANS CONTINUE TO PROTECT SWAPO OR INTERFERE IN SOUTH AFRICAN OPERATIONS AGAINST SWAPO. THE ANGOLANS REPORTEDLY DID INTERVENE LAST WEEK EAR CAIUND0.

LUANDA ANNOUNCEO ON MONDAY THAT THE SOUTH AFRICANS HAO CAPTURED THE TOWN OF KASSINGA ANO HAO LAUNCHED COMBINED AIR AND GROUND OPERATIONS AGAINST CAHAMA. CUVELAl. ANO CAlUNOO. ANGOLA CLAIMS TO HAVE SHOT DOWN FOUR SOUTH AFRICAN AIRCRAFT. PRETORIA OENIES LOSING ANY AIRCRAFT. BUT IT CONFIRMS THATISSILES WERE FIRED AT ITS PLANES DURING OPERATIONS OVER THE WEEKEND. MMMj

I/THE AIR DEFENSE SITES AT CAHAMA ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ANGOLAN TARGET FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE. PRETORIA'S CHOICE OF TARGETS MAY HAVE BEEN INTENDED TO PUNISH ANGOLA FOR SHELTERING SWAPO INSURGENTS WHILE REDUCINGE RISKIRECT CLASHES WITH ANGOLAN AND CUBAN FORCES.

//SOUTH AFRICA'S USE OF ARTILLERY MORE THANILOMETERS INSIDE ANGOLA. HOWEVER. IGNIFICANT OEPARTURE FROM PAST PRACTICE. IT MAYURTHER INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF THE FIGHTING IN SOUTHERN ANGOLA.Ill