Tension between the United Arab Republic and Israel mounted again to-day [October 22] following the sinking of the largest Israeli destroyer, El Eilath, off Port Said, by missile-carrying U.A.R. torpedo boats last evening. Meanwhile, the U.A.R. Military High Command announced that another Israeli vessel had been hit by U.A.R. navel ships in the same area later last night, and was sinking. It did not name the ship. There was no confirmation of this from Israel. The Israeli radio was repeatedly warning Cairo to-day of “dire consequences” even as Israeli ships and planes were scouring the scene of the incident for Eilath’s still missing crewmen. In New York last night, Israel protested to the United Nations Security Council about the attack on the destroyer, described by chief delegate Gideon Rafael as “a deliberate and flagrant act of belligerency”, violating the cease-fire agreement between the two nations.
