The strength of the Syrian navy according to the Dutch newspaper Amigoe di Curacao dated 8 October 1973

An item reported that the Syrian navy consisted of three minesweepers, two submarine chasers, two coastal patrol vessels, six fast missile patrol vessels and twelve motor torpedo boats. The personnel strength numbered 2.000 men with a reserve of another 3.500 men.(1)

Note

1. The newspaper used the annual account of the military balance 1973-1974 recently published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies at London. Two days before this item was published broke a war out between Egypt and Syria supported by other Arabic nations  Iraq attacking Israel and which became known as the Jom Kipoeroorlog also called the October or Ramadan war ending on 25 October. The USA and European nations like the Netherlands became target of the OPEC which used an oil embargo to change their attitude in their foreign policy concerning Israel and the Arabic world.