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The war has proved costly to both sides. Western experts estimate that as many as 40,000 soldiers of the two countries have been killed. The conflict has realigned some of the powers in the region. In a rare convergence of interests, Libya, Syria and Israel are aiding Iran with arms. Saudi Arabia and the gulf states, which fear Iranian efforts to foment revolution among their dissident minorities, staunchly support Iraq, and have poured $25 billion into the war effort. Egypt has sent 60 pilots to aid the Iraqi air force, and Iran said last week that 400 Egyptian troops were fighting alongside Iraqi forces. The assistance was supposedly intended to help ease Egypt back into the Arab fold, by which it has been ostracized since the Camp David agreement. But in spite of the losses incurred, neither side seems ready to make the concessions necessary to resolve the conflict. With the tragic end of Benyahia's mission last week, peace seemed as distant as ever.