The 1973
October War
AKA the Yom Kippur
War
TIMELINE
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(10.06.1973): at 4am, Defense Minister Dayan was informed
that Egypt and Syria were going to attack --at 2pm, Egypt and
Syria attacked Israel as a ‘surprise attack.’ This perceived the
Arab’s as weak and Egypt had just expelled its Soviet military
advisors.
(10.11.1973): Syrian forces were repelled.
(10.18.1973): Israeli forces had crossed the Suez Canal.
(10.20.1973): Kissinger flew to Moscow and drafted a ceasefire agreement with Communist Party. Chairman Leonid
Breznev
(10.22.1973): The cease-fire was accepted by all sides.
Where the war took place:
Arab Points of Contention
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After being completely defeated by Israel in 1967, Arabs were unwilling to
make peace.
There were 350,000-400,000 Palestinian refugees.
March 1969, Egypt starts the War of Attrition with Israel as a way to break the
deadlock in hopes of eventually reclaiming the Suez Canal.
Egypt received aid from the Soviet Union: weapons, technicians, and combat
personnel.
Egypt was enduring many losses, eventually accepted the US Secretary of
State Roger’s Cease-fire proposal, but only if they pressured Israel to accept
Resolution 242 and leave those occupied territories. War of Attrition ends
August 8, 1970.
Egypt sought a small military operation would be beneficial to their poor
economic and political situation.
On October 6, 1973, Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria. Frustrated from
surprise and the underestimated Arab frustration over Israeli occupation in
Golan Heights, Sinai, West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Points of Contention
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After Israel’s victory, Israel was not willing to make a peace treaty.
With the war of attrition more than 1,000 Israeli soldiers were killed. Israel
responded with bombardments on military and civilian targets along the
canal .
Israel now had gained control over more Palestinian land, the population was
665,000 Palestinians and an additional 350,000-400,000 Palestinians became
refugees.
During the beginning of 1973 , Israel felt American support and military aid,
the decline in international pressure following the Munich Olympic massacre.
Israel refused to withdraw to the pre-1967 armistice lines, they believed that
its new boundaries were vital for its national security. With this act Israel and
Egypt were not able to form peace.
On October 6 1973, Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria. This was came as
a surprise to Israel, to the extent that Israel intelligence had failed to predict
the confrontation despite evidence to the commentary.
Outcome of the Yom Kippur War
Consequences of the war were widespread.
Nearly 8,500 Arab casualties were recorded
with an economic loss equaling to a whole
year’s GNP. On Israel’s side, some 6000
soldiers were killed and had an equal
economic loss like Arabs. The war destroyed
the image that Israeli forces are invincible
and it became more dependent on U.S. for
The war destroyed the image that
aids relating to economy, military and
Israeli forces are invincible and it
diplomacy.
became more dependent on U.S. for
withdrew
back military
across the
aids Israel
relating
to economy,
andSuez Canal and several miles inland
from the east bank of the Suez Canal behind an UN-supervised
diplomacy.
cease-fire zone. On the Syrian front too, Israeli territorial gains made
in the war were given up. After the war Egyptian and Syrian
diplomatic relations with the United States, broken since the 1967
war, were resumed, and clearance of the Suez Canal began. The
Yom Kippur War brought about a major shift of power in the Middle
Following
Yomsigning
KippurofWar
the African states
East and ultimately
ledthe
to the
themost
1979ofIsraeli-Egyptian
peace treaty.and some other Third World countries emulated the earlier
action of the Soviet block and severed diplomatic relations
with Israel.
Key Figures
• Syria:
– Hafez al-Assad
• Egypt:
– Anwar Sadat
– Ahmad Ismail Ali
• Israel:
– Golda Meir
– Moshe Dayan
– David Elazar
– Avraham Adan
Other Key Figures
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Henry Kissinger (U.S.)
Leonid Breznev (USSR)
King Faisal (Saudi Arabia)
Houari Boumediene (Algeria)
Key Battles
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Battle of Fort Lahtzanit (October 6)
Battles of Fort Budapest (October 6, 1973)
First Battle of Mount Hermon (October 6-7)
Operation Badr (October 6–8)
Valley of Tears (October 6 –9)
Second Battle of Mount Hermon (October 8)
Air Battle of El Mansoura (October 14, 1973)
Battle of the Chinese Farm (October 15–17)
Battle of Ismailia (October 18–22)
Third Battle of Mount Hermon (October 21–22)
Battle of Suez (October 24–25)
CREDITS
Made by: Bridgette G, Corrina C, Daniel S, Phillippe L, and Susan C
Used the Sources: -The Arab-Israeli Conflict by Kirsten E. Schulze
http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1967to1991_ykwar_result.php
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/yom_kippur_war_of_1973.htm