What was the war between Israel and Egypt?

Answer 1

Answer 1

The war of 6 to 26 October 1973 between Israel and Egypt, Syria and Iraq which began with a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur.

It was a combined Egyptian-Syrian attack on Israel to retake the land taken in 1967 war. It is also known as the October War and Ramadan War.

While the war started with initial gains on both the Egyptian and Syrian fronts, Israel reversed both of these gains before an armistice was signed. The end result of the war showed that the Arabs could not destroy Israel or recover the territory lost in the Six Day War by military force. This led to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat making peace with Israel in order to recover the Sinai Peninsula.

Answer 2: Pro-Egyptian Perspective

In order to answer such a question you need to consider the objectives of the Egyptians and Syrians. A war is won if the objectives of the country are fulfilled. The Egyptians KNEW their air force was inferior to that of the Israelis, since the Israelis had top American technology, as opposed to the Egyptians, whom the soviets didn't want to give high tech war material too.

Therefore, they knew that they would not be able to liberate the entire Sinai desert, rather, they could only hope to win a limited victory that would restore control of the canal to Egypt, and then force Israel to the negotiating table, where they would be able to negotiate the return of the Sinai in return for peace (something Israel refused to do prior to the war). The objective was NOT to destroy Israel.

Now, before i continue, let me make it clear that if given the opportunity, Israel will take more land, as they demonstrated in 1967, as well as during the 1973 war (on the Syrian front). The Crossing was a complete success, as the Israelis had confidence in their Bar lev line, and didn't see the need for more than 500 soldiers to guard the Israeli positions. they boasted that for Egypt to cross, they would need combined American and soviet help, and even with this help, casualties would be massive. The reality: Egyptians crossed the canal in record time with no help and suffering only 120 casualties.

They secured a foothold on the opposite bank, and then halted, with the Israeli air force unable to effectively react due to the Egyptian SAM shield. Then "the turning point" occurred. Israelis slipped through the gap between the two Egyptian armies, and swung down to cut off the Egyptian third army. To completely cut off the army, they had to capture the town of Suez, which they COMPLETELY failed to do, due to the effectiveness of the RPG- wielding civilians of Suez. The Israelis withdrew, with the 3rd army still not completely cut off. I will not lie, the third army was in a tough spot. the Israelis demanded for the Egyptians to withdraw back to the pre-war borders. Sadat (president of Egypt) refused. If you think about it logically, the ISRAELIS were screwed.

Don't forget, Israel was unable to gain air superiority even after destroying much of Egypt's anti air defense, and so could not help Sharon's division stuck inside Egypt. Egypt still had the entire second army, as well as massive reserves within Egypt that could be called up. If Israel could not take over Suez, a small town, how could they take on the rest of the country? Sadat only agreed to a ceasefire because he wanted to save the 100,000 soldiers of the third army, not because he thought he was screwed. Point is, if they destroyed the 3rd army, Egypt would destroy them, and when comparing populations of the respective countries (67 million at the time for Egypt, with only 4 million for israel), we all know israel would not be able to sustain such massive losses.

What did they do? They withdrew back across the canal, with Egypt retaining control of the land they won. Perhaps if the Israelis had captured Suez, the outcome would have been different, but they could not. If they could have indeed destroyed the 3rd army without sustaining any losses, there's no WAY they would agree to Egypt retaining that land. Now, with respect to the Syrian front, yes, they could not hold their gains, as the Israelis focused their efforts on the Golan heights, being of more strategic importance than the Sinai (Tel Aviv could be shelled from the Golan).

Not only that, they seized 18 more Syrian villages (as i said, if they can they will take more land). The Syrians blame this loss on the Egyptians, saying that Egypt did not stick to the agreement and advance across the Sinai, something that was never agreed upon. Anyways, point is, Egypt achieved their objectives, achieved a spectacular military victory in the Crossing as well as defending their earned positions, and over the course of 8 years, the Sinai was returned to them.

Answer 2

The reason why the Yom Kippur War took place are because the Egyptians wanted their lost land back from Israel and after Israel rejected Sadat's peace initiative which proposed a full withdrawal by Israel to the pre-67 borders in exchange for a non-belligerency pact, Sadat said he would declare war if Israel did not give back the land, which Israel did not. Thus a war occurred.

Answer 3

There is still a debate between Israeli sympathizers and Egyptian sympathizers as to who won the Arab-Israeli War of 1973. However, most historians agree that Israel won, compelling Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to make peace with Israel to recover the Sinai Peninsula in 1979. However, early Egyptian successes in the war helped to reverse the shame that Egyptians had felt from the Six Day War which was an unequivocal Egyptian failure.

Below are two answers, the first supporting Israeli victory and the second supporting Egyptian victory.

Israeli Victory

In 1972, Sadat was frustrated by diplomatic failures to dislodge the Israelis from areas occupied in the 1967 war. He determined that war was his only viable alternative. However, he realized that Soviet-support would not be forthcoming because of detente. He also realized that Egypt was outmatched by Israel's superior military equipment. Thus, his only hope for victory lay in a surprise attack. This requirement for victory was implemented by secret planning at the highest levels and by a brilliant, sophisticated plan of deception intended to catch the Israelis off-guard. A broad-front offensive limited in depth was planned to stretch along the length of the Suez Canal. Syria agreed to open a second front. Egypt's surprise assault over the Suez was successful, and a number of initial counterattacks were repulsed. Israel had been lulled into complacency. However, it quickly beat back the Syrians, destroyed their navy, and invaded Syria, fighting up to the outskirts of Damascus. To put pressure off the Syrians, the Egyptians thrusted deeper into the Sinai, but were torn up. Israel then broke through Egyptian lines, invaded Egypt, damaged their naval and air forces, dented their missile shield, and advanced to 101 kilometers from Cairo. Casualties totalled 2,688 Israelis, 15,000 Egyptians, and 3,500 Syrians.

Israel won militarily, in tactical, strategic, and material terms.

Egyptian Victory

Egypt won.

1- Sinai & Golan were occupied by IDF in 1967 ( 6 years prior to YK war. Accordingly, the Arabic armies were attacking to liberate their occupied lands. Such is rated as a legitimate attack according to international law. The war declared targets were the liberation of the 1967 occupied Arab territories

2- The War started while IDF was occupying Sinai including the Suez Canal east bank. The military actions ended officially (not actually) on the 24th of October with the following situation:-

- The Egyptian 2nd army occupies 90 Km length of the 180Km length Eastern canal bank with a depth of 7 to 10 Km

- The Egyptian 3rd army occupies 70Kms length of the Eastern canal bank with a depth of 7 to 12 Km.

- IDF occupies 90 Km of the Western canal bank with a depth of 20 Km. This area includes scattered Egyptian army positions that were bypassed during the actions &

remained active during the ceasefire period. In addition the 3rd army land supply lines were cut by IDF.

- The IDF at the west of the Canal was bounded with the Egyptian army troops while having long threatened routes to its logistic bases east in Sinai. IDF positions on the 24th of Oct were vulnerable. This led to the 1st disengagement treaty as illustrated in the next paragraph

3- The war Ended on the 18th of Jan by signing the first disengagement treaty where IDF withdrew from the west of the Canal to 30 Kms inside Sinai with a 10 km buffer area with the Egyptian army. This treaty was signed without any political commitments from the Egyptian side.

It may be confirmed that the Egyptian army has changed the forces positions on the ground in his favor by his military operations in YK war. This change was rejected by Israel during all peace negotiations that took place after 1967 war. Due to the War outcome, Israel was forced to accept it.

Answer 4

There have been several. There were the Arab-Israeli Wars of 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973.

Since 1979, Israel and Egypt have been at peace, but currently the Egyptian government is straining that peace.