Suez Canal War 1956

In 1952, a revolution brought Gamal Abdel Nasser to power in Egypt. His main international objectives were the destruction of the state of Israel and the nationalization of the Suez Canal. From 1955, Egypt began sponsoring raids into Israel by fedayeen (Arab commandos or guerrillas) from the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, and Jordan. Israel began launching reprisal raids against Arab villages in Gaza and the West Bank of the Jordan. In addition to these incidents, other developments contributed to the generally escalating tensions between Egypt and Israel and convinced Israeli military officials that Egypt was preparing for a new war. In July 1956, Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal. The British and French governments, concerned about protecting their Middle Eastern interests, held secret talks with Israeli representatives in Paris. They arranged for Israel to attack across the Sinai to the Suez Canal; British and French military intervention would follow, supposedly functioning as a neutral force to separate the belligerents and protect the canal. The purpose of the collusion was to topple Nasser.

On October 29, 1956, the Israelis struck across Sinai toward the canal and southward toward Sharm El-Sheikh to relieve the Egyptian blockade of the Gulf of Aqaba. Israeli forces achieved their military objectives in a matter of days despite significant Egyptian resistance. The British and French governments now demanded Israel and Egypt to ceasefire and withdraw. Israel, as planned, withdrew but Egypt refused. France and the UK initiated air strikes on Egyptian targes on October 31st, destroying the Egyptian air force. On November 5th, British and French paratroopers landed near Port Said and Port Fuad at the head of the canal. An amphibious assault followed the next day. Before the Anglo-French forces could occupy the entire canal, they were forced to accept a United Nations (UN) sponsored ceasefire on November 7, 1956.

Under pressure – in a rare example of superpower cooperation – from the United States, as well as a Soviet threat to intervene, the British and French force withdrew from the Suez Canal. The UN sent the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) to supervise compliance. Israel withdrew to the Armistice line of 1949, somewhat reluctantly, in March 1957 after UNEF had been stationed in the Gaza Strip and at Sharm El-Sheikh on the Strait of Tiran. The war enhanced the international standing of Israel as a military power and a viable state. Nasser claimed that Egypt had not been defeated by the Israelis but that it had been forced to abandon Sinai to defend the canal against the Anglo-French attacks and emerged from defeat as a national hero. The British prime minister ended up resigning in disgrace.

References

Clodfelter, 1037-8; COW155; Egypt - A Country Study; Israel - A Country Study; Kohn, 27.

Category

Inter-State War

Region

West Asia

Belligerents

Egypt, Israel, France, UK

Dispute

Interests

Initiation Date

October 29, 1956

Termination Date

November 6, 1956

Duration

9 days

Outcome

Unresolved Truce
(UN intervention)

Fatalities

Total: 3,221
France: 10
Israel: 189
Egypt: 3000
UK: 22

Magnitude

3.5