A suez crisis, also known as Sinai War or Operation of Kadesh, was the invasion of Egypt by Israel, the United Kingdom and France in late 1956 with the aim of gaining control of the Suez Canal and overthrowing Gamel Abdel Nasser, Egyptian president.
However, political pressure from the US, the UN and the Soviet Union forced the three invaders to withdraw, humiliating Britain and France and empowering President Nasser.
see more
Scientists use technology to unlock secrets in ancient Egyptian art…
Archaeologists discover stunning Bronze Age tombs in…
The three countries achieved some military objectives, but the Suez Canal was closed for six months, from October from 1956 to March 1957, with the UN forming UNEF peacekeepers to monitor the Egyptian-Israeli border.
The Suez Canal opened in 1869 after completion of its construction, which was jointly funded by the French and Egyptian governments. It was managed and operated by the Universal Company of the Suez Maritime Canal, the surrounding area remaining an Egyptian territory.
The structure increased trade between countries and helped European colonial powers control their colonies. In 1875, Egypt allocated 44% of its share of the canal to the British, with the French retaining the majority of shares.
When the United Kingdom invaded Egypt in 1882, they took control of the country, including the canal itself. The canal was declared a neutral zone in 1888 during the Convention of Constantinople. The channel was strategically important during the First It is Second World Wars as a shipping route.
After World War II the British consolidated and strengthened their position in Suez. The canal became a source of increasing tension in the Anglo-Egyptian relationship. In 1951, Egypt annulled the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty 1936, which granted the British a lease on the canal for 20 years. However, the British refused to withdraw, leading to a military coup on July 25, 1952, which established Egypt as a republic.
Egypt subjected cargo and shipments bound for Israel to search and seizure processes as they passed through the Suez Canal. In 1951, the UN Security Council intervened in Egypt to end restrictions and cease all friction with this transport.
In 1954, Nasser sponsored attacks on Israel, triggering a series of reprisal operations. He also pursued policies that would thwart the British aim in the Middle East, thereby increasing hostility between Egypt and Britain.
In July 1956, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, froze all Suez Canal Company assets, and closed the canal to Israeli shipping. The British decided to intervene militarily to regain control of the canal. Nasser's action also infuriated the French government, which also decided on military intervention.
Israeli military planning for the operation focused on capturing the city of Sharm el-Sheikh, which would allow them access to the Red Sea. A Gaza strip it was also a target, as it was the Fedayeen group's training ground.
The Israeli Air Force initiated the conflict on October 26, 1956, at 3:00 pm, with a series of attacks on Sinai. Egyptian forces mounted a vigorous defense but were overwhelmed on the first day, reporting a casualty of 260 people.
On October 30, 1956, the Egyptian Navy dispatched its warship to Haifa. However, the ship was overpowered by Israeli forces, which damaged the vessel's engine. On October 31, British forces joined the war in the northern Red Sea. The war would intensify over the next five days with France also participating in the war.
The number of casualties is estimated at over 3000, with Egypt reporting the highest casualties. British recorded 16 killed and 96 wounded, while French casualties included ten killed and 33 wounded. Israel recorded 231 deaths and 900 injuries, while Egyptian casualties included 100-3000 deaths and 4000 injuries.
