Battle of Suez

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The Battle of Suez was a significant military engagement that took place during the Yom Kippur War in October 1973. The battle occurred in and around the city of Suez, located at the southern end of the Suez Canal in Egypt. This confrontation was part of the larger conflict between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria.

Background

The Yom Kippur War began on October 6, 1973, when Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a coordinated surprise attack on Israeli positions in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights, respectively. The war was named after the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, which coincided with the start of the hostilities. The Egyptian Army aimed to reclaim the Sinai Peninsula, which had been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967.

The Battle

The Battle of Suez took place from October 22 to October 24, 1973. It was one of the final and most intense battles of the Yom Kippur War. The Israeli forces, led by Major General Ariel Sharon, had successfully crossed the Suez Canal and encircled the Egyptian Third Army. The city of Suez became a focal point as Israeli forces attempted to capture it to cut off the Egyptian forces' supply lines and force a surrender.

First Day of Battle

On October 22, Israeli forces launched an assault on the city of Suez. The initial attack was met with fierce resistance from the Egyptian defenders, who were well-entrenched and determined to hold their ground. The urban environment of Suez made the battle particularly challenging for the Israeli forces, who faced ambushes and sniper fire from the Egyptian troops.

Second Day of Battle

On October 23, the fighting intensified as Israeli forces attempted to penetrate deeper into the city. The Egyptian defenders continued to put up a strong resistance, utilizing the urban terrain to their advantage. The battle saw heavy casualties on both sides, with neither side able to gain a decisive upper hand.

Third Day of Battle

By October 24, the situation had reached a stalemate. The Israeli forces were unable to fully capture the city, and the Egyptian defenders managed to hold their positions. The battle ended with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United Nations, which came into effect on October 25, 1973.

Aftermath

The Battle of Suez was one of the last major engagements of the Yom Kippur War. The ceasefire agreement led to the eventual disengagement of forces and the signing of the Camp David Accords in 1978, which paved the way for the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty in 1979. The battle demonstrated the challenges of urban warfare and highlighted the resilience of the Egyptian forces in defending their territory.

Legacy

The Battle of Suez remains a significant event in the history of the Yom Kippur War and is remembered for the intense urban combat and the strategic implications it had on the outcome of the war. The city of Suez itself has since recovered and continues to be an important industrial and port city in Egypt.

See Also

• Yom Kippur War
• Six-Day War
• Suez Canal
• Ariel Sharon
• Camp David Accords
• Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty