Who Were Israel’s Foe in the Pivotal Six-Day War- A Closer Look at the Rivalry
Who did Israel fight in the Six-Day War? This pivotal conflict, which took place from June 5 to June 10, 1967, was a dramatic and intense military confrontation that reshaped the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape. Israel, a nation barely 20 years old at the time, found itself facing a combined Arab coalition that included Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. The war’s outcome had profound implications for the region and the world, solidifying Israel’s existence and altering the balance of power in the Middle East.
The Six-Day War was a response to a series of crises that had been building up in the months leading up to the conflict. The most immediate crisis was the Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s decision to expel United Nations forces from the Sinai Peninsula, which he saw as a buffer zone between Egypt and Israel. Nasser’s actions were followed by a series of other moves that Israel interpreted as an imminent threat to its security. On May 15, 1967, Egypt’s President Nasser announced a “unification” of the West Bank and Gaza Strip with Egypt, further escalating tensions.
On the eve of the war, Israel found itself surrounded by a coalition of Arab states that were determined to destroy the young Jewish state. The Egyptian Air Force, bolstered by the Soviet Union, posed the most immediate threat. Jordan’s King Hussein, Syria’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Iraq’s President Abdul Salam Arif all played significant roles in the conflict, each with their own reasons for joining the fray.
The war began with a stunning Israeli air strike on the morning of June 5, 1967, which destroyed much of the Egyptian Air Force on the ground. This surprise attack, known as Operation Focus, was followed by a rapid and decisive ground campaign. Over the next six days, Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria, and East Jerusalem, which had been occupied by Jordan since 1949.
Who did Israel fight in the Six-Day War? The answer is a complex mix of Arab nations that had long viewed Israel as a threat to their sovereignty and existence. Egypt, under Nasser, was at the forefront of this resistance, seeking to restore Arab pride and reclaim lost territories. Jordan, under King Hussein, had been a protector of Jerusalem and the West Bank, and its entry into the war was a direct response to Israel’s actions. Syria, under Nasser’s influence, also joined the conflict, aiming to regain control of the Golan Heights. Iraq, under Arif, entered the war as part of a broader Arab consensus to defeat Israel.
The Six-Day War was a turning point in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel’s unexpected victory not only saved the nation from extinction but also dramatically altered the strategic balance in the region. The war ended with Israel in control of territories that it had been fighting to protect, leading to decades of occupation and further conflict. The war also had significant global implications, highlighting the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and setting the stage for the Cold War’s role in the Middle East.
In conclusion, who did Israel fight in the Six-Day War? The answer is a formidable coalition of Arab states united in their determination to defeat Israel. The war’s outcome had profound and lasting consequences, reshaping the Middle East and setting the stage for the region’s ongoing struggles.
