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Tensions rise in May as UN troops withdraw and Egypt deploys troops in the Sinai and Gaza

Pre-emptive strike: Israel launches air attacks against Egyptian air bases ahead of a ground offensive

The 1967 Middle East War, also known as the Six Day War, was the third conflict between Israel and neighbouring Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

The first, in 1948, left East Jerusalem and the River Jordan’s West Bank under Jordanian control and the coastal Gaza Strip under Egyptian control.

In 1956, Israel invaded the Gaza Strip and Egypt’s Sinai peninsula. Israel was forced to leave the Sinai the following year and a United Nations Emergency Force (Unef) was deployed.

Tensions continued to rise and newly-formed Palestinian militant groups began cross-border raids with Arab support. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser was keen to unite the Arab world and spoke of “the destruction of Israel”, while Israel feared it could be wiped out.

In May 1967, President Nasser demanded the removal of Unef troops from the Sinai, closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping and signed a defence pact with Jordan. Some historians question whether Nasser planned to go to war, but all three factors, and Egyptian troop deployment in the Sinai, led to a pre-emptive strike by Israel.

At 0745 Israeli time, Israel launches Operation Focus and the first wave of air attacks against 11 Egyptian airfields, destroying dozens of planes parked on the runways.

The pre-emptive strikes catch the Egyptians off guard and air defences are limited. Dozens of Egyptian pilots are killed in the raids.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) loses 19 planes, about 10% of its strength, mostly due to mechanical failure or accidents. Five Israeli pilots are killed and five others are taken prisoner.

Arab countries respond, with Syrian, Jordanian and Iraqi planes attacking targets.

Waves of Israeli air attacks destroy about 311 Egyptian planes. Israel bombs Syrian, Iraqi and Jordanian bases and wins air supremacy for the rest of the war.

The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) crosses into the Sinai – taking al-Arish after a day of heavy fighting. Israeli divisions capture Bir Lahfan junction and Egyptian troops are hit at Umm Katef.

Jordan attacks from the West Bank and East Jerusalem and uses long-range guns to shell Tel Aviv.

IAF jets provide air support for advancing ground troops in the Sinai, at Umm Katef, and the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s 55th Parachute Brigade is diverted from the Sinai front to bolster defences against the Jordanian army around Jerusalem.

There is fierce fighting between Israeli and Jordanian troops at Ammunition Hill in the northern part of East Jerusalem, which is eventually taken by the Israelis. The fighting leaves 106 Jordanians and 37 Israelis dead.

Syria launches its only ground offensive of the war, shelling frontier settlements before attacking with ground forces. The offensive is halted by the settlement’s militia and finished off by Israeli jets.

Egyptian Field Marshal Abd al-Hakim Amer orders a general retreat, telling his army to dump its heavy weapons and retreat to the Suez Canal. The move leads to the death or capture of thousands of its soldiers.

By nightfall IDF forces have taken control of Gaza from Egypt and Hebron and Bethlehem from Jordan.

The UN Security Council meets in emergency session. The US offers a ceasefire plus a return to the pre-war positions which is rejected by the USSR.

IDF troops move into the West Bank after the Jordanian army is given orders overnight for a general retreat. Israeli jets bomb Jordanian ground forces in the Jerusalem and Jericho areas and in the nearby mountains. Jericho is taken by the end of the day.

By 1000, Israeli troops hear the radio message: “Har habayit beyadeinu” – “The Temple Mount is in our hands” after their forces take the Old City of Jerusalem.

Soon afterwards, Jordan’s governor in Jerusalem, Anwar al-Hattib signs an official surrender. Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Dayan and Chief of Staff Yitzhak Rabin arrive in the city to celebrate Israeli control of the area containing the holy site. Thousands of Jews also flock to the Western Wall.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the West Bank flee their homes to Jordan proper.

In the Sinai peninsula, the first Israeli forces reach the Suez Canal in the early hours, but pull back and ambush the retreating Egyptian army at the Mitla and Giddi passes.

In southern Sinai, Israeli forces attack and capture the strategic Egyptian fortress of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The three-pronged conquest of the Sinai peninsula reaches its conclusion. Armoured and mechanised forces led by generals Israel Tal, Avraham Joffe, and Ariel Sharon defeat the forces of Egyptian commander General Abd al-Mohsen Mortagui.

Gen Mortagui had 80,000 soldiers with more than 1,000 tanks, but lack of air support meant he was vulnerable to attack from land and air.

Thousands of Egyptian soldiers die in the war – either in battle or from heat stroke and thirst in the desert – and many are taken prisoner.

By the end of the day, Israeli troops have taken up positions along the eastern bank of the Suez Canal. Egypt accepts defeat and a ceasefire comes into effect.

During the day, IAF jets attack US Navy surveillance ship USS Liberty off the coast near al-Arish, killing 34 Americans and injuring 172. Israel says it mistook the Liberty for an Egyptian ship.

A US Navy tribunal later accepts the explanation but it remains a controversial incident.

 

 

Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser announces his resignation in a television broadcast.

He blames the West for helping Israel and describes the defeat using the Arabic word naksa, meaning setback.

His resignation is rejected by the National Assembly after thousands of people take to the streets of Cairo and Beirut to protest.

Israeli paratroops, with air support, take Ras Sudar airfield in Egypt. For the first time, IAF planes attack ground forces to the west of the Suez Canal.

The Israelis intercept an Egyptian message indicating Arab forces are near collapse and turn their attention to the Syrian front.

Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Dayan vetoes the wishes of the army and most of the cabinet to invade Syria as he fears Israel would be risking a war with the Soviet Union. But he changes his mind.

Hours after Syria accepts the UN ceasefire proposals, Israel bombs Damascus and launches a ground and air assault on the Golan Heights.

Syrian forces in the Golan Heights are defeated and a ceasefire is agreed

On the Syrian front, Israeli airborne brigades press on to capture Quneitra, 40 miles from Damascus, meeting little resistance.

Syrian defences collapse and the bulk of the Syrian forces withdraws eastward without engaging the Israelis. By 1430, Israeli forces have taken the Golan Heights.

Syrian units take up defensive positions along the southern approaches to Damascus, but Israel orders its troops to stop its advance.

The UN ceasefire comes into effect at 1830.

After six days of fighting, Israel’s forces have captured the entire Sinai peninsula, the West Bank and Golan Heights. The territory under Israeli control is four times larger than it had been a week earlier.

By the middle of June, the number of Palestinian refugees in Jordan proper rises from 332,000 to 745,000.

The Arab countries involved in the conflict have not released official military casualty figures.

Israel says 776 of its troops died. According to the Associated Press news agency, about 11,500 Egyptian, 6,094 Jordanian and 1,000 Syrian soldiers died. Thousands of others were taken prisoner.