Background information： The Second Middle East War (1956-1957)

　　-Suez Canal War

　　In order to gain control of the Suez Canal, Britain and France joined forces with Israel and launched a surprise attack on Egypt on October 29, 1956. This was the Second Middle East War, also known as the Suez Canal War. The background of the outbreak of war

　　Suez Canal is an international navigation canal in Egypt, with a total length of 175 kilometers. It connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, shortens the voyage between Europe and Asia, and is the main road connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. Its strategic position is very important. Since its opening, the Canal has been controlled by Britain and France. In 1882, Britain sent troops to occupy Egypt and established its largest overseas military base in the Canal Zone. In 1936, the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty was signed, which affirmed Britain’s right to station troops in the Suez Canal area.

　　After the Palestinian war, the national liberation movement in Egypt developed greatly. In October 1951, Egypt abolished the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty. On July 23, 1952, the "Freedom Officers’ Organization" headed by Nasser launched a military coup, overthrew the Farouk dynasty supported by Britain, abolished the monarchy and established a republic. Then, in October 1954, Britain signed an agreement with Egypt, agreeing to withdraw troops in batches. In June 1956, all British troops withdrew from Egypt, but the Suez Canal was still controlled by Britain and France. On July 26, 1956, the Egyptian government announced that the Suez Canal Company would be nationalized and all the company’s property would be handed over to Egypt. In order to regain control of the Suez Canal, Britain and France planned to hold a conference on "international control" of the Canal. On August 16, 1956, at the initiative of Britain and France, 22 countries held a meeting in London, but failed to reach any agreement. On September 19th, the United States, Britain and France convened 18 countries to hold another meeting in London to discuss the establishment of the Suez Canal Use Association, but no agreement was reached. On September 30, Britain and France submitted the Suez Canal issue to the UN Security Council for discussion. On October 13, the Security Council rejected the proposal of Britain and France asking Egypt to accept the "international management" system.

　　In this case, Britain and France decided to use force to solve the problem. In order to solve the problem of insufficient troops, France first invited Israel to join. Israel, for its part, has long been dissatisfied with Egypt’s refusal to allow its ships to pass through the straits of tiran and Suez Canal in the Gulf of Aqaba. As early as November 1955, it made a battle plan to invade Gaza and Sinai Peninsula, so the two hit it off. On October 13, 1956, France and Israel agreed on a battle plan. On the 14th, Britain and France held a secret meeting in the village of Eden and made a battle plan. It was decided that Israel would first attack the Egyptian army in Sinai Peninsula to attract the support of the main forces of the Egyptian army. Then, Britain and France bombed Egypt from Cyprus, Malta, Aden and aircraft carriers, destroying Egyptian military bases; Then, the British and French troops landed from Port Said and attacked the canal area, cutting off the retreat of the Egyptian army; Finally, Israel occupied the whole Sinai Peninsula, Britain and France occupied the canal area and wiped out the Egyptian army.

　　Before the war, the Israeli army had 100,000 troops, 400 tanks, 150 artillery pieces and 155 combat aircraft. Egypt has a total force of about 150,000 people, 530 tanks, 500 artillery pieces and 255 combat aircraft, but only more than 100 aircraft can complete combat missions. At that time, many pilots and tank fighters were still trained in the Soviet Union, and most advanced and heavy equipment could not play a role in actual combat. Moreover, Egypt’s defense focuses on the Nile Delta and the canal area, so there are only about 30,000 people in Sinai Peninsula. War process

　　The battle between the Egyptian and Israeli armies in Sinai Peninsula

　　1, mitra mountain battle.

　　At 5 o’clock on the afternoon of October 29th, 1956, the 202nd Parachute Brigade of the Israeli army, under the command of Colonel Ariel Sharon, with the support of the French Air Force, took advantage of the weakness of the Egyptian army in the central Sinai, and first parachuted more than 500 people and some weapons and equipment at the mitra Pass. At the same time, the main force of the brigade, 3000 people, joined the paratroopers at mitra Pass and made a dash for mitra Pass. On the same day, the command of the Eastern Military Region ordered the 5th and 6th Battalions of the 2nd Infantry Brigade to immediately cross the canal to meet the Israeli troops at mitra Pass. At the same time, the General Staff of the Ethiopian Army sent the main force of the 4th Armored Division from the west bank of the canal into the Bir Jiffjaffa area, followed by two national guard brigades. The 2nd Reconnaissance Corps moved to the southeast in an attempt to cut off the retreat of the Israeli airborne troops and surrounded the Israeli troops at mitra Pass. Mitra Mountain Pass is 30 kilometers long, with cliffs on both sides, which is very steep. At noon on October 31st, a reconnaissance detachment composed of two Israeli companies, including a tank detachment and a heavy mortar team, attacked the mitra Pass. As soon as the Israeli army entered Haitan Valley, it was attacked by five ambush companies of the Egyptian army. The Egyptian army occupied the favorable terrain in the southeast, commanding and giving full play to its firepower advantage. The Israeli army was in a dilemma and had to use temporary work to resist. The two sides fought fiercely until dusk before the Israeli army occupied the eastern part of the valley.

　　2. Battle of Abu Augras

　　In order to realize the "middle breakthrough" tactics, the Israeli army threatened the main force of the Egyptian army in northern Sinai, and cooperated with the attack of the 202nd Parachute Brigade on the southern line, it decided to assault Abu Augras with the 38th Task Force. Abu Augras is located in the northeast of Sinai Peninsula, 30 kilometers east of the border between Egypt and Israel, and connects to Ismailia, an important canal town in the west. The road from Ahriche to Kumasi also passes through here, and its strategic position is very important. The Egyptian army has strong strongholds in Ruafa Dam and other places in front of Abu Ogma, forming a complete defense system.

　　At noon on October 30th, the 7th Brigade of the Israeli army was attacked by the Egyptian anti-tank artillery 600 meters south of Umm Qat’s father, and the losses were not small. After the failure of the Israeli army’s frontal attack, the 7th Brigade was ordered to take circuitous tactics. At dawn on the 31st, it crossed the Dhaka Pass, where the Egyptian army’s defense was weak, and advanced on Abu Augras and Ruafa dams. At the same time, in order to cooperate with the 7th Brigade, the Israeli Southern Military Command ordered the 10th Infantry Brigade to move ahead of schedule on the afternoon of 30th, and attack from east to west. When it was finished, it arrived at the eastern front of Umm Shihan and Umm Katif, and the 7th Brigade attacked from the south of Umm Katif. The Egyptian army also mobilized troops from Ahriche and the canal to reinforce Abu Augras.

　　On October 31st, the Israeli army launched an attack on Abu Augras with the 7th Brigade, which was met with stubborn resistance and correct artillery bombardment by the Egyptian army. At noon, two infantry battalions of the Egyptian army attacked the Israeli army. After the Israeli army occupied Abu Augras with air force fire reinforcements, the brigade immediately split its troops into two ways, pushed all the way to the west, and besieged the Egyptian army stronghold of Ruafa Dam all the way to the east. The Egyptian army resisted tenaciously with fortifications composed of more than 20 anti-tank bunkers, but failed to resist the advance of the Israeli army. Israeli troops occupied the area that night and then turned to defense. The fighting between Umm Shihan and Umm Kaft was also fierce, and the troops of the two battalions of the Egyptian army withstood the attacks of the two brigades of the Israeli army. On October 31, Dayan’s Chief of Staff personally urged the 10th Infantry Brigade to attack Umm Kraft, but it was violently attacked by Egyptian artillery, and the attack was repeatedly frustrated. Brigadier Goodier was replaced. At the same time, the Israeli army ordered the 37th mechanized brigade Umm Kaft. In the early morning of November 1st, the vanguard troops of the 37th brigade launched an attack, which was intensively fired by the Egyptian artillery and anti-tank weapons. The follow-up troops also strayed into the minefield. Brigadier Golinda was killed, most officers and men were injured, and the attack failed. The Israeli General Staff had to order to stop attacking Umm Kaft’s position. But by this time Abu Augras had fallen into the hands of the Israeli army.

　　British and French air strikes on Egypt and the withdrawal of Egyptian troops from Sinai

　　Just as the Egyptian army resisted the Israeli army in Sinai, and a large number of Egyptian troops marched into Sinai from the canal and prepared for a large-scale counterattack, Britain and France issued an "ultimatum" to Egypt on the pretext of protecting canal shipping, demanding a ceasefire between Egypt and Israel, and allowing British and French troops to enter the canal area, otherwise sending troops to intervene. After being rejected by Egypt, the British and French air forces bombed 15 airports, some barracks and important economic and transportation facilities in Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez and other cities in Egypt on the afternoon of October 31, and bombed Egyptian troops in Sinai in an attempt to intercept Egyptian troops in Sinai Peninsula. Egypt saw through this strategic attempt by Britain and France. After the air strikes by Britain and France, Egyptian President Nasser ordered reinforcements to stop entering Sinai, and the defenders in Sinai quickly withdrew to the canal area in order to prevent Britain and France from occupying the canal area and making the Sinai team in danger of being attacked. In this way, the Egyptian army began to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula in an organized and planned way. Although the Egyptian troops stationed in Umm Shihan and Umm Kaft were surrounded by Israeli troops on three sides, they still used the cover of night to retreat in the direction of Ahriche.

　　On October 31, after the British and French air strikes on Egypt, the Israeli army attacked the Egyptian army, which was preparing to retreat. But along the way, it was stubbornly blocked by the Egyptian army. By the time the Israeli army entered Ahriche in the early morning of November 2, the main force of the Egyptian army had retreated.

　　Breaking the blockade of straits of tiran is the main purpose of Israel’s war. Sharm el-Sheikh is an important town on the west bank of straits of tiran. On November 2nd, the 9th Brigade of the Israeli army attacked Sharm el-Sheikh. After receiving the evacuation order from the Egyptian headquarters, the defenders of the two battalions of the Egyptian army in the area had to stick to their positions because of the blockade of the British navy at sea and the lack of transportation on land. The Israeli army has launched many attacks, but it has not succeeded. On the 5th, the Egyptian army lost its position under the condition of being attacked from many sides and fighting alone. But at this time, the main force of the Egyptian army has all withdrawn from the Sinai Peninsula, thus preserving its effective strength.

　　The battle between the Egyptian army and the British and French troops in the canal area

　　The fighting between the Egyptian army and the British and French troops was mainly carried out in Port Said. From November 1st, the British and French air forces bombed Port Said continuously. At dawn on November 5th, Britain and France wanted to airdrop the first batch of paratroopers to Port Said. About 600 British paratroopers landed around the airport of Encryptor and quickly occupied the airport. 500 French paratroopers landed in Fuad Port and quickly occupied the water supply plant. At 1: 45 pm, the second batch of British and French paratroopers landed in the above two places.

　　On the morning of November 6, the British and French troops first attacked the defensive position of Port Said with heavy artillery fire, and then 22,000 marines began to land. The British Navy’s Third Assault Brigade landed in Port Said, and the French Marine Corps landed in Port Fuad. Late at night on the 6th, the British and French landing troops went south along the Suez Canal in an attempt to occupy the canal area in one fell swoop, but they were resisted by the Egyptian army. Egyptian soldiers and civilians rose to defend Port Said. After the first batch of British and French paratroopers landed, the Egyptian authorities quickly told the residents where the enemy landed through broadcasts at important locations, and the masses immediately gathered to help the defenders destroy the enemy. So that the British and French troops never completely occupied Port Said, and the vanguard troops only entered Kabu, 27 kilometers south of Port Said. The actions of Britain and France were condemned by the international community. After accepting the UN ceasefire resolution, a ceasefire was announced on November 6th. In December, all British and French troops withdrew from Egypt. In March of the following year, the Israeli army also withdrew from Egypt.

　　During the whole war, the British and French bombing of Egypt lasted for 6 days, and the ground battle lasted for more than 40 hours, with 300-400 casualties and more than 50 aircraft lost. There are about 1,000 casualties in Israel. In Egypt, more than 1,000 people were killed, more than 20,000 people were injured, 200 planes were lost, and five major cities were severely damaged. 12,000 houses were destroyed by the war. Although Israel withdrew from Sinai Peninsula, the Egyptian blockade on straits of tiran was lifted, and the navigation in the Gulf of Aqaba was no longer blocked. (Excerpted from The Story of Major Military Events in the World after World War II by Xie Zhaohui and Luo Qingwang)

Editor: Wang Yuxi