The Suez War Begins With an Israeli Attack in Sinai
On October 29, 1956, Israeli forces attacked into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
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The Opening Attack
On October 29, 1956, Israeli forces attacked into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The operation began the military phase of the Suez Crisis.
A Wider Plan
The attack was linked to plans involving Britain and France. Their intervention followed, rather than every participant beginning identical operations at the same instant.
The Canal and Its Control
The crisis developed around Egypt’s nationalization of the Suez Canal and conflicting strategic interests. The waterway’s importance extended far beyond a local border dispute.
The American Position
The Eisenhower administration opposed the intervention. The episode therefore cannot be described accurately as a unified Western military action.
A Crisis With Different Stages
The October 29 attack, subsequent ultimatum and later landings belong to a sequence. Preserving those steps clarifies how a regional operation became a larger international confrontation.
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