October 6, 1973 with Israel, The Battle of the Crossing
Egypt, History, 10/7/2002

The October War is an outstanding landmark in contemporary military thought. This war has reversed many military theories, which have remained rigid for long years. The war has proved it was possible to make a surprise attack, cross the most difficult water barriers, represented in the Suez Canal and cut through the strongest defense fortifications, such as the Barlev line. Most important, the October War proved that the combatant is the most significant element in the battle field, given that the Egyptian soldier successfully managed to overcome what was called "the technological gap between armies".

Stages of Arab-Israeli Conflict Prior to October 1973

The period following the June 1967 war witnessed the rebuilding of the Egyptian armed forces. Armed conflict between Egypt and Israel passed through four stages:

1. Stages of defiance and persistence: June 1967-August 1968.

2. Stages of deterrence and active defense: September 1968-February 1969.

3. Stages of attrition: March 1969-August 1970.

4. Stages of cease-fire, ending up with the start of the crossing battle on October 6, 1973.

Preparations for the War

All State sectors were prepared for rushing into the battle of destiny through moral and spiritual conditioning, rebuilding self-confidence and economic preparations, whereby the armed forces requirements were provided and their combat capabilities upgraded. In developing the organizational structure of the armed forces, consideration was given to strategic and tactical balance.

The Crossing Plan:

Based on thorough studies covering various aspects of the battle, a crossing plan was tailored. These included the identification of military goals, phases of execution, mobilization of the scene of battle, intensive training of the armed forces in similar conditions of the battle. High-level and close coordination was made by the Egyptian and Syrian armed forces, thereby allowing the war to start simultaneously on both fronts.

The Decision to Cross the Canal

On October 5, 1973 late President Muhammad Anwar Sadat issued a decision for the crossing to proceed, involving three main tasks:

1. Put an end to military stalemate by violating cease-fire on October 6, 1973.

2. Inflict the gravest possible losses on Israel, in terms of personnel, armor and equipment.

3. Work for the liberation of the occupied territories on successive phases, depending on the capabilities of the armed forces.

Zero- hour

A zero- hour was set for the battle of crossing to start at 2.05 PM on October 6, 1973. This timing was set for several reasons:

1. The month of October was selected on account of the prevailing mild climate, long nighttime and best air-water conditions. The month of October 1973 coincided with the holy month of Ramadan, wherein Israel discounted the possibility of any military action to be taken on the part of the Egyptians.

2. The Sixth of October 1973 was selected as it coincided with a Saturday, the official weekend in Israel, as well as Yum Kippur i.e. Day of Forgiveness.

3. The 2.05 PM time was selected as it provided sufficient daytime hours for both the Egyptian and Syrian forces to launch the first strike, whereas it does not allow Israel enough opportunity to respond before the last daylight has gone off.

This also allowed crossing equipment to be dropped into the canal waters in the dead of night, and installed in the moonlight.

Beginning of the Battle

On October 6, the crossing battle started. Successfully crossing the Suez Canal, the Egyptian forces seized the Barlev line and hoisted the Egyptian flag on the land of Sinai. At zero- hour, 220 Egyptian aircrafts flew to Sinai, dealing devastating blows to Israeli troops. Within less than 6 hours from the beginning of the battle, more than 80,000 Egyptian infantry troops crossed to the east bank of the Canal. Within 24 hours, four infantry and armored divisions occupied a 5-kilometre area east of the Suez Canal.

As a result of the coordination between the air strike and preparatory artillery fire, the crossing of infantry personnel and the erection of bridges and crossovers across the Suez Canal, mechanical and armored troops flowed into Sinai smoothly and thoroughly, leading to loss of balance of Israeli movement.

Cease-fire Decision

Violent fighting between both parties continued along the Sinai front, until the Security Council issued its cease-fire resolution at 18.50, October 22, 1973.

The cease-fire resolution, providing for Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories to the June 4. 1967 borders, was agreed to and complied with by Egypt, further agreed to by Israel on the same day.

Israeli Abortive Attempts

Three days after it has agreed upon the Security Council cease-fire resolution, Israel violated the cease-fire, with the purpose of making a visionary victory to cover up its defeat and dampen the real victory already scored by the Egyptian forces. In view of the losses inflicted thereon, Israel was forced to abide by the cease-fire resolution and accept a peaceful settlement, rather than face a protracted war of attrition.

Results of October War:

1. The war put an end to the state of no-peace no-war, as well as the stalemate which has prevailed since 1967. This constituted a major goal for Egypt.

2. Egypt regained its leading position in the Arab states.

3. The war provided a proof of the efficiency and high combat capability of the Egyptian army.

4. The war reflected the best image of Arab solidarity, resulting in the use of oil as a weapon in the service of the Arab cause.

5. The war gave a severe psychological shock to the Israeli people, as it proved that they were facing a powerful opponent. Thus, Israeli leadership had to reconsider the situation in the light of the collapse of the Israeli security theory and the fallacy of the invincible Israeli army.

6. The October War caused the super powers to give serious consideration to the question of peace in the Middle East.

7. A most important outcome of the October War was that it paved the way for achieving a peace based on justice. Accordingly, Egypt launched its battle for peace until the Egyptian-Israeli peace accord was signed on March 26, 1979. On May 26, 1979, the first phase of Israeli withdrawal from Sinai started, and the final phase of withdrawal was completed on May 25, 1982. The issue of Taba was brought to arbitration, ending up with by the International Arbitration Tribunal, on September 29, 1988, adjudging Taba as a purely Egyptian territory.

Previous Stories:
  Signing of evacuation treaty October 19, 1954   (10/19/2000)
  President Mubarak's speech on the 27th anniversary of the victory of 1973 October war   (10/5/2000)

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