Arab Armies Launch Invasion as First Arab-Israeli War Begins
Forces from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq cross borders into former Mandatory Palestine following Israel's declaration of independence.
JERUSALEM - Arab armies from five nations crossed into Palestine today, launching a full-scale invasion one day after Israel declared independence. Egyptian forces advanced from the south, while Jordanian, Syrian, Lebanese, and Iraqi troops entered from the east and north.
The Arab League Secretary-General Azzam Pasha declared this a “war of extermination and momentous massacre,” as Arab forces moved to prevent the consolidation of the new Jewish state.
Egyptian forces, the largest Arab contingent, advanced along the coastal road toward Tel Aviv and through the Negev desert. The Jordanian Arab Legion, considered the best-trained Arab force, seized positions in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Israeli forces, hastily organized from various underground militias including the Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi, scrambled to defend multiple fronts. The new Israel Defense Forces (IDF) faces severe disadvantages in manpower and heavy weapons.
“We will fight for every settlement, every road, every hill,” declared Yigael Yadin, the IDF’s chief of operations. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Israeli forces have managed to hold key positions during the first day of fighting.
The United Nations Security Council called for an immediate ceasefire, but both sides appear determined to achieve their objectives through military means. International observers fear a protracted conflict that could destabilize the entire Middle East region.