Egypt and Syria Launch Surprise Attack on Yom Kippur
Arab armies strike during Jewish holy day, catching Israel unprepared as Egyptian forces cross Suez Canal and Syria attacks Golan Heights.
TEL AVIV - Egypt and Syria launched coordinated surprise attacks against Israel today, striking during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when the nation was virtually shut down in prayer and fasting.
At 2 PM, as most Israelis were in synagogues, 240 Egyptian aircraft struck Israeli positions in Sinai while 100,000 troops began crossing the Suez Canal. Simultaneously, Syria unleashed massive artillery barrages on the Golan Heights followed by attacks by 1,400 tanks.
“The enemy has attacked on our holiest day, but we will prevail,” Prime Minister Golda Meir announced in emergency broadcasts that interrupted the traditional Yom Kippur silence. Sirens wailed across Israel as reservists rushed from synagogues to mobilization centers.
Egyptian forces achieved complete tactical surprise, using water cannons to breach Israeli sand barriers along the Suez Canal. Within hours, five infantry divisions established bridgeheads on the eastern bank, overrunning the lightly-manned Bar Lev Line.
“Allah Akbar! We have crossed!” Egyptian President Anwar Sadat declared. “The myth of Israeli invincibility lies shattered in the Sinai sands.”
On the Golan Heights, Syrian armor outnumbers Israeli defenders 9-to-1, threatening to break through to the Galilee. Israeli tank crews fight desperately against overwhelming odds, with some positions holding despite 20-to-1 disadvantages.
The coordinated assault caught Israeli intelligence completely off-guard despite warning signs. Military leaders had dismissed Egyptian military exercises as routine and believed Arabs wouldn’t attack during Ramadan.
Palestinians in the occupied territories watch with mixed emotions. While many hope for liberation, Israeli authorities have imposed strict curfews, fearing uprising attempts.
“This could be our moment,” said a West Bank resident who asked not to be named. “If Egypt and Syria succeed, perhaps we can finally return home.”
The United States and Soviet Union, backing their respective allies, face potential confrontation as the conflict escalates. Oil markets panic as Arab states threaten to use petroleum as a weapon.
Israel’s survival again hangs in the balance as it fights on two fronts, this time without the advantage of preemption that brought victory in 1967.