israeloutlook.com

As Day Five began, it was clear that the war for Israel’s survival was over. What was left were loose ends. Or, maybe I should say, one very important loose end.

Syria.

For years Syria had been shelling communities in the north, confident that her impregnable positions on the Golan would deter any counter attack by Israeli forces. Artillery barrages were a fact of life for those living within range of Syrian guns.

As Day Five began, it was clear that the war for Israel’s survival was over. What was left were loose ends. Or, maybe I should say, one very important loose end.

Syria.

For years Syria had been shelling communities in the north, confident that her impregnable positions on the Golan would deter any counter attack by Israeli forces. Artillery barrages were a fact of life for those living within range of Syrian guns.

Read Full Post »

As the sun rose on Day Four, the war was essentially over. There was only a little more fighting and dying left to do.

In the Sinai, some Egyptian units were still putting up a fight, and the Jordanians continued an organized retreat. But by 3:30 p.m., Egypt would accept a cease fire, and a few hours later the last major battle in the Sinai (at Kalat a-nahal) would wind down. Just after midnight, Israeli units would begin linking up and consolidating their victories on the eastern side of the Suez Canal.

As the sun rose on Day Four, the war was essentially over. There was only a little more fighting and dying left to do.

In the Sinai, some Egyptian units were still putting up a fight, and the Jordanians continued an organized retreat. But by 3:30 p.m., Egypt would accept a cease fire, and a few hours later the last major battle in the Sinai (at Kalat a-nahal) would wind down. Just after midnight, Israeli units would begin linking up and consolidating their victories on the eastern side of the Suez Canal.

Read Full Post »

Day three would mark the most important moment of the war.

During the first two days of the war, the Egyptians had been meeting defeat after defeat, and had been falling back in a semi-orderly manner. But, on the third day, as the Egyptian 125th Brigade retreated towards the Suez canal, they ran into elements of Ariel Sharon’s 4th Division that had captured the Mitla Pass and the Jidda Pass. The orderly retreat became disorganized chaos as officers abandoned their units to flee towards Cairo.

Yet, even as the Egyptian armies were disintegrating, Gamal Abdel Nasser still refused to acknowledge his untenable position by refusing the UN Security Council cease fire initiative.  

Day three would mark the most important moment of the war.

During the first two days of the war, the Egyptians had been meeting defeat after defeat, and had been falling back in a semi-orderly manner. But, on the third day, as the Egyptian 125th Brigade retreated towards the Suez canal, they ran into elements of Ariel Sharon’s 4th Division that had captured the Mitla Pass and the Jidda Pass. The orderly retreat became disorganized chaos as officers abandoned their units to flee towards Cairo.

Yet, even as the Egyptian armies were disintegrating, Gamal Abdel Nasser still refused to acknowledge his untenable position by refusing the UN Security Council cease fire initiative.  

Read Full Post »

Day two of the war dawns.

Day One was an unparalleled success, and the question was whether day two would be as unqualified a victory.

One of the most famous sayings attributed to military battle plans is this one:

No plan survives the first enemy contact*
       — Helmut von Moltke, the Elder (1800-1891)

The plan had already had one failure. The goal was to avoid combat with the Jordanians. That part had failed already. But, the great power of Israeli war fighting, and the Israelis themselves, was flexibility. Provision had already been made for the opening of the Jordanian front, and Israeli units were making steady progress.

Day two of the war dawns.

Day One was an unparalleled success, and the question was whether day two would be as unqualified a victory.

One of the most famous sayings attributed to military battle plans is this one:

No plan survives the first enemy contact*
       — Helmut von Moltke, the Elder (1800-1891)

The plan had already had one failure. The goal was to avoid combat with the Jordanians. That part had failed already. But, the great power of Israeli war fighting, and the Israelis themselves, was flexibility. Provision had already been made for the opening of the Jordanian front, and Israeli units were making steady progress.

Read Full Post »

June 5th was the beginning.

Operation Focus was launched just before 8 a.m. when Israeli fighter bombers took off and headed out to sea. The goal was to grab control of the air as soon as possible, so that Israel’s air force could assist forces on the ground. Of course, the air strike was also timed to happen as the Egyptian High Command was commuting to their offices - and stuck in traffic at 8:45.

A half an hour after Israel’s Air Force takes off, General Gavish orders the army to engage Egyptian forces massed on Israel’s southern border.

June 5th was the beginning.

Operation Focus was launched just before 8 a.m. when Israeli fighter bombers took off and headed out to sea. The goal was to grab control of the air as soon as possible, so that Israel’s air force could assist forces on the ground. Of course, the air strike was also timed to happen as the Egyptian High Command was commuting to their offices - and stuck in traffic at 8:45.

A half an hour after Israel’s Air Force takes off, General Gavish orders the army to engage Egyptian forces massed on Israel’s southern border.

Read Full Post »