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map. "The
History Guy" is a Registered Trademark. Arab-Israeli
Wars (1948-Present) See the
Gaza
Strip Conflict/Gaza War * the Arab flags, from top
left to bottom right: Palestine, Egypt, Syria,
Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and
Jordan. Click on the blue links to access specific
pages. Israeli War of Independence/ "al-Nakba" (The
Disaster) (1948-1949)--Upon independence,
Israel was invaded by the armies of six Arab
nations: Egypt, Syria, Transjordan (later Jordan),
Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In addition, local
Arab Palestinian forces also fought the Jewish
Israelis. Egyptian
Seizure of the Israeli ship Bat Galim
(Summer,
1954)—Egypt seized the Israeli
ship Bat Galim as it attempted to enter the Suez
Canal. According to various international
agreements, the Suez Canal is supposed to be
accessible to ships of all nations. This
provoked worsening tensions between Israel and
Egypt. Gaza
Raid (Feb. 28,
1955)—Israeli forces conducted a
raid, a response to repeated guerrilla attacks
and the seizure of an Israeli ship by Egypt,
resulted in the deaths of 51 Egyptian soldiers
and 8 Israeli troops. This raid was the
largest of its kind against Arab forces since
the end of the First Arab-Israeli War in
1949. The Sinai
War (1956) [Also known as the Suez
War]--The invasion and temporary conquest of
Egypt's Sinai Peninsula by Israel, while France and
Great Britain seized the Suez Canal. Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
(1960-Present)--Israel faced guerrilla and
terrorist warfare from several Palestinian armies,
most of whom united under the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO), led by Yassir Arafat. Current
fighting involves Israel against more religiously
militant groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as
well as against Arafat's Palestinian Authority.
(This includes the Palestinian guerrilla warfare
against Israel from the 1960's, original Intifada
(1988-1992) and the current "Al-Aqsa" Intifada
(2000-Present), and the West Bank (2004) and Gaza
Invasions (2006) by Israel and the Palestinian
suicide and rocket attacks which prompted those
invasions. (See below.) Israeli-Syrian
Border and Air Battle (Nov.
13, 1964)—Israel and Syria
both claimed sovereignty over several
Demilitarized Zones along their border.
These Zones were set up as part of the
cease-fire ending the First Arab-Israeli
War. Israel attempted to farm the land in
these Zones, while Syria developed a project to
divert water from the Jordan River, which Israel
shared with both Syria and Jordan. Syrian
forces often fired on Israeli tractors
attempting to farm the Zones, while Israel
looked for ways to interrupt the Syrian
diversion project. On Nov. 13, 1964,
Syrian forces stationed on the top of the Golan
Heights, a plateau overlooking Israeli territory
in the Jordan River valley, fired on Israeli
tractors. Israeli forces returned
fire. Syrian artillery then targeted
Israeli civilian villages. Israel
responded with air attacks on Syrian
forces. This battle resulted in 4 Israeli
dead and 9 wounded. Syrian losses included
two tanks and machines involved in the diversion
project. One result of this clash was
Syria’s accelerated acquisition of more and
better Soviet-made fighter planes. (Oren,
2001). West Bank
Raids (May
1965)—After Palestinian
guerrilla raids resulting in the deaths of 6
Israelis, the Israeli military conducted raids
on the West Bank towns of Qalqilya, Shuna and
Jenin. 1966—Israel
reported 93 incidents along its
borders. West Bank
Raid (April 30 1966)—Israeli
forces destroyed over two dozen houses in the
West Bank town of Rafat, killing 11
civilians. This attack was in response to
Palestinian raids on Israel. Most of these
attacks on Israel West Bank
Raids (1966)—Israeli forces
raided the Hebron area of the West Bank.
These raids resulted in 8 civilian deaths and
firefights with the Jordanian Army. Israeli-Syrian
Border Battles (Summer,
1966)—Continued artillery and tank
duels along the Golan Heights front led to
: Israeli-Syrian
Air Battle (July 7,
1966)—Responding to the continued
fighting along the border, Israeli planes
attacked Syrian forces, resulting in the loss of
one Syrian MiG fighter plane. Israeli-Syrian
Air/Sea Battle (Aug. 15,
1966)—After an Israeli patrol boat ran
aground on the eastern shore of the Sea of
Galilee (according to the 1949 cease-fire
agreement, Israeli forces were not supposed to
approach within 250 meters of the eastern shore,
which was a Demilitarized Zone), Syrian planes
attacked it. Israel responded, shooting
down two MiG planes. Samu Raid
(West Bank) (November 13,
1966)—Following a land mine
explosion which killed three Israeli policemen
and wounded one, Israel decided to launch a
large retaliatory raid (called Operation
Shredder) into the West Bank, to strike at a
Palestinian (al-Fatah) guerrilla base near
Hebron. Designed to show Israeli military
strength, the raiding force consisted of 10
tanks, forty half-tracks (a troop transportation
vehicle) and around 400 soldiers. The
force enjoyed air cover from Israeli war
planes. This force destroyed a police
station at the town of Rujm al-Madfa’ and
then moved on to the town of Samu’.
As the Israelis demolished houses in Samu’,
a small Jordanian force approached and was
ambushed by the Israelis. This battle
resulted in 15 Jordanian dead and 54
wounded. The leader of the Israeli ambush
was killed and 10 of his men wounded.
Israeli planes chased off the Jordanian air
force, shooting down a Jordanian fighter
plane. This raid also resulted in 3 Arab
civilian deaths and 96 wounded. Besides the
large numbers of casualties (on both sides) from
what was supposed to be a relatively swift and
easy raid, Israel suffered diplomatic
setbacks. The United States was quite
upset over this large attack on one of
Washington’s few Arab friends
(Jordan’s King Hussein) and at the lack of
response to the Syrians, who were the true
sponsors of most Palestinian attacks in
Israel. Riots broke out in Jordan at the
seemingly ineffectual response of the Jordanian
military and its apparent inability to protect
Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
The Samu raid inflamed Arab public opinion in
the Middle East and turned out to be one of the
factors leading up to the Six-Day War of
1967. The Six-Day
War (1967)--In a rapid pre-emptive attack,
Israel crushed the military forces of Egypt, Jordan
and Syria and seized large amounts of land from
each. Iraq also participated in the fighting on the
Arab side. The War of Attrition (1968-1970)--The War
of Attrition was a limited border war fought
between Egypt and Israel in the aftermath of the
Six-Day War. It was initiated by Egypt as a way to
recapture the Sinai Peninsula after losing it to
Israel in 1967. A cease-fire in 1970 ended the
fighting, but left the borders unchanged. The Yom Kippur (Ramadan) War (1973)--In a
surprise attack launched on the Jewish Yom Kippur
holiday (the dates also fell on the Muslim Ramadan
holiday), Egypt and Syria attacked Israel. Despite
aid from Iraq, the Arab forces failed to defeat
Israel. Israeli Invasion of Lebanon
(1978)--Operation Litani was the official name
of Israel's 1978 invasion of Lebanon up to the
Litani river. The invasion was a military success,
as the Israeli military expelled the PLO from
Southern Lebanon, where they had created a de facto
state within a state. An international outcry over
the invasion forced a partial Israeli retreat and
the creation of a United Nations patrolled buffer
zone between the Arab guerrillas and the Israeli
military. See also The
Israeli-Lebanon Conflict
(1978-Present). The Osirak Raid (1981)--An Israeli air
attack on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor. The Israeli Invasion of Lebanon
(1982-1984)--In response to repeated guerrilla
attacks by the PLO, which were launched from South
Lebanon, Israel invaded with the intent of
destroying Arafat's forces. Syria, which maintained
a large army in Lebanon, fought Israel and suffered
an embarrassing defeat. See The
Israeli-Lebanon Conflict
(1978-Present). The Israeli Occupation of South Lebanon
(1984-2000)--As they withdrew from most of Lebanon
seized in the 1982 invasion, Israel held onto a
large part of Southern Lebanon with the aid of the
"South Lebanon Army (SLA)," a militia set up and
supported by Israel. This occupation was opposed by
the PLO and other Palestinian groups as an
extension of their long-running conflict with
Israel. Also, other militia armies (mostly Lebanese
Muslim groups), such as Hezbollah (supported by
Iran and Syria), stepped up attacks on the
Israeli-occupied region as well as on settlements
and military targets in northern Israel. In 2000,
Israel withdrew from Lebanon and the SLA disbanded.
See The
Israeli-Lebanon Conflict
(1978-Present). The First Intifada (1987-1993)--Urban
uprising against Israeli rule in the West Bank and
Gaza. The Oslo Peace Accords end the Intifada and
lead to the formation of the Palestinian Authority
with PLO Chief Yasser Arafat as the official leader
of the Palestininans. The Second Persian
Gulf War (1991)--While Israel took no
offensive action in this war, Iraq did launch Scud
missiles which struck Israel and almost caused
Israel's intervention in the Gulf War. The "Al-Aqsa" Intifada--Urban
guerrilla/commando war waged between Israel and
various Palestinian groups, including Hamas.
Between September, 2000 and, September, 2007: 4,453
Palestinians and 1,114 Israelis have been killed
due to the escalating violence. (Source on
casualties: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2003911771_intifada29.html) The
Israeli-Hezbollah War (also known in Israel as "The
Second Lebanon War (2006)--In response to
repeated guerrilla attacks by the the Shiite
Lebanese militia Hezbollah, Israel invaded southern
Lebanon, set up a naval blockade, and launched a
powerful bombing campaign in order to win the
release of two captured Israeli soldiers. The
Israeli-Lebanon Conflict
(1978-Present). The
Gaza War (2008)--War
between the Palestinian Hamas rulers of the Gaza
Strip and Israel. Began in December,
2008. Threat
of an Israeli-Iran
War--Scenarios for a
possible Israeli attack on Iran, or an Iranian
attack on Israel. Emphasis on the nuclear threat
from Iran.
Copyright
© 1998-2011 Roger A. Lee and History Guy
Media; Last Modified: 01.17.11 "The
History Guy" is a Registered Trademark. The
Tragedy of
Palestine
-- From the Jordan government
website. Israel:
problems of the new state,
1948-67
--From the U.S. Army Area
Handbook. Young
warrior
--A personal reminiscence
of the 1948-1949 war from an
Israeli soldier. Suez
War--History
Guy page on the 1956 war
involving Egypt, France, Great
Britain, and
Israel. Israel
1967 and
Afterward
- From the U.S. Army Area
Handbooks. Israel
at Fifty: Our Introduction to
The Six Day
War
- Why the war was so
important, and how it affects
Israel today. Six
Day War - An
Introduction
- Including pages on the
Egyptian, Jordanian, and
Syrian fronts, as well as a
map. From the Israel Defense
Forces website. Occupied
Golan--Syrian
website on the 1973
war. Echoes
of
Qana
- Lebanese page on a 1996
Israeli attack in South
Lebanon. Hezbollah:
Israel and Lebanon - The
Facts--
From Hezbollah's
website. Entebbe
Diary--An
account of the Entebbe Raid
(1976). From the Israeli
Defense Forces
website. Background
on the
PLO--From
IRIS, a pro-Israel
group. Read
the History Guy Weblog and the
War
and Conflict
Journal--New Earthquake
Adds to Haiti's Tragic
History--posted
Jan. 13, 2010 Yemen
With al-Qaida Threat May Be
New Front In
War--posted
Jan. 4, 2010 al-Qaida
in North Africa
Strikes--posted
Dec. 31, 2009 Attempt
to Bomb Northwest Airlines
Flight 253 on Christmas Day
2009--posted
Dec. 26, 2009 Joseph
Stalin: History's
Villain--posted
Dec. 22, 2010 Kargil
War
--Recounts the
1999 border war between India and
Pakistan. American
Raid on al-Qaida forces in
Syria--On
October 25, 2008, American
special forces conducted a
military raid against al-Qaida
forces in the Syrian border area
at the Sukkariyeh Farm near the
town of Abu Kamal. American/NATO
Raid in the Angoor Ada area,
Pakistan--The
September 3, 2008 commando raid
on Taliban targets in northwest
Pakistan's Waziristan
region. Mexico's
Drug
War
(2006-Present)--Mexico's ongoing
war with the drug
cartels--English language
version Guerra
contra la droga de
México
(2006-Presente)--Mexico's ongoing
war with the drug
cartels--Spanish language
version Wars
and Conflicts of Burma/Myanmar
--The
Wars and Conflicts of
Burma/Myanmar from the
Anglo-Burmese Wars to the
pro-democracy Myanmar uprising of
2007. Wars
of Iran and
Persia--Lists
the wars and conflicts of Persia
and Iran from the 18th Century to
the present. The
2007 Pro-Democracy Uprising in
Myanmar--The
current uprising in
Myanmar. North
Lebanon Conflict
(2007)--Fighting
between the Lebanese government
and a Jihadist Palestinian
militia calling itself Fatah
al-Islam. bin
Laden's Declaration of War
Against the United
States--
Long before 9/11, Osama bin Laden
declared his hatred and his
intent to harm
America. Current
Wars of the
World--A
listing of current wars and
conflicts around the
world. Military
Coups in
Turkey-A
listing of military coups in
modern Turkey
(1960-1997). Comparing
America's Wars Duration in
Months-A
look at America's wars and
comparing their length in months.
War
in
Afghanistan--Details
on the origins of this ongoing
war; part of the War on
Terror Ethiopia-Somalia
War of
2006*New*--A
brief description of the
Ethiopia-Somalia War which began
in 2006, and is a part of the
larger Somali Civil
War. Ethiopia-Somali
Wars and
Conflicts*New*--Listing
the wars and conflicts between
Ethiopia and Somalia Wars
of
Germany--The
wars and conflicts of Germany
from the Franco-Prussian War of
1870-1871 to the War in
Afghanistan. Iraq
War: Links and
Resources*New*--Links
and resources on the Iraq
War. Iraq
War: Prisoner Abuse and Abu
Ghraib Links and
Resources*New*--Links
and resources on the Iraq War's
biggest scandal. Iraq
War: Battles and
Campaigns*New*--Links
and resources on Iraq War battles
and military
operations. Israel-Lebanon/Hezbollah
War of
2006--*New*--Details
and analysis on the warfare along
the Lebanese border which began
in July, 2006! Israel-Lebanon
Conflict--*New*--Background
information on the decades-long
warfare and conflict along the
Israel/Lebanon border. Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict--*New*--Background
information on the long-running
warfare between Israel and the
Palestinians! Israeli-Palestinian
Battles and
Campaigns--*New*--Specific
information on the warfare raids,
battles, terrorist attacks, and
retaliations between Israel and
the Palestinians! Waziristan
War----The
War on Terror expands to
Pakistan's Northwest
Frontier! Hamas----The
terrorist/resistance group now
ruling the Palestinian
Authority! Wars
of
2006--*--Wars
and conflicts of 2006!
A chronicle of newer and more
recent conflicts and wars from around the globe
A listing of wars and war
pages on the History Guy site
Copyright
© 1998-2011 Roger A. Lee and 02.06.11
*
Qibya
Raid (October,
1951)—Israeli troops, led by
Major Ariel
Sharon
(Israeli Prime Minister 2001-2006) destroyed
dozens of buildings in the West Bank (Jordan)
town of Qibya. Civilian deaths reached
69.
First
al-Fatah (PLO) Raid (Dec.
31, 1964)—Yassir
Arafat’s al-Fatah faction of the Palestine
Liberation Organization conducted its first raid
into Israel from Lebanon.
Israeli
Air Strike on Syria (October, 2003)--
Israeli warplanes hit the Syrian village of
Ain al-Saheb, near Damascus.
Israeli
Air Strike on Syria (Sept. 6,
2007)—Israeli warplanes overflew
northern Syria, dropping ordnance on a
(publicly) unknown target. According to both the
New York Times and ABC News, the target was a
nuclear facility being built with North Korean
aid and assistance. See War
and Conflict Journal's
article on this attack.
History:
the State of Israel
(1948-)
--From the Israeli
Government.
Egyptian
Military
History--
Part of the Egyptian
Military's official
website.
Encyclopedia
of the Orient: Six-Day
War
- Includes hypertext links to
background information on the
countries involved in the Six
Day War.
Deterrence
Theory: Success or Failure in
Arab-Israeli
Wars?
- Essay written by Elli
Lieberman from the National
Defense University.
Amnesty
International: Israel-Lebanon
Background--
Iran
War Creeping Upon
Us--posted
Jan. 16, 2010