What happened in the Six-Day War?

Response

The Six-Day War, also known as the June War or the Third Arab-Israeli War, was an international conflict that took place in June 1967. This series of battles involved Israel against several Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. The Arab nations received varying degrees of support from more than half a dozen other countries in their conflict with Israel. Although Israel initiated full-scale military action, most analysts agree that the Israelis were acting in legitimate self-defense. Israel officially started the war with a surprise airstrike against Egypt on June 5, 1967, and faced counterattacks from countries like Syria and Jordan. By June 10, Israel had gained significant territory from its adversaries, leading to a ceasefire agreement.

In the lead-up to the Six-Day War, neighboring Arab nations openly called for the destruction of Israel. These were not ambiguous statements; two years before the conflict, Egypt’s then-President Nasser pledged to seek the complete annihilation of Israel, stating, “We will not enter Palestine with its soil covered in sand, we will enter it with its soil drenched in blood.” Many Islamic states also supported guerrilla raids on Jewish territories. Tensions over these issues, along with border disputes, resulted in multiple clashes between Israeli forces and those of neighboring nations.

Subsequently, Egypt announced its intention to block all Israeli ships from using the Straits of Tiran, a crucial sea route for Israel. Egypt had previously warned Israel that such an action would be seen as an act of war. Nevertheless, Egypt proceeded to close the Straits to Israeli vessels. Other Arab nations swiftly sided with Egypt, declaring their readiness to combat Israel. Egypt then expelled UN peacekeepers from the nearby Sinai Peninsula, enabling the implementation of the blockade.

Several days later, Israel retaliated with an airstrike that caught Egypt completely off guard.

On the third day, Israeli aircraft used rapid-rearming techniques and extraordinary discipline to eliminate almost the entire Egyptian air force. This provided Israel with a clear advantage for the remainder of the conflict. Subsequently, Israel deployed ground troops to the Sinai Peninsula, only to face counter-attacks on multiple fronts. Syria and Jordan targeted cities like Tel Aviv with artillery fire and engaged in military actions in Jerusalem.

Israel engaged in combat on these three distinct fronts until a ceasefire was eventually agreed upon on the sixth day of the war. The entire conflict was a decisive victory for the Israelis from beginning to end. Israel’s territory nearly tripled as a consequence of the war, with casualties on the Israeli side amounting to less than 10 percent of those suffered by their combined adversaries. The magnitude of the victory was such that many Arab nations initially alleged that Israel had received assistance from the United States or another ally, which was not the case. The success of Israel in the Six-Day War is commonly attributed to exceptional military readiness and tactics.

Simultaneously, many analysts highlight how a single, relatively young nation managed to defeat the combined forces of several well-established states on three different fronts. For various reasons, some view the Six-Day War as a demonstration of God’s protection of His chosen people (see Genesis 12:3). The precise causes of the war and its justification remain topics of intense debate. However, most historians concur that Israel reacted to aggressive actions by Arab nations, particularly Egypt, and that the war itself resulted in a one-sided victory for Israel.