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With complete air superiority in place, Israel quickly decided to move against Egyptian forces in Sinai. On June 5, 1967 General Israel Tal moved his 250 tanks, 50 guns, and paratrooper unit to Israel’s southern border. He rapidly arrived at the Egyptian held Rafah Gap and intense fighting began. Tal’s forces pushed the Egyptians back, and El Arish in Northwestern Sinai fell into Israel’s hands two days later on June 7. Egypt suffered heavy casualties due to confusion as well as prompt, precise Israeli action. While the northern flank was being secured, Israel sent the middle and southern prongs of attack into Sinai under General’s Ariel Sharon and Avraham Yoffe.
Israel’s Air Force preceded further ground action into the Sinai by wiping out Egyptian High Command. Such an air strike sent Egyptian ground forces into chaos. Ariel Sharon’s forces, however, encountered stiff resistance upon arriving at the Abu-Ageila-Kusseima region. 16,000 Egyptians with 90 Soviet WW2 T-34-85 tanks and 22 SU-100 tank destroyers. Israel’s force included 150 AMX-13 tanks, Centurions, M50 Super Shermans, and 14,000 men.
Sharon used his plan to perfection. He sent two brigades north of the region to effectively cut off Egyptian forces to the north, thus surrounding the Egyptian Army already fighting General Tal’s unit. These two brigades then encircled Abu-Ageila from the east, while a paratrooper force was helicoptered behind Egyptian positions. These maneuvers almost completely halted all heavy artillery fire against the remaining Israeli brigades. With Egyptian forces completely surrounded and cut off, Israel broke through resistance on June 6. The casualties were lopsided. Egypt lost approximately 4,000 men and 40 tanks as well as other materiel. Israel lost 19 tanks and 33 men.
From the Abu-Ageila region, Israel pushed through Egyptian positions at Jebel Libni, Bir Gafgafa, and Um-Katef. Egypt had vast numerical superiority in the region; however, Israeli infantry used anti-tank weapons to devastating effect, effectively hampering any Egyptian resistance. When Egyptian General Amer received news that Israel was successfully advancing through North Cental Sinai, he fatally ordered an Egyptian retreat. This sent the already chaotic Egyptian forces into total panic. As the retreat was under way, General Sharon planned to cut off the passes allowing Egyptian safety. Only the Gidi pass was entirely blocked, yet retreating Egyptians were met by the waiting Israeli army.
Israel’s Navy and an Independent brigade comprised the southernmost arm of the three-pronged attack into Sinai. It made light work of the remaining Egyptian defenses and helped to overrun the Peninsula. By June 8, 1967, with Sinai totally lost to the superior Israeli army, and Alexandria now under threat, President Nasser grudgingly signed a cease-fire.
The largest Arab force was utterly humiliated, sending shockwaves through the region also affecting the world. Due to such losses, Nasser and King Hussein of Jordan had to cover their tales. They concocted a story that Israel had received help from the American Sixth Fleet. Arab controlled OPEC was outraged and placed an embargo on oil shipments going to the United States. Many countries protested, and broke diplomatic relations with the United States. U.S. and British Embassies were also attacked. Israeli intelligence uncovered a phone call between Nasser and Hussein, which contained the idea to blame the United States. Israel leaked the information, which turned the neutral United States against Egypt and Jordan ultimately. The lie had turned into a massive blunder, though it did have immense consequences in the United States for the decade to come.
With Egyptian wreckage littering Sinai, and Egypt out of the War, Israel could now turn her attention toward the Eastern front of the war.
armchaircapitalist 