Yom Kippur War: Why surprise attack on Israel is reminiscent of 1973

Hamas attacked southern Israel on a religious holiday, making the Israeli Prime Minister say they were "at war." This reminded people of a surprise attack that happened 50 years ago.

The attack in the past started a war known as the Yom Kippur War. It happened on the holiest day in Judaism.

Egypt and Syria led this attack to regain land they lost in a previous war. They surprised Israel by crossing their borders.

Here's what you need to know about the Yom Kippur War:

What was the Yom Kippur War?

Egyptian troops went into the Sinai Peninsula, and Syrian forces entered the Golan Heights. They wanted to take back land Israel had won in the Six-Day War of 1967. They also wanted to make Israel agree to a lasting peace.

Israel didn't expect the attack, and many of its soldiers were not ready. At first, they struggled, but then they fought back and pushed the enemy forces out. They won and got back the Golan Heights.

The war ended with a ceasefire on October 25 after several failed attempts at peace.
Israel
The United States and the Soviet Union got close to a possible nuclear conflict because they helped their allies during the war. The Soviet Union sent weapons to Syria and Egypt, and the U.S. did the same for Israel.

This war also happened during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, so some people call it the Ramadan War.

How long did the Yom Kippur War last?

The war lasted for almost three weeks, from October 6 to October 25, 1973. Most of the fighting stopped on October 26.

Who fought in the Yom Kippur War?

Egyptian and Syrian forces attacked Israel's military.

What happened after the war?

The Yom Kippur War made countries think about peace agreements, but it was costly for everyone. Israel got back some land, but they were criticized for not being ready. Many people on all sides got hurt or killed.

"After the war, Egypt and Israel realized that another war would be too costly, both in money and lives," said Boaz Atzili, a professor at American University. This led to Israel giving back the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.

After the war, U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger worked to make peace between Israel and Egypt.

What is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur is the most important day in Judaism. It's a day to think about any wrong things done in the past year. Many Jews go to synagogues for special prayers and songs on this day. It lasts for one day. Please Share This News Thank You

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