55 years ago/June 5, 1967

The Six-Dy War began – it may not be a big exaggeration, that it also finished almost the same time – with the Israeli pre-emptive airstrike. It happened between 7:00-8:00 GMT, but it makes it hard to write about the right time, because many cases GMT is used, but Egyptian local time was GMT+1, Israeli, Jordan and Syrian local time was GMT+2. Furthermore, in case of the airstrike, some uses the time when the Israeli jets took off from their airbases, others uses the time when – for example – the first wave reached their targets in Egypt. According to the plans, the Israeli planes reached their first targets around 7:45 GMT. Some sources says that it was just an answer of Egyptian movements, but it seemed to be said for the reason to justify the airstrike. The pre-emptive airstrike was planned with incredible precision, based on the information of the intelligence. The route of the first wave of the Israeli jets was made to fit to the timetables of the Air Force of the UAR, the Arab surveillance and anti-aircraft systems, the Israeli pilots knew practically which airplane they would destroy in which position. During the first waves against the UAR the Israeli airspace stayed unprotected, they later turned against Jordanian, Syrian and Iraqi targets. At the end of the day around 400 Arab aircraft were destroyed, not to mention the infrastructure, with 19 Israeli warplanes lost in operation. The air superiority meant a great advantage for Israel, in the Egyptian and Jordanian fronts were open area, and it was easier to attack the Syrian positions in the Golan Heights as well. The attack of the Israeli land forces in the southern front under GOC Southern Command, Major General Yeshayahu Gavish began at 8:15 GMT. The main area of fighting was the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. There were practically three routes to go in western direction and these routes were the three main directions of the Israeli offensive. At 8:15 GMT the forces on the northern (right) part – in the direction of el-Arish, el-Qantara – of the front under Major General Israel Tal began their attack against Rafah, which was captured shortly, then they turned to south against the Egyptian defensive positions in Sheikh Zuweid which were overcome late afternoon with the help of the Israeli Air Force. During the day an infantry brigade were attacking Gaza and Khan Yunis which were defended by Palestine forces. In the middle – in Jebel (Jabal) Libni, Ismailia direction – the forces of Major General Avraham Yoffe advanced in the gap opened by the forces of Major General Tal and Major General Ariel Sharon and reached Bir Lahfan. In the southern (left) part – in the direction of Abu Ageila, Mitla Pass, Suez – the forces of Major General Ariel Sharon also began their attack at 8:15 GMT from Auja against the fortified Egyptians positions in Abu Ageila, Um Katef, and overcame a part of it until the afternoon. Also at 8:15 GMT as a distraction an independent operation began in (el-)Kuntilla, Themed, Nakhle direction. Kuntilla was captured during the day. In the afternoon Egyptian Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff, Field Marshal Abdel Hakim Amer gave order to send reinforcement to Abu Ageila and to hold it at all costs. During the night Egyptian counterattack began towards Abu Ageila, Um Katef. It could be a bit hard for researchers and anyone interested to get to know what happened, because the leadership of the United Arab Republic (Egypt) issued fake reports about the situation, they reduced the number of their losses, wrote about non existent counter attacks and counter measures. The sources, memoires, the reports of news agencies reflect the fake information. The problem was that these reports affected the actions of their allies. For example, King Hussein of Jordan and the Jordanian army had to work misled by the reports and believed in Egyptian operations which never happened. Also, some debated topic came from these fake reports, like the issue of a possible Western intervention. The Israeli forces of the Central Command – the Jordanian front, the West Bank and Jerusalem – were under the command of General Uzi Narkiss. The original Israeli plan concentrated on the southern front and wanted to keep Jordan and Syria away from the war as long as possible. However, King Hussein was informed about the Israeli attack at 9:45 GMT and he decided to go to war without hesitation. The Jordanian troops captured the building of the UN in Jerusalem and began shelling and shooting the Jewish side of the city, and bombarding Israeli towns and settlement. In the afternoon the troops of the IDF captured Latrun – what they failed in 1948 –, began an unsuccessful attack against Jenin. Till the evening they captured Ramallah and encircled Jerusalem, only the road to Jericho stayed open. The Jordanian efforts to relieve the city were prevented by the Israeli Air Force. Ahmed Shukeiri, Chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organization left Jerusalem for Amman. The Israeli forces of the Northern Command – Syrian front – was under the command of Lieutenant General David Elazar. On the first day the Syrians bombarded Kibbutzim near to the armistice line, while Israel responded with airstrikes. In New York the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting. Israel accused the United Arab Republic (Egypt) with hostile movements in the morning, while the UAR accused Israel with launching attack. There were reports about the events, but it couldn’t be decided who initiated the aggression. While Arab countries expressed their support towards the UAR, in Baghdad a conference of oil ministers agreed on two resolutions to stop selling Arab oil to countries committing or participating in aggression against any Arab states, also that assets of companies and nationals of countries directly or indirectly involved would be made subject to laws of war. President Lyndon B. Johnson did everything to contact his Soviet counterparts to inform them that the USA didn’t have any role in the events and would do everything to find a solution in the UN Security Council. Also, the USA and the UK declared themselves neutral. France suspended weapons shipments to the region, which only had effects on Israel. The Soviet Union expressed its support towards the governments of the UAR, Syria, Iraq, and other Arab states and blamed the war on Israel and the imperialists. It also urged the United Nations to condemn Israel.