Suez and Sinai Campaign October–November 1956

The Suez and Sinai Campaign was the invasion of Egypt by Israel, France and Britain in October–November 1956. Egypt, increasingly hostile to Israel, began importing Soviet arms, nationalized the Suez Canal, signed a tripartite agreement with Syria and Jordan, placing Egyptian President Nasser in charge of their three armies, and blocked Israel shipping from using the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba. On 29 October, angered by these provocations, but unsupported by the US and UN Security Council, the Israelis, aided by the French and British, launched military offensives against Egypt. Israeli paratroopers and infantry advanced on the Canal and both gulfs while, on 5 November in Port Said, French and British amphibious ships landed commandoes and captured the port. After Russian threats of an extreme military intervention, all three allies withdrew. Although they had not achieved their goals, Israel captured and held the Gaza strip.