Thread by @HammadSGill

53 years ago, on this exact day, Israel provoked the Six-Day war by invading Egypt and destroying their airforce on ground. Arab-countries weren't ready for war.Egypt is 1 of the biggest military powers among Arab states.The loss of its airforce was a set back for the Arab World.

https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1268874461777924097

So, Syria, Jordan & Iraq decided to help Egypt.Following Syrian, Jordanian, and Iraqi attacks in retaliation, the Israeli Air Force proceeded to bomb air bases in those countries. By noon, the Egyptian, Jordanian and Syrian Air Forces, with about 450 aircraft, were destroyed.
2/n

About more than 80% jets were destroyed on the ground. It gave Israel air superiority over Arab countries. After destroying the force of these countries, IAF started bombing on Arab Soldiers. Arab forces were clearly losing the battle. So, they decided to seek help from Pak🇵🇰
3/n

Although, Pak wasn't officially taking part in this war, PAF sent its pilots to Arab countries because Israel was taking control of a large part of these Arab countries.Moreover, due to destruction of airforces, the morale of Arab forces went down.
4/n

Pakistan Air Force fought against Israel in the Six-day War and shot down two Israeli jets. The fighter pilot was Saiful Azam who shot down a Mirage IIIC and a Vatour while flying a Jordanian Hunter during a single sortie.
PAF is the only airforce to shot down 3 Israeli jets
5/n

As this was a secret mission, both PAF & Govt of Pak remained silent about any Pakistan's involvement in this war until it was painted by a PAF officer many years later in a military exhibition.But it was too late bcoz Saiful Azam had joined BAN🇧🇩 airforce after the 1971 war.
6/n

But both Pakistan and Jordan acknowledge the work Saif did in this war. In this war, PAF pilots repulsed many Israeli attacks.After PAF successes in this war,Jordan requested PAF to train their pilots as a gesture of good will.Even today many Jordan pilots get training in Pak 7/n

The number of aircrafts in Six day war:

Egypt : 338
Syria : 61
Jordan :29
Iraq : 23
Lebonan :1
Israel :19

(Arab countries lost 452 aircrafts as a whole)

8/n

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