(1)
In July 1956, Egypt's president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, acting on an anti colonialist agenda, nationalized the Suez Canal, the vital shipping link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
The British and French governments, whose citizens were the major..
In July 1956, Egypt's president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, acting on an anti colonialist agenda, nationalized the Suez Canal, the vital shipping link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
The British and French governments, whose citizens were the major..
(2)
..shareholders in the highly profitable company that operated the waterway, were furious. Israel for its part wished to regain passage through the canal, but at the same time, it also saw an opportunity to deliver a clear message to Egypt: "namely, that Nasser..
..shareholders in the highly profitable company that operated the waterway, were furious. Israel for its part wished to regain passage through the canal, but at the same time, it also saw an opportunity to deliver a clear message to Egypt: "namely, that Nasser..
(3)
..would finally pay a heavy price for supporting Palestinian freedom movement.
This convergence of interests begat a secret alliance between the 3 countries. An ambitious plan was drawn.
Israel would invade the Sinai Peninsula, thus giving the French & the British..
..would finally pay a heavy price for supporting Palestinian freedom movement.
This convergence of interests begat a secret alliance between the 3 countries. An ambitious plan was drawn.
Israel would invade the Sinai Peninsula, thus giving the French & the British..
(4)
..a pretext -- a crisis threatening the Suez -- to also invade. France promised to provide Israel with an air umbrella against attacks by the Egyptian Air Force.
Shortly before D-Day, Israel's military intelligence agency -- AMAN learned that a delegation..
..a pretext -- a crisis threatening the Suez -- to also invade. France promised to provide Israel with an air umbrella against attacks by the Egyptian Air Force.
Shortly before D-Day, Israel's military intelligence agency -- AMAN learned that a delegation..
(5)
..that a delegation that included the powerful Egyptian chief of staff, Field Marshal Abd al-Hakim Amer, and many other senior officials had left Cairo by plane for Damascus.
An opportunity presented itself. With one precision strike, Israel could eliminate nearly..
..that a delegation that included the powerful Egyptian chief of staff, Field Marshal Abd al-Hakim Amer, and many other senior officials had left Cairo by plane for Damascus.
An opportunity presented itself. With one precision strike, Israel could eliminate nearly..
(6)
..the entire Egyptian military leadership.
Israeli airforce began conducting intensive training in night interception. It was decided that Israel would do all it could do to conceal its involvement & try to make it look as if the plane had crashed bcoz of a technical fault.
..the entire Egyptian military leadership.
Israeli airforce began conducting intensive training in night interception. It was decided that Israel would do all it could do to conceal its involvement & try to make it look as if the plane had crashed bcoz of a technical fault.
(7)
The mission was code-named "Operation Rooster".
On Oct-28 1956 (one day before the land invasion), Israel's SIGINT (responsible for signal intelligence & code decryption) picked up the signal of the pilots of the Ilyushin Il-14s (carrying Egyptian military high command)..
The mission was code-named "Operation Rooster".
On Oct-28 1956 (one day before the land invasion), Israel's SIGINT (responsible for signal intelligence & code decryption) picked up the signal of the pilots of the Ilyushin Il-14s (carrying Egyptian military high command)..
(8)
..were getting ready to leave Damascus.
SIGINT informed the Israeli airforce that only one of the two Egyptian Ilyushins had taken off.
Israeli airforce Meteor Mk. 13 jet took off and closed in on Egyptian Ilyushin carrying officers. After positive identification...
..were getting ready to leave Damascus.
SIGINT informed the Israeli airforce that only one of the two Egyptian Ilyushins had taken off.
Israeli airforce Meteor Mk. 13 jet took off and closed in on Egyptian Ilyushin carrying officers. After positive identification...
(9)
..of the target, the pilot opened fire using his 4 twenty-millimeter cannons.
The Ilyushin exploded, a fire-ball in the night, and fell down in the sea thus killing senior military leadership of the Egyptian Army. However Egyptian field Marshal at the last minute..
..of the target, the pilot opened fire using his 4 twenty-millimeter cannons.
The Ilyushin exploded, a fire-ball in the night, and fell down in the sea thus killing senior military leadership of the Egyptian Army. However Egyptian field Marshal at the last minute..
(10)
..decided to wait for the 2nd plane thus remained safe.
The downing of the Egyptian high command plane resulted in the chaos that prevailed in the high command in Cairo which contributed significantly to Israel's victory in the war that broke out the next day.
..decided to wait for the 2nd plane thus remained safe.
The downing of the Egyptian high command plane resulted in the chaos that prevailed in the high command in Cairo which contributed significantly to Israel's victory in the war that broke out the next day.
