Cairo/Jerusalem (Historical Desk):
This report is being republished today in remembrance of the Yom Kippur War, which lasted from October 6 to October 22, 1973, marking one of the most defining moments in Middle Eastern history.
By the time the warning alarms began to sound, it was already too late.
On two separate fronts, Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a surprise coordinated attack on Israel — catching its military completely off guard.
The offensive came on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when most Israeli soldiers were off duty or fasting. The timing and precision of the attack plunged Israel into one of the most dangerous wars in its history.
Over the following two weeks, fierce battles raged across the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights, leading to heavy casualties on both sides. The conflict eventually drew in major world powers, including the United States and the Soviet Union, and reshaped global geopolitics.
The war not only restored Arab military confidence after the 1967 defeat but also paved the way for the historic Camp David peace process between Egypt and Israel.
