Suez Crisis

The Suez Crisis was a big event in 1956. It started when Israel, the United Kingdom, and France invaded Egypt. They wanted to take control of the Suez Canal. Egypt's leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser, had taken over the canal earlier that year.

After the invasion, other powerful nations like the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Nations asked them to stop. This led to the three countries pulling their forces out of Egypt.

The Suez Crisis showed that the United Kingdom and France needed to work with the United States. It made Egypt’s leader, Nasser, more respected. The United Nations created a special group to help keep peace between Egypt and Israel. For his work in solving the crisis, a Canadian minister named Lester B. Pearson won a Nobel Peace Prize.

Background

The Suez Canal before 1945

The Suez Canal opened in 1869. It was a short path for ships between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

In 1875, Egypt sold part of the canal to Britain because it owed money. By 1882, Britain controlled the canal and Egypt.

The 1888 Convention of Constantinople said the canal should be a safe place for all ships.

1945–1952

After World War II, Britain kept a big base at Suez. This made Britain and Egypt unhappy.

The canal was important for oil ships. Egypt had new leaders and groups, and many people were upset with Britain.

In 1951, Egypt said it would not follow an old treaty with Britain. Britain said it would not leave, and this made things worse.

The Egyptian Revolution

Main article: Egyptian revolution of 1952

In 1952, Egyptian officers took over. They removed the king and made Egypt a republic.

After the 1952 Egyptian Revolution

Egypt and the United States

Main article: Egypt–United States relations § 1950s and 1960s

The location of the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea

The United States wanted to be friends with Britain and with leaders who did not like British control.

The United States tried to help Egypt join a defense group, but Egypt’s leader took money and did not join.

Egypt and Britain

Britain tried to be better friends with Egypt. In 1954, they agreed Britain would leave its base at Suez.

The Baghdad Pact

Main article: Central Treaty Organization

Egypt’s leader did not like Western defense plans. He did not trust other Arab leaders.

In 1955, some countries formed the Baghdad Pact. Egypt’s leader thought this was Britain trying to control Arab countries.

Egypt and the Communist World

Egypt’s leader asked to buy weapons from the Soviet Union. In 1955, Egypt secretly bought weapons from the Soviet Union. This worried Western countries.

Egypt and Israel

Before 1955, Egypt tried to make peace with Israel. But after Israel attacked an Egyptian base, Egypt let people attack Israel.

Israel worried because Egypt was buying new weapons.

Egypt and France

Egyptian policies in 1956

In early 1956, leaders from Egypt and Israel tried to make peace with help from the United States. But they couldn’t agree, and the talks didn’t work.

Later, Egypt’s leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser, supported protests in Amman. This upset the British leader, Anthony Eden, who became very angry with Nasser. Also, when Egypt recognized the People's Republic of China, it further upset the United States, which then stopped funding for a big dam project in Egypt called the Aswan Dam.

Nationalisation of the Suez Canal

Port Said, at the entrance to the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean

In July 1956, Egypt's leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser, said Egypt would take control of the Suez Canal. This surprised many countries, especially Britain and France. They had used the canal for their trade and moving their armies. Egypt also closed the canal to ships from Israel and blocked a nearby waterway. This made things tense.

Britain felt this action threatened their influence and economy. Leaders in Britain, France, and later Israel decided to work together to try to take back control of the canal. This led to a conflict called the Suez Crisis, with military actions by these countries against Egypt. The situation showed Egypt's growing independence and the changing power in the world.

Diplomatic solutions

Australian prime minister Robert Menzies led an international committee in negotiations with Nasser in September 1956, which sought to achieve international management of the Suez Canal. The mission was a failure.

After Egypt took control of the Suez Canal, leaders from many countries met in London to talk about what to do. The United States wanted as many countries as possible to join, hoping this would help everyone agree. Most countries supported the idea that the canal should be run by many nations together, but some, like India, thought Egypt should still own it.

The United States suggested a group of canal users to make rules for how the canal would work. Many countries agreed, but the United States did not want to use force to solve the problem. They believed everyone needed to try peaceful ways first. However, Britain and France thought they needed to act faster and kept planning for a possible military move.

Military preparations

British Prime Minister Anthony Eden started planning to take over part of Egypt in July 1956. His plan was for troops from Cyprus to control an area near the Suez Canal. Other leaders thought they should use ships and land troops at a city called Port Said instead.

As plans changed, Britain and France decided to focus on capturing Port Said rather than a bigger city, Alexandria. They also planned to use bombing to hurt Egypt's economy. Because they needed many soldiers, France agreed to send help.

At the same time, France made secret plans with Israel. In late September 1956, France asked Israel to attack Egypt. Israel agreed and started its own military operation called Operation Kadesh. The Israeli plan was to control the air and move through a desert to take important places, to support the British and French goals.

Protocol of Sèvres

Main article: Protocol of Sèvres

In 1956, leaders from France, Israel, and the United Kingdom met in secret at a place called Sèvres. They made plans to take control of the Suez Canal, which belonged to Egypt. Their plan was for Israel to start a fight with Egypt. After that, Britain and France would ask both countries to stop fighting and move back. If Egypt did not agree, Britain and France would also start fighting. This secret meeting led to a bigger conflict called the Suez Crisis.

Forces

The British forces included the 16th Independent Parachute Brigade Group. They focused on special operations, not regular fights. The Royal Navy had strong ships and planes, but they did not have the best tools for landing troops. The Royal Air Force had new bombers like the Vickers Valiant and the English Electric Canberra, but they were still learning how to use them well.

French paratroopers were very skilled. Their main tank, the AMX-13, was made for fast attacks. The French Navy had powerful aircraft carriers but needed better ships for landing. The Israel Defense Forces were good soldiers but needed to improve their planning and supplies. They also used the AMX-13 tank and planes like the Dassault Mystère IVA and the Ouragan. The Egyptian military used weapons from the Soviet Union, such as T-34 tanks and MiG-15 fighters, but had trouble with leadership and working together.

Operation Kadesh

Main article: Operation Kadesh

The fighting began on 29 October 1956 when Israeli forces attacked Egyptian positions in the Sinai. Israeli troops moved quickly and captured important places.

There were battles between Israeli and Egyptian forces. Sadly, some people on both sides lost their lives. The area around the Gulf of Aqaba and the city of Rafah were important targets during the conflict.

Anglo-French Canal invasion

The Anglo-French military action had two parts: Operation Musketeer and Operation Telescope.

Operation Musketeer Revise had two parts. First, Anglo-French air forces wanted to control the skies over Egypt. Second, they planned to attack the Egyptian economy from the air for ten days.

To help with the invasion, Britain and France moved many airplanes to bases in Cyprus and Malta, and used aircraft carriers. Operation Telescope was about landing soldiers by air and sea to take the Suez Canal area.

On 30 October, Britain and France sent demands to Egypt and Israel. Later that day, they began bombing Egypt. Egyptian forces in the Sinai were told to stay in place, but were later ordered to move toward the canal.

On 5 November, British and French soldiers landed near Port Said. They faced resistance but took important points in the city. Fighting continued as more soldiers arrived, and the city was damaged.

The conflict ended when a United Nations ceasefire was accepted.

Responses to military action

Many people in Britain felt different ways about the war in Egypt. Some people agreed with the government, while others did not. Over time, more people began to oppose the war. There were protests, and debates in government became very intense.

Other countries also had strong feelings. The United States was worried about the conflict and asked Britain to stop fighting. Some countries, like West Germany, agreed with Britain and France, while others, especially in the Muslim world, were very upset. Protests and rallies took place in many places, showing support for Egypt or opposition to the invasion. The United Nations tried to help by asking for a stop to the fighting and creating a peace force to keep things calm.

Ceasefire

Anthony Eden announced a stop to fighting on 6 November, but did not tell France or Israel beforehand. Troops were still in Port Said and getting ready for more action. Port Said had already been taken, and military leaders thought they could fully control the Suez Canal soon.

The United States did not want the British, French, and Israeli troops to leave right away. Finally, by 22 December 1956, these troops had to leave and were replaced by soldiers from Denmark and Colombia as part of a United Nations group. Israel did not want United Nations forces on their land, so they left the areas they had taken by March 1957. Before leaving, they damaged some roads and took equipment from Egyptian railways to use in Israel. By 24 April 1957, the Suez Canal was open for ships to pass again.

Main article: Suez Crisis

Aftermath

The fighting stopped with Egypt keeping control of the Suez Canal. Even though the countries that invaded won in a military sense, Egypt won politically.

Israel felt stronger after the fighting. They reopened a key water passage that had been closed to them. The country also got help from United Nations peacekeepers. The Soviet Union gained respect in the Middle East by threatening to use powerful weapons if the fighting did not stop. The United States helped end the fighting and later tried to prevent other countries from taking over the area. In Europe, the fighting showed that some countries needed to rely on their own strength for protection. Canada helped create a new way for peacekeepers to work, which changed how the country saw itself.