On this day in military history…
The Suez Canal Crisis was a major international conflict that began in 1956 when Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, a key waterway controlled by British and French interests. The canal was vital for global trade, especially for Europe’s access to oil from the Middle East. This move sparked a major geopolitical crisis involving Egypt, Israel, Britain, and France.
Tensions had been building for months before the crisis erupted. The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, was located in Egypt but was controlled by the Suez Canal Company, owned mainly by British and French shareholders. Egypt’s desire to control its own resources and assert independence from colonial influence was growing stronger, fueled by Nasser’s pan-Arab nationalist ideology.
In July 1956, relations between Egypt and Western powers worsened after the United States and Britain withdrew financial support for the construction of the Aswan High Dam, a major development project for Egypt. In response, on July 26, 1956, Nasser announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal, declaring that revenues from the canal would be used to fund the dam’s construction. This act was seen as a direct challenge to British and French control and was met with outrage in London and Paris.
Following the nationalization, diplomatic efforts were made to resolve the crisis peacefully. Western countries formed the Suez Canal Users’ Association to negotiate international control of the canal, but Egypt refused to compromise. The Egyptian government maintained that the canal was sovereign territory and that revenues rightfully belonged to Egypt.
Amid these rising tensions, Britain, France, and Israel secretly met in Sèvres, France, in late October 1956. The three countries agreed on a coordinated military plan: Israel would invade the Sinai Peninsula, prompting Egypt to respond militarily. This would give Britain and France a pretext to intervene militarily under the guise of separating the warring parties and protecting the canal.
On October 29, 1956, Israel launched its invasion of the Sinai Peninsula, beginning Operation Kadesh. The Israeli forces advanced rapidly, intending to seize control of the strategic territory and provoke Egypt into open conflict. This invasion marked the beginning of the military phase of the Suez Canal Crisis, setting the stage for British and French intervention in the following days.
