British Ministers Review Egyptian Intervention Plans
Anthony Eden's government prepared to invoke a threat to canal navigation following the Israeli invasion of Sinai, setting the stage for Anglo-French action.
Role range: 1956-1956
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Robert Anthony Eden Biography and Timeline — Page 6
Follow Robert Anthony Eden through 334 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Robert Anthony Eden, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
334Distinct records
6 of 9Page
1956–1956Years on this page
1956
Cabinet Confronts Sudden Israeli Invasion
The start of Israel's Sinai campaign made the Prime Minister's planned Anglo French intervention an immediate question for the government.
Role range: 1956-1957
Ultimatum
Issues an ultimatum with France demanding that Israel and Egypt withdraw from the canal zone
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Ultimatum
Israel accepts the Anglo-French ultimatum while Egypt rejects the demand for withdrawal from the canal zone
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Anglo-French Ultimatum
Issues an Anglo-French ultimatum to Egypt and Israel after Israel's invasion of Sinai
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Suez Canal
Israel accepts the Anglo-French ultimatum to withdraw 10 miles from Suez. Egypt turns down the Anglo-French ultimatum for a cease-fire
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
Prearranged Ultimatum Activates Sevres Sequence
Anthony Eden's government issued its ultimatum after the Israeli attack began, following the sequence laid out in the secret protocol.
Role range: 1956-1956
Military Intervention Eclipses Canal Association Strategy
Anthony Eden shifted to an Anglo-French ultimatum after the Israeli invasion, overtaking the unresolved diplomatic plan for a voluntary users association.
Role range: 1956-1956
Prime Minister Presents Ultimatum to Parliament
Anthony Eden announced the Anglo French demands for an end to hostilities and withdrawal of Egyptian and Israeli forces from the canal vicinity.
Role range: 1956-1957
Ultimatum Specifies Ten Mile Withdrawal Zones
The British and French terms required Egyptian and Israeli troops to move ten miles from the canal while permitting allied forces to occupy key positions.
Role range: 1956-1957
Cabinet Commits to Ultimatum Course
Anthony Eden's government issued its ultimatum demanding withdrawal from the canal approaches and acceptance of Anglo French intervention.
Role range: 1956-1957
Canal Traffic Faces War Risk After Israeli Attack
Britain's ultimatum followed the Israeli invasion, creating a military emergency that endangered shipping through the canal.
Role range: 1956-1957
Bombing of Egypt
The UK & France bomb Egypt to force the reopening of the canal with Operation Musketeer, Egypt blocks the canal with scuttled ships in the canal & closes it until 1957
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
Operation Musketeer
The UK & France bomb Egypt to force the reopening of the canal with Operation Musketeer, Egypt blocks the canal with scuttled ships in the canal & closes it until 1957
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
Air Attack
Orders air attacks on Egypt after Nasser rejects the Anglo-French ultimatum
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Operation Musketeer
British and French aircraft bomb Egyptian airfields as Operation Musketeer begins
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Operation Musketeer
Authorises the bombing phase of Operation Musketeer against Egyptian targets
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Suez Canal
The UK & France bomb Egypt to force the reopening of the canal with Operation Musketeer, Egypt blocks the canal with scuttled ships in the canal & closes it until 1957. British & French planes bomb Egyptian airfields
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
Air Offensive Against Egypt Authorized
Anthony Eden authorized British participation in the air campaign after Egypt rejected the Anglo-French ultimatum concerning the Suez Canal.
Role range: 1956-1956
British Government Declares Egyptian Noncompliance
Anthony Eden treated Egypt's refusal to accept foreign troops as a reason for the planned Anglo French attack to proceed.
Role range: 1956-1957
British Intervention Weakens Criticism of Soviet Conduct
Anthony Eden's decision to attack Egypt damaged Britain's diplomatic position as Western governments sought to condemn coercion in Hungary.
Role range: 1956-1957
Capture of Gaza
Gaza falls to the British forces
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
UN Emergency Session
Faces growing United Nations opposition as emergency sessions condemn the invasion
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Government Confronts Pressure on Foreign Reserves
Anthony Eden's cabinet faced rapid reserve losses and growing concerns about sustaining the pound during the Anglo French operation.
Role range: 1956-1957
Blocked Canal Undermines British Strategic Objective
The interruption of shipping defeated the immediate aim of ensuring transit even as Anglo French military operations continued.
Role range: 1956-1957
Prime Minister Faces Divisions Over Suez
Anthony Eden struggled to sustain political agreement as public opposition and foreign pressure challenged the invasion.
Role range: 1956-1957
Broadcast
Makes a TV broadcast to the nation appealing for national unity
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
Demonstrations
Anti-Suez demonstrators advance from Trafalgar Square toward Downing Street.
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
United Nations Emergency Force
The United Nations adopts a Canadian-backed resolution to create an emergency force while Britain and France abstain
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Suez Canal
The United Nations adopts a Canadian resolution to send a United Nations force, Britain & France abstain. Makes a TV broadcast to the nation appealing for national unity
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
Trafalgar Square Protest
Faces mass protest in London against the invasion of Egypt.
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Suez War Overshadows British Hungarian Protests
British action in Egypt complicated the government's efforts to adopt a consistent position against Soviet intervention in Hungary.
Role range: 1956-1957
Siege of El Gamil Airfield
The 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment drops at El Gamil Airfield, establishing a secure base for incoming support aircraft & reinforcement
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
El Gamil Airfield
3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment drops at El Gamil Airfield and secures a base for follow-on forces
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Paratroop Landing
British paratroops land at El Gamil Airfield as the ground phase of the operation begins
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Suez Canal
Paratroops land to recover the canal Eden says is vital if Britain is not to starve
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
Suez Canal
The 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment drops at El Gamil Airfield, establishing a secure base for incoming support aircraft & reinforcement
Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957
British Government Maintains Canal Security Argument
Anthony Eden continued presenting the intervention as a canal security operation while international opposition to the invasion mounted.
Role range: 1956-1957
Sterling Crisis
Eden confronts severe pressure on sterling as American financial support is withheld during the Suez Crisis.
Role range: 1955-1957
Ceasefire Broadcast
Announces the decision to halt military operations under intense international pressure
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.