Moshe Dayan Biography and Timeline

Sevres Military Plan Presented

Dayan presents Israel's proposed military timetable and Sinai objectives during the secret Sevres discussions.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Israeli Chief of Staff Explains Sinai Strategy

Moshe Dayan outlined Israel's military objectives and the operational requirements for an invasion of Sinai during the clandestine meetings.

Role range: 1956-1956

Dayan Refines Sinai Assault Schedule

Moshe Dayan worked to align the proposed Israeli advance with the anticipated Anglo-French ultimatum and intervention.

Role range: 1956-1956

Gulf of Aqaba Occupation Provisions Agreed

Moshe Dayan's delegation obtained agreement for Israeli forces to occupy the western shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Tiran and Sanafir islands.

Role range: 1956-1956

General Staff Readies Sinai Offensive Timetable

Moshe Dayan prepared the Israeli Defence Forces for a swift campaign intended to reach key routes through Sinai before external intervention.

Role range: 1956-1957

Sinai Mobilisation Ordered

Dayan orders final mobilisation and deployment for Operation Kadesh.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Kadesh Offensive Planning Finalized

Moshe Dayan's general staff completed plans for a three axis offensive into Sinai under the code name Operation Kadesh.

Mitla Threat Selected as Opening Move

Israeli planners selected an airborne landing east of Mitla Pass to create the appearance of an advance toward the Suez Canal.

Northern Sinai Axis Assigned

Israeli forces were assigned an offensive axis through the northern Sinai approaches toward Egyptian positions near the canal.

Central Sinai Axis Assigned

Israeli operational planning established a central advance through Quseima and Abu Ageila toward the western Sinai road network.

Southern Peninsula Advance Planned

A separate Israeli thrust was designed to reach the southern tip of Sinai and remove Egyptian control at the Straits of Tiran.

Final Orders Define Three Strategic Objectives

Moshe Dayan issued final instructions prioritizing pressure toward the Suez Canal, control of the Straits of Tiran, and the destruction of Egyptian forces in northern Sinai.

Role range: 1956-1956

Canal Threat Created by Airborne Landing

Dayan uses the Mitla airborne landing to create an Israeli threat toward the Suez Canal under the Kadesh plan.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Operation Kadesh

Directs Operation Kadesh, the Israeli invasion of Sinai.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Israeli Sinai Offensive Begins

Israeli ground and airborne forces began Operation Kadesh against Egyptian positions in the Sinai Peninsula.

Mitla Airborne Force Isolated

An Israeli paratroop battalion landed east of Mitla Pass before the supporting ground column reached its position.

Three Axis Sinai Advance Launched

Moshe Dayan directed an offensive organized along northern, central, and southern routes to overwhelm Egyptian defenses across the peninsula.

Role range: 1956-1956

Israeli General Staff Monitors Mitla Airhead

Moshe Dayan monitored the isolated parachute force near Mitla as the Sinai offensive developed along several separate axes.

Role range: 1956-1956

Israeli Offensive Begins Across Sinai Frontier

Under Moshe Dayan's direction, Israeli ground and airborne units entered Egyptian territory and initiated the campaign known as Operation Kadesh.

Role range: 1956-1957

Sinai Campaign Seeks Rapid Strategic Breakthrough

Moshe Dayan planned quick maneuver to isolate Egyptian formations and create operational conditions before larger international pressures could intervene.

Role range: 1956-1957

Abu Ageila Objective Prioritised

Dayan directs forces toward the key Abu Ageila road junction and defensive complex.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Early Armoured Commitment Challenged

Dayan's original timetable is overtaken when the 7th Armoured Brigade enters combat a day earlier than planned.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Sinai Campaign

Coordinates Israeli armour and paratroop columns as they advance across Sinai.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Quseima Approaches Contested

Israeli formations fought for approaches near Quseima as the central advance into Egyptian Sinai developed.

Abu Ageila Defenses Attacked

Israeli units assaulted Egyptian strongpoints around Abu Ageila, a major defensive position controlling routes across central Sinai.

Anglo French Ultimatum Issued

Britain and France demanded that Egyptian and Israeli troops withdraw from the canal area, creating the announced pretext for intervention.

Desert Routes Open Beyond Initial Positions

Moshe Dayan's formations pushed deeper into Sinai, seeking junctions and routes that would isolate Egyptian strongpoints from reinforcements.

Role range: 1956-1956

Dayan Weighs Risk of Fighting Inside Mitla

Moshe Dayan's operational objective did not require a costly clearance of the narrow Mitla defile, a distinction that later became central to criticism of the battle.

Role range: 1956-1956

Israeli Command Coordinates Dispersed Desert Columns

Moshe Dayan oversaw several advancing formations whose routes required close coordination across long distances and difficult terrain.

Role range: 1956-1957

Sinai Armoured Advance Accelerated

Dayan presses Israeli columns westward as Egyptian resistance weakens in several sectors.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Abu Ageila Battle Disrupts Egyptian Defenses

Moshe Dayan oversaw an offensive in which Israeli units overcame significant resistance around Abu Ageila, an important Egyptian defensive position in central Sinai.

Role range: 1956-1956

Battle Exposes Tension Over Operational Orders

Moshe Dayan's command was later drawn into arguments about whether the engagement at Mitla had exceeded the intended limits of the operation.

Role range: 1956-1956

Mitla Clash Diverts Attention From Wider Offensive

Moshe Dayan's general staff continued the wider Sinai campaign while the Mitla engagement absorbed men and resources from the parachute brigade.

Role range: 1956-1956

Gaza Sector Assault Coordinated

Dayan coordinates operations aimed at defeating Egyptian forces in the Gaza Strip.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Egyptian Sinai Withdrawal Accelerates

Israeli advances and Anglo French air attacks contributed to the Egyptian decision to withdraw many forces westward.

Rafah Junction Taken by Israelis

Israeli troops took control of key positions around Rafah after heavy fighting with Egyptian defenders.

Command Reviews Costs of Mitla Engagement

Moshe Dayan assessed reports of the fighting at Mitla against the campaign's broader objectives and the heavy losses sustained there.

Role range: 1956-1956

Israeli Columns Advance Toward Suez Approaches

Moshe Dayan's ground forces pushed westward after opening breaches in Egyptian positions, threatening the routes toward the canal.

Role range: 1956-1957

Egyptian Withdrawal Exploited

Dayan orders Israeli formations to exploit the general Egyptian withdrawal from Sinai.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1953-1958

Israeli Armored Columns Continue South

Israeli armored forces advanced across difficult desert routes toward the Gulf of Aqaba and the southern Sinai coast.