Asaf Simhoni Biography and Timeline

Southern Command Concentrates Forces Near Border

Asaf Simhoni directed preparation of the Israeli southern formations designated to enter the Sinai Peninsula during the planned offensive.

Role range: 1956-1957

Southern Command Positions Its Assault Formations

Asaf Simhoni prepared the forces of Southern Command for coordinated advances across the Gaza and Sinai fronts before the Israeli attack began.

Role range: 1956-1956

Opening Ground Axes Coordinated

Simhoni coordinates Southern Command formations as Israeli ground forces enter Sinai on several axes.

Role range: 1956-1956

Southern Command Offensive Directed

Simhoni directs Israeli Southern Command during the opening of Operation Kadesh.

Role range: 1956-1956

Southern Command Opens Multiple Fronts

Asaf Simhoni directed simultaneous ground operations in northern and central Sinai during the opening of the campaign.

Armored Columns Push into Eastern Sinai

Southern Command sent Israeli troops toward Egyptian defensive positions on routes leading through the Sinai interior.

Role range: 1956-1957

Abu Ageila Operations Coordinated

Simhoni coordinates the converging Israeli formations attacking Egyptian positions around Abu Ageila.

Role range: 1956-1956

Quseima Strongpoint Captured

Simhoni's Southern Command forces capture the Quseima strongpoint as the central advance develops.

Role range: 1956-1956

Northern Sinai Fighting Intensifies

Simhoni's Southern Command pressed Egyptian defensive positions along the northern approaches while other Israeli formations advanced inland.

Northern Advance Targets Rafah Approaches

Asaf Simhoni directed forces toward the strongly defended Rafah sector, which guarded important routes linking Gaza and northeastern Sinai.

Role range: 1956-1956

Israeli Forces Challenge Central Sinai Strongholds

Units of Southern Command pressed into the central peninsula against Egyptian strongpoints that controlled access to strategic road junctions.

Role range: 1956-1957

Northern Sinai Assault Targets Egyptian Garrisons

Israeli forces attacked Egyptian positions in northern Sinai as the invasion expanded toward the Mediterranean coastal routes.

Role range: 1956-1957

Gaza and Sinai Fronts Coordinated

Simhoni coordinates operations across both the Gaza and central Sinai fronts.

Role range: 1956-1956

Rafah Defensive Line Attacked

Israeli forces attacked the Egyptian defensive complex around Rafah controlling access toward the Gaza Strip and northern Sinai.

Rafah Defensive Complex Falls to Israelis

Asaf Simhoni's Southern Command pressed the attack on the Rafah positions, opening a key corridor for Israeli operations against the Gaza Strip.

Role range: 1956-1956

Gaza Campaign Overwhelms Egyptian Positions

Israeli forces under Southern Command captured important positions in the Gaza Strip during the wider Sinai offensive.

Role range: 1956-1957

El Arish Falls to Israeli Forces

Israeli formations entered El Arish after Egyptian forces abandoned or lost positions in the northern Sinai coastal corridor.

Gaza Sector Captured by Israeli Units

Troops under Southern Command captured the Gaza Strip during the operation against Egyptian controlled territory.

Gaza Strip Comes Under Israeli Control

Asaf Simhoni's forces took control of the Gaza Strip during the Sinai campaign after Egyptian positions were overcome.

Role range: 1956-1956

Southern Forces Reach Red Sea Approaches

Israeli troops advanced toward the southern maritime approaches of Sinai as the offensive extended beyond the central desert.

Role range: 1956-1957

Sinai Command Posts Reorganized

Southern Command reorganized its forward command arrangements as the offensive shifted from initial breakthroughs to securing captured territory.

Southern Columns Approach Tiran Strait

Asaf Simhoni's Southern Command continued its advance toward the southern tip of Sinai to remove Egyptian restrictions on navigation through the Straits of Tiran.

Role range: 1956-1956

Campaign Command Completed

Simhoni completes command of the rapid Sinai campaign after Israeli forces reach their principal objectives.

Role range: 1956-1956

Killed after Sinai Campaign

Simhoni dies in an aircraft crash shortly after the Sinai campaign ends.

Role range: 1956-1956

Eleventh Brigade Captures Gaza Strip

Simhoni's Southern Command uses the 11th Brigade to capture the Gaza Strip during Operation Kadesh.

Role range: 1956-1956

Twelfth Brigade Supports Gaza Capture

Simhoni employs the 12th Brigade in support of the Israeli operation that captures the Gaza Strip.

Role range: 1956-1956