October 1956
Abu Ageila Defensive Battle
Sinai
Egyptian troops fought Israeli forces around Abu Ageila, a strategically important position on the central route across northern Sinai.
World History Database / Suez War / Those involved
Abdel Hakim Amer
Egypt
Field Marshal
35 archival records
October 29th, 1956
Central Sinai Road Threatened
Sinai
The Israeli advance toward the Mitla Pass placed strategic roads across central Sinai at risk and complicated the Egyptian defence of the peninsula.
October 29th, 1956
Egyptian Command Assesses Multiple Fronts
Cairo
Amer’s command confronted simultaneous Israeli advances across Sinai and the prospect of British and French military intervention around the canal.
October 29th, 1956
Egyptian Command Responds to Border Attack
Cairo
Abdel Hakim Amer faced reports of Israeli forces entering Sinai and directed Egypt's military response as the regional conflict widened.
October 29th, 1956
Egyptian Northern Sinai Defences Engaged
Sinai
Egyptian forces in northern Sinai faced advancing Israeli units as the invasion developed along several separate axes.
October 29th, 1956
Israeli Paratroops Land Near Mitla
Sinai
Israeli paratroopers landed near the eastern approaches to the Mitla Pass, creating an immediate threat to Egyptian positions in central Sinai.
October 29th, 1956
Sinai Border Invasion Reported
Sinai
Israeli forces crossed into Egyptian territory on 29 October, opening Operation Kadesh and confronting the Egyptian military in Sinai.
October 30th, 1956
Egyptian Command Responds to Sinai Incursion
Sinai
Abdel Hakim Amer confronted a widening Israeli attack that threatened Egyptian garrisons and communications throughout the peninsula.
October 31st, 1956
Egypt Orders Redistribution of Sinai Defenders
Sinai
Egyptian command had to assess whether troops should hold advanced desert positions or fall back as Anglo French attacks became imminent.
October 31st, 1956
Egyptian Air Force Dispersal Crisis
Cairo
Air attacks on Egyptian installations reduced the air force’s ability to support ground units facing Israel in Sinai.
October 31st, 1956
Egyptian Airfields Attacked
Cairo
British and French aircraft began striking Egyptian airfields on 31 October as the Anglo French phase of the Suez intervention commenced.
October 31st, 1956
Egyptian Command Prepares Canal Denial Measures
Suez Canal
Egyptian authorities took steps to prevent invading forces from using the canal while air raids and the prospect of amphibious attack escalated.
October 31st, 1956
Egyptian Positions Challenge Israeli Parachutists
Sinai
Abdel Hakim Amer's army retained troops in the Mitla area that resisted the Israeli incursion into the pass despite wider setbacks in Sinai.
October 31st, 1956
Mitla Pass Fighting
Sinai
Israeli forces fought Egyptian troops near the Mitla Pass, a critical central Sinai route that saw intense combat during the campaign.
November 1956
Eastern Canal Defence Strengthened
Suez Canal
Egyptian commanders concentrated on defending approaches to the canal as their troops withdrew from positions farther east in Sinai.
November 1956
Egyptian Command Faces Air Superiority
Sinai
British and French strikes against Egypt’s air force compounded the difficulties of Egyptian ground formations confronting Israeli advances in Sinai.
November 1956
Egyptian Forces Retreat Toward Canal
Sinai
After Israeli breakthroughs in Sinai, Egyptian formations retreated westward toward the canal, leaving large parts of the peninsula under Israeli occupation.
November 1956
Egyptian Ground Forces Face Combined Intervention
Cairo
Egyptian military leaders faced the simultaneous consequences of the Israeli advance and Anglo French attacks on Egypt’s ports and airfields.
November 1956
Gaza Garrison Cut Off
Gaza
Israeli advances placed Egyptian troops defending Gaza under mounting pressure and disrupted their connections with forces farther west.
November 1956
Northern Sinai Withdrawal Routes Threatened
Sinai
Fast Israeli advances threatened routes linking Egyptian positions in northern Sinai with the canal, increasing the danger of isolation for retreating units.
November 1956
Port Said Defence Becomes Central Priority
Port Said
After the Anglo French landings, Egyptian defence efforts concentrated on Port Said and the canal approaches rather than holding territory across all of Sinai.
November 1956
Rafah Sector Fighting
Sinai
Israeli and Egyptian forces fought in the Rafah area as the invasion of northern Sinai extended toward the Gaza Strip.
November 1956
Sinai Southern Route Contested
Sinai
Israeli units advanced toward the southern Sinai approaches while Egyptian troops tried to defend dispersed positions and vital roads.
November 1956
Sinai Withdrawal Order Issued
Sinai
Amer’s command ordered Egyptian formations to pull back from Sinai in an effort to preserve forces and strengthen the defence of the canal region.
November 1st, 1956
Egyptian Forces Withdraw Toward Canal
Sinai
Abdel Hakim Amer's command confronted collapsing positions in Sinai and shifted attention toward defending the canal zone from the advancing forces.
November 1st, 1956
Egyptian Positions at Gaza Overrun
Gaza
Israeli forces captured Gaza during the early November fighting, ending Egyptian military control there for the remainder of 1956.
November 5th, 1956
Egyptian Garrison Resists Allied Airborne Landing
Port Said
Egyptian soldiers confronted British and French parachutists as fighting spread around Port Said and Port Fuad.
November 5th, 1956
Port Fuad Area Attacked
Port Said
French airborne forces attacked Port Fuad across the canal from Port Said as the landing operation expanded on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.
November 5th, 1956
Port Said Garrison Confronts Paratroops
Port Said
Egyptian defenders fought Anglo French airborne units landing in the Port Said area, where urban resistance slowed the invading advance.
November 5th, 1956
Sharm El Sheikh Falls to Israel
Sinai
Israeli troops captured Sharm el Sheikh near the Straits of Tiran in November, removing the Egyptian garrison controlling the southern approach.
November 6th, 1956
Amphibious Landings at Port Said
Port Said
British and French marine forces landed at Port Said on 6 November and advanced against Egyptian resistance under international pressure for a ceasefire.
November 6th, 1956
Canal Road Advance Checked
Port Said
The Anglo French ground advance south of Port Said was halted as the invading governments accepted a ceasefire before occupying the whole canal.
November 6th, 1956
Egyptian Command Assesses Sinai Losses
Cairo
Abdel Hakim Amer confronted the loss of Egyptian positions throughout Sinai while Egypt simultaneously resisted the Anglo-French assault in the canal zone.
November 6th, 1956
Egyptian Troops Fight in Urban Streets
Port Said
Egyptian military and local defenders resisted invading troops in built up areas of Port Said during the assault.
November 6th, 1956
Port Said Street Fighting
Port Said
Egyptian soldiers and local fighters resisted invading troops in streets and built up areas of Port Said during the Anglo French assault.