October 22nd, 1956
Israeli Chief of Staff Explains Sinai Strategy
Sevres
Moshe Dayan outlined Israel's military objectives and the operational requirements for an invasion of Sinai during the clandestine meetings.
World History Database / Suez War / Those involved
Moshe Dayan
Israel
Chief of Staff
56 archival records
October 22nd, 1956
Sevres Military Plan Presented
Sevres
Dayan presents Israel's proposed military timetable and Sinai objectives during the secret Sevres discussions.
October 23rd, 1956
Dayan Refines Sinai Assault Schedule
Sevres
Moshe Dayan worked to align the proposed Israeli advance with the anticipated Anglo-French ultimatum and intervention.
October 24th, 1956
General Staff Readies Sinai Offensive Timetable
Sinai
Moshe Dayan prepared the Israeli Defence Forces for a swift campaign intended to reach key routes through Sinai before external intervention.
October 24th, 1956
Gulf of Aqaba Occupation Provisions Agreed
Sevres
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.
October 28th, 1956
Central Sinai Axis Assigned
Sinai
Israeli operational planning established a central advance through Quseima and Abu Ageila toward the western Sinai road network.
October 28th, 1956
Final Orders Define Three Strategic Objectives
Tel Aviv
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.
October 28th, 1956
Kadesh Offensive Planning Finalized
Tel Aviv
Moshe Dayan's general staff completed plans for a three axis offensive into Sinai under the code name Operation Kadesh.
October 28th, 1956
Mitla Threat Selected as Opening Move
Sinai
Israeli planners selected an airborne landing east of Mitla Pass to create the appearance of an advance toward the Suez Canal.
October 28th, 1956
Northern Sinai Axis Assigned
Sinai
Israeli forces were assigned an offensive axis through the northern Sinai approaches toward Egyptian positions near the canal.
October 28th, 1956
Sinai Mobilisation Ordered
Israel
Dayan orders final mobilisation and deployment for Operation Kadesh.
October 28th, 1956
Southern Peninsula Advance Planned
Sinai
A separate Israeli thrust was designed to reach the southern tip of Sinai and remove Egyptian control at the Straits of Tiran.
October 29th, 1956
Canal Threat Created by Airborne Landing
Sinai
Dayan uses the Mitla airborne landing to create an Israeli threat toward the Suez Canal under the Kadesh plan.
October 29th, 1956
Israeli General Staff Monitors Mitla Airhead
Tel Aviv
Moshe Dayan monitored the isolated parachute force near Mitla as the Sinai offensive developed along several separate axes.
October 29th, 1956
Israeli Offensive Begins Across Sinai Frontier
Sinai
Under Moshe Dayan's direction, Israeli ground and airborne units entered Egyptian territory and initiated the campaign known as Operation Kadesh.
October 29th, 1956
Israeli Sinai Offensive Begins
Sinai
Israeli ground and airborne forces began Operation Kadesh against Egyptian positions in the Sinai Peninsula.
October 29th, 1956
Mitla Airborne Force Isolated
Mitla Pass
An Israeli paratroop battalion landed east of Mitla Pass before the supporting ground column reached its position.
October 29th, 1956
Operation Kadesh
Tel Aviv
Directs Operation Kadesh, the Israeli invasion of Sinai.
October 29th, 1956
Sinai Campaign Seeks Rapid Strategic Breakthrough
Sinai
Moshe Dayan planned quick maneuver to isolate Egyptian formations and create operational conditions before larger international pressures could intervene.
October 29th, 1956
Three Axis Sinai Advance Launched
Sinai
Moshe Dayan directed an offensive organized along northern, central, and southern routes to overwhelm Egyptian defenses across the peninsula.
October 30th, 1956
Abu Ageila Defenses Attacked
Abu Ageila
Israeli units assaulted Egyptian strongpoints around Abu Ageila, a major defensive position controlling routes across central Sinai.
October 30th, 1956
Abu Ageila Objective Prioritised
Sinai
Dayan directs forces toward the key Abu Ageila road junction and defensive complex.
October 30th, 1956
Anglo French Ultimatum Issued
Cairo
Britain and France demanded that Egyptian and Israeli troops withdraw from the canal area, creating the announced pretext for intervention.
October 30th, 1956
Dayan Weighs Risk of Fighting Inside Mitla
Tel Aviv
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.
October 30th, 1956
Desert Routes Open Beyond Initial Positions
Central Sinai
Moshe Dayan's formations pushed deeper into Sinai, seeking junctions and routes that would isolate Egyptian strongpoints from reinforcements.
October 30th, 1956
Early Armoured Commitment Challenged
Sinai
Dayan's original timetable is overtaken when the 7th Armoured Brigade enters combat a day earlier than planned.
October 30th, 1956
Israeli Command Coordinates Dispersed Desert Columns
Sinai
Moshe Dayan oversaw several advancing formations whose routes required close coordination across long distances and difficult terrain.
October 30th, 1956
Quseima Approaches Contested
Quseima
Israeli formations fought for approaches near Quseima as the central advance into Egyptian Sinai developed.
October 30th, 1956
Sinai Campaign
Sinai
Coordinates Israeli armour and paratroop columns as they advance across Sinai.
October 31st, 1956
Abu Ageila Battle Disrupts Egyptian Defenses
Abu Ageila
Moshe Dayan oversaw an offensive in which Israeli units overcame significant resistance around Abu Ageila, an important Egyptian defensive position in central Sinai.
October 31st, 1956
Battle Exposes Tension Over Operational Orders
Tel Aviv
Moshe Dayan's command was later drawn into arguments about whether the engagement at Mitla had exceeded the intended limits of the operation.
October 31st, 1956
Mitla Clash Diverts Attention From Wider Offensive
Tel Aviv
Moshe Dayan's general staff continued the wider Sinai campaign while the Mitla engagement absorbed men and resources from the parachute brigade.
October 31st, 1956
Sinai Armoured Advance Accelerated
Sinai
Dayan presses Israeli columns westward as Egyptian resistance weakens in several sectors.
November 1956
Captured Egyptian Equipment Assessed
Sinai
Israeli military authorities inspected weapons and vehicles left behind after the Egyptian retreat across Sinai.
November 1956
Sinai Supply Routes Consolidated
Sinai
Israeli units established supply routes across conquered desert territory while awaiting diplomatic decisions over withdrawal.
November 1st, 1956
Command Reviews Costs of Mitla Engagement
Tel Aviv
Moshe Dayan assessed reports of the fighting at Mitla against the campaign's broader objectives and the heavy losses sustained there.
November 1st, 1956
Egyptian Sinai Withdrawal Accelerates
Sinai
Israeli advances and Anglo French air attacks contributed to the Egyptian decision to withdraw many forces westward.
November 1st, 1956
Gaza Sector Assault Coordinated
Gaza
Dayan coordinates operations aimed at defeating Egyptian forces in the Gaza Strip.
November 1st, 1956
Israeli Columns Advance Toward Suez Approaches
Sinai
Moshe Dayan's ground forces pushed westward after opening breaches in Egyptian positions, threatening the routes toward the canal.
November 1st, 1956
Rafah Junction Taken by Israelis
Rafah
Israeli troops took control of key positions around Rafah after heavy fighting with Egyptian defenders.
November 2nd, 1956
Egyptian Withdrawal Exploited
Sinai
Dayan orders Israeli formations to exploit the general Egyptian withdrawal from Sinai.
November 2nd, 1956
General Staff Questions Mitla Tactical Necessity
Israel
Moshe Dayan's command faced questions about whether the costly engagement in the pass had been necessary for the Israeli advance.
November 2nd, 1956
Israeli Armored Columns Continue South
Sinai
Israeli armored forces advanced across difficult desert routes toward the Gulf of Aqaba and the southern Sinai coast.
November 2nd, 1956
Israeli Troops Secure Northern Sinai Communications
Sinai
Israeli formations consolidated strategic roads and captured positions in northern Sinai after the collapse of significant Egyptian resistance.
November 2nd, 1956
Northern Sinai Supply Routes Secured
Northern Sinai
Moshe Dayan's command consolidated captured routes in northern Sinai, reducing the Egyptian army's ability to sustain its scattered positions.
November 3rd, 1956
Northern Coastal Road Secured
Sinai
Israeli forces consolidated positions along northern Sinai's coastal road after overcoming Egyptian resistance.
November 3rd, 1956
Sharm El Sheikh Position Falls to Israel
Sinai
Israeli forces captured Sharm el Sheikh, a key strategic position associated with access to the Straits of Tiran.
November 4th, 1956
Southern Sinai Egyptian Garrison Isolated
Sharm el Sheikh
Israeli movement toward the southern peninsula isolated Egyptian positions near the approaches to the Straits of Tiran.
November 5th, 1956
Kadesh Ground Campaign Ends
Sinai
The Israeli army had occupied Sinai and Gaza by the end of its short offensive against Egyptian forces.
November 5th, 1956
Rule of Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli forces capture Sharm el-Sheikh, opening access to the Straits of Tiran.
November 5th, 1956
Sharm El Sheikh Captured
Sharm el Sheikh
Israeli troops captured Sharm el Sheikh and gained military control of the approaches to the Straits of Tiran.
November 5th, 1956
Sharm el-Sheikh Final Assault Ordered
Sharm el-Sheikh
Dayan orders the final attack on Egyptian positions guarding Sharm el-Sheikh.
November 5th, 1956
Sinai Campaign Objectives Achieved
Sinai
Dayan reports that principal military objectives in Sinai have been reached.
November 5th, 1956
Sinai Campaign Reaches Southern Objectives
Sharm El Sheikh
Moshe Dayan's forces completed the thrust toward the southern tip of Sinai as the campaign approached its military conclusion.
November 8th, 1956
Mitla Experience Highlights Parachute Coordination Risks
Israel
Moshe Dayan's army drew attention to the difficulties of coordinating isolated airborne forces with supporting ground columns in central Sinai.
December 1956
Post Campaign Operational Lessons Compiled
Israel
The Israeli general staff reviewed airborne coordination and armored movement after the Sinai campaign.