Anglo French Ultimatum Rejected
Nasser rejected the ultimatum, refusing to accept British and French military positions in Egyptian territory under the stated pretext of protecting shipping.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1956 in Egypt — Page 4
Explore 236 historical events and records for Egypt in 1956.
Historical records for Egypt in 1956
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 236 unique records.
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October
Egypt Protests Invasion to International Community
Egypt appealed for international action after Israeli forces crossed into Sinai and British and French governments issued their ultimatum.
Egypt Rejects Foreign Troop Entry Demand
Gamal Abdel Nasser's government refused the ultimatum because accepting Anglo French occupation of canal positions would violate Egyptian sovereignty.
Egyptian Command Responds to Sinai Incursion
Abdel Hakim Amer confronted a widening Israeli attack that threatened Egyptian garrisons and communications throughout the peninsula.
Egyptian Foreign Ministry Denounces Ultimatum
Mahmoud Fawzi's government rejected the external attempt to impose foreign forces on Egyptian territory while it was resisting the Israeli attack.
Egypt Appeals Against Anglo French Attack
Gamal Abdel Nasser's government sought international condemnation of the air offensive launched after Egypt rejected the ultimatum.
Egypt Orders Redistribution of Sinai Defenders
Egyptian command had to assess whether troops should hold advanced desert positions or fall back as Anglo French attacks became imminent.
Egyptian Air Force Dispersal Crisis
Air attacks on Egyptian installations reduced the air force’s ability to support ground units facing Israel in Sinai.
Egyptian Airfields Attacked
British and French aircraft began striking Egyptian airfields on 31 October as the Anglo French phase of the Suez intervention commenced.
Egyptian Command Prepares Canal Denial Measures
Egyptian authorities took steps to prevent invading forces from using the canal while air raids and the prospect of amphibious attack escalated.
Egyptian Positions Challenge Israeli Parachutists
Abdel Hakim Amer's army retained troops in the Mitla area that resisted the Israeli incursion into the pass despite wider setbacks in Sinai.
Mitla Pass Fighting
Israeli forces fought Egyptian troops near the Mitla Pass, a critical central Sinai route that saw intense combat during the campaign.
Security Council Veto Blocks Ceasefire
British and French vetoes prevented the Security Council from adopting an immediate resolution demanding withdrawal, pushing the crisis into the General Assembly.
War Disrupts Navigation Through Suez Waterway
Anglo French air attacks and Egyptian defensive measures turned the canal zone into a combat area and threatened ordinary navigation.
Abu Ageila Defensive Battle
Egyptian troops fought Israeli forces around Abu Ageila, a strategically important position on the central route across northern Sinai.
Canal Technical Operations Reviewed
Before the invasion, Egyptian canal officials continued reviewing the practical operation of pilotage and traffic control under the new national administration.
Egyptian Canal Ownership Defended at United Nations
Egypt defended its right to own the canal operating company during international discussions, distinguishing that question from guarantees of navigation.
November
Egypt Places Invasion Before Emergency Assembly
Mahmoud Fawzi's government appealed for international protection of Egyptian sovereignty during the first emergency special session.
Egyptian Forces Withdraw Toward Canal
Abdel Hakim Amer's command confronted collapsing positions in Sinai and shifted attention toward defending the canal zone from the advancing forces.
Egyptian Positions at Gaza Overrun
Israeli forces captured Gaza during the early November fighting, ending Egyptian military control there for the remainder of 1956.
Egyptian President Condemns Foreign Air Strikes
Gamal Abdel Nasser denounced British and French bombing as an attack on Egyptian sovereignty and pledged resistance to the intervention.
Egyptian Scuttling Obstructs Canal Shipping
Egyptian crews sank vessels in the canal, creating blockages that prevented ordinary commercial transit during the war.
Emergency Assembly Considers Egypt
The United Nations General Assembly convened its first emergency special session to address the attacks on Egypt after Security Council action was blocked.
Egypt Backs Ending Foreign Military Attack
Gamal Abdel Nasser's government supported international action to end the offensive and secure the removal of invading forces.
Egypt Supports International Withdrawal Resolution
Mahmoud Fawzi's government supported demands to stop the attacks and withdraw foreign troops from Egyptian territory.
General Assembly Withdrawal Resolution Welcomed
Egypt welcomed international demands for a halt to hostilities and withdrawal behind armistice lines as the invasion continued.
United Nations Ceasefire Appeal
The United Nations General Assembly called for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of foreign forces on 2 November; Egypt supported an end to the invasion.
Emergency Peacekeeping Proposal Emerges
The General Assembly asked for a plan to establish an emergency international force with the consent of concerned countries, setting the stage for UNEF.
UNEF Consent Requirement Preserved
The original United Nations proposal for an emergency force stipulated consent from the countries concerned, giving Egypt a decisive role in its deployment.
Egyptian Garrison Resists Allied Airborne Landing
Egyptian soldiers confronted British and French parachutists as fighting spread around Port Said and Port Fuad.
Port Fuad Area Attacked
French airborne forces attacked Port Fuad across the canal from Port Said as the landing operation expanded on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.
Port Said Aerial Assault Begins
British and French airborne forces attacked the Port Said area on 5 November, opening the ground phase of their intervention against Egypt.
Port Said Civilian Resistance Encouraged
Nasser called for national resistance as military defenders and civilians opposed the Anglo French assault at the northern entrance to the canal.
Port Said Garrison Confronts Paratroops
Egyptian defenders fought Anglo French airborne units landing in the Port Said area, where urban resistance slowed the invading advance.
Sharm El Sheikh Falls to Israel
Israeli troops captured Sharm el Sheikh near the Straits of Tiran in November, removing the Egyptian garrison controlling the southern approach.
United Nations Emergency Force Approved
The United Nations created a command structure for its first emergency force, intended to supervise the ceasefire and facilitate withdrawal from Egyptian territory.
Amphibious Landings at 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.
Anglo French Ceasefire Announced
The British and French governments accepted a ceasefire on 6 November, bringing their offensive to a halt while occupying the Port Said area.
Canal Road Advance Checked
The Anglo French ground advance south of Port Said was halted as the invading governments accepted a ceasefire before occupying the whole canal.
Ceasefire Leaves Canal Still Obstructed
The end of major Anglo French fighting did not reopen the Suez Canal because sunken ships and wartime damage remained.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.