Egyptian Army Day

Armed Forces DayOn October 6, 1973, the fourth Arab-Israeli war began in the Middle East, like all previous ones, ending in an actual victory for Israel.

However, Egyptians celebrate their own victory on this day, believing that the 1973 military campaign dispelled the myth of Israel’s invincibility and made the Arabs believe in themselves after the setbacks of previous years.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak marked the anniversary of the war, known in the Arab world as the October War, releasing 861 prisoners from Egyptian prisons and telling the people that success on the battlefield led to freedom and a better life. “This victory has led us from liberating the occupied land to a similar liberation in our political life and national economy,” Mubarak said. The October victory was and remains a turning point in the history of our country.

The Yom Kippur War began when Egypt and Syria suddenly attacked Israel on Yom Kippur (Judgment Day). The IDF was caught off guard, and Arab forces managed to advance deep into Israeli territory, and the IDF suffered heavy losses in those battles. However, the Israelis quickly recovered from the surprise strike, and the IDF pushed the enemy forces away from the borders of the Jewish state. On the southern front, the Israeli army crossed the Suez Canal, and in the north, the IDF forces almost came close to Damascus.