Military history of Israel

The military history of Israel has been a series of conflicts with the state against the Arab nations.

1948 Arab-Israeli War

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War also known by Israelis as the War of Independence was the first of many hostile actions against Israel. The State of Israel was declared on May 14, 1948 and was immediately invaded by its Arab neighbors.

Troops from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Transjordan, crossed over into Israel. The Arab forces captured territory intended for Palestine along with Israeli land. Israeli forces fought back and captured significant amounts of territory which had belonged to Transjordan along with Jerusalem. When 1949 Armistice Agreements the region had been divided between Israel, Egypt and Transjordan.

Establishment of the Israeli Defense Force

The Israeli Defense Force was established in 1948 succeeding the Haganah along with elements of the Jewish Brigade as the permanent army of Israel [ [http://www.idi.org.il/english/article.asp?id=578 Summary from the Israel Democracy Institute] ] . The modern IDF came into existence during the period from 1949 to 1956 with experience gained through regional conflicts against their Arab neighbours. By 1966, the IDF had purchase new equipment and change from an upstart army to a professional fighting force.

uez Crisis

The Suez Crisis was an Israeli attack on Egypt to capture the Suez Canal with the support from the United Kingdom and France [Damien Cash "Suez crisis" "The Oxford Companion to Australian History". Ed. Graeme Davison, John Hirst and Stuart Macintyre. Oxford University Press, 2001.] . The attack was a response to Egypt's decision to nationalize the canal. The conflict ended with a United Nations cease-fire and the withdrawal of all troops from the Sinai.

ix-Day War

The Six-Day War was a conflict between Israel and the Arab nations of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. The conflict ended with an Israeli victory with the conquering of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. The lasting effect of the war has affect the geopolitics of the region to this day.

The conflict began when Israel made a pre-emptive strike on the Egyptian Air Force followed by an invasion of the Sinai Peninsula. Jordanian forces began to move its forces from the West Bank but were held of by the IDF which took the West Bank along with East Jerusalem. Syria entered the war but was quickly defeated at the Golan Heights.

War of Attrition

The War of Attrition was a limited war fought between the Israel against Egypt supported by the USSR from 1968 to 1970. It was initiated by Egypt as a way to recapture the Sinai from Israel after the Six-Day War. The Egyptian Military began a serise of attacks along the cease-fire line with Egyptian missile boats sinking the Israeli destroyer Eilat. Egypt began shelling Israeli positions along the Bar Lev Line, making use of heavy artillery, MiG aircraft and various other forms of assistance from the Soviets with the hope of forcing a war-weary Israeli government into making concessions. cite web
url = http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-219430/Israel
title = Israel: The War of Attrition
accessdate = 2007-03-03
publisher = Encyclopedia Britannica] Israel responded with bombardment and ground raids on Egyptian military positions, aerial raids on strategic facilities in Egypt The war ended with a ceasefire signed between the countries in 1970 with both sides claiming victory.

Operation Wrath of God

Operation Wrath of God was a covert operation directed by IDF and the Mossad to assassinate individuals alleged to have been involved in the Munich massacre. Their targets included members of the Black September and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) accused of being involved. During the operation, Israeli units killed dozens of Black September and PLO members). This string of assassinations spurred retaliatory attacks by Black September against a variety of Israeli government targets around the world. It has also prompted criticism of Israel for its choice of targets, tactic of assassination, and overall effectiveness.

1973 Israeli raid on Lebanon

Codenamed Operation Spring of Youth and was part of Operation Wrath of God. IDF special forces attacked several PLO targets in Beirut and Sidon, Lebanon. The operation was a success with all targets killed.

Yom Kippur War

The Yom Kippur War was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt. The war began with a surprise joint attack by Egypt and Syria crossed the cease-fire lines in the Sinai and Golan Heights on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

The Egyptians and Syrians advanced during the first 24–48 hours, after which began to swing in Israel's favor. By the second week of the war, the Syrians had been pushed entirely out of the Golan Heights. In the Sinai to the south, the Israelis struck at the invading Egyptian armies, crossed the Suez Canal and cut off the Egyptian third army just as a United Nations cease-fire came into effect.

The conflict ended with UNSC Res. 338 and withdrawal of all troops from the ceasefire line. The war had a far-reaching implication for many nations. The Arab World felt psychologically vindicated by its string of victories early in the conflict. However it was a major poltical disaster for Israel and led to the resignation of many leaders including Moshe Dayan.

Operation Entebbe

Operation Entebbe was a rescue mission performed by Sayeret Matkal to free hostages at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. On June 27, 1976, Air France Flight 139 was hijacked by members of the PFLP and RZ. The aircraft was diverted to Uganda where the hijackers received aid from Idi Amin.

The operation lasted less than 30 minutes and all six of the hijackers were killed. Yonatan Netanyahu was the only Israeli commando killed in action with five Israeli commandos wounded. Out of the 103 hostages, three were killed and approximately 10 were wounded. A total of 45 Ugandan soldiers were also killed during the raid, and about 11 Ugandan MiG-17 planes at Entebbe Airport were destroyed.

Actions in Lebanon (1978 - 2000)

1978 South Lebanon conflict

The 1978 South Lebanon conflict was an IDF invasion of Lebanon up to the Litani River. Its objective was to push the PLO away from the border with Israel. It was a military success, as PLO forces were pushed north of the river. However, objections from the Lebanese government led to the creation of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force and a partial Israeli withdrawal.

1982 Lebanon War

The 1982 Lebanon War began on June 6, when the IDF invaded southern Lebanon. The Government of Israel ordered the invasion as a response to the assassination attempt against Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom by the Abu Nidal Organization. After attacking PLO and Syrian forces, Israel occupied southern Lebanon. The invasion lead to the 1982 South Lebanon Conflict.

1982 South Lebanon conflict

The 1982 South Lebanon Conflict| was a reaction to the 1982 Lebanon War. The newly established militia Hezbollah waged a guerrilla campaign against Israeli forces occupying Southern Lebanon. It ended with Israeli withdrawal in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 425. Given that prior Arab Israeli wars were characterized by either Israeli victory or a UN enforced ceasefire, this is often regarded as a success of Hezbollah, which was able to extend its control of Southern Lebanon.

Gulf War

During the Gulf War Israel was attacked by Iraqi scuds even though it was not part of the UN Coalition. With pressure coming from the United States, Israel did not retaliate or declare war but established a missile defense system to protect against further scud attacks.

2006 Lebanon War

The 2006 Lebanon War] was a military conflict involving Hezbollah paramilitary forces and the Israeli military. The conflict started after Hezbollah fired Katyusha rockets at Israeli border villages, diverting attention from another Hezbollah unit that crossed the border, kidnapping two Israeli soldiers and killing three others. [Daily Star. [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/July_War06.asp "Timeline of the July War 2006"] . Retrieved April 17, 2007.]

Israeli troops attempted to rescue the abducted soldiers but were unsuccessful, losing five more in the attempt. Another five soldiers and five civilians were wounded in the attacks. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and artillery fire on targets in Lebanon. An air and naval blockade along with a ground invasion of southern Lebanon was enforced. Hezbollah launched more rockets into northern Israel and engaged the Israel Defense Forces in guerrilla warfare from hardened positions.

The conflict killed over a thousand people, most of whom were Lebanese, severely damaged Lebanese infrastructure, displaced 974,184 Lebanese, and 300,000-500,000 Israelis and disrupted normal life across all of Lebanon and northern Israel.

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