Yom Kippur War

IDF

Israel's national military

• reservistsPart-time armed forces members
• counterattackOffensive response to aggression
• air superiorityControl of the sky
• casualtiesThose killed or wounded

Golda Meir · mobilization · Mossad · kibbutzim · Entebbe · national trauma

October

Year's tenth month

• surprise attackUnanticipated offensive strike
• Sinai PeninsulaEgyptian desert landmass
• ceasefireAgreed halt to fighting
• oil embargoBan on petroleum exports

OPEC · Cold War · superpowers · USSR · USA · intelligence failure · nuclear alert · petrodollars

Anwar Sadat

• CairoEgyptian capital city
• Suez CanalManmade strait through Egypt
• crossingPoint where paths intersect
• infantryGround combat troops

commandos · water cannons · pontoon bridges · Soviet advisors · MiG fighters · attrition · Camp David Accords

Middle East

Asia-Africa-Europe junction zone

• Arab LeagueRegional political organization, 22 members
• superpower rivalryContest between dominant nations
• oil embargoBan on petroleum exports
• OPECPetroleum exporters' coalition

United Nations · Security Council · Kissinger · shuttle diplomacy · détente · Nixon · Brezhnev · airlift

tank battles

Combat between armored vehicles

• air combatWarfare between aircraft
• artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
• anti-aircraftWeapons targeting airborne threats
• offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented

counteroffensive · encirclement · attrition · logistics · reinforcements · fortifications · reconnaissance · casualties

Damascus

Syrian seat of government

• MiG-21Soviet supersonic fighter aircraft
• commando raidsSudden attacks by special forces
• artillery barragesSustained heavy weapons fire
• air defenseProtection from aerial attack

Day of Atonement

Solemn Jewish repentance observance

• fastingDeliberate food avoidance
• synagogueJewish house of worship
• prayerAddress to deity
• repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs

Jewish calendar · solemnity · radio silence · shofar