Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Middle East Crisis (1)
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While the world's attention was fixed on the Caribbean amid the Cuban Missile Crisis, Israel was planning a preemptive war against the Arab Federation.
“The Israeli Defense Forces' objectives are as follows: secure the Golan Heights in the north from Syria, the Sinai Peninsula in the south from Egypt, and the border along the Dead Sea in the east.”
“That should let us sleep easy with arms and legs stretched out.”
Once they secured these geographically advantageous defensive lines, they wouldn't have to tremble at every threat from their enemies.
Nature's fortress would block any counterattacks from the Arab Federation.
The Israeli government approved IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan's plan.
While Israel sharpened its blades and prepared for a surprise attack, the Arab Federation let its guard down.
The reason was simple.
“What do they think they're doing, picking a fight with us in our weight class?”
Even in the Second Middle East War, hadn't Israel knelt before the united might of the Arab Federation?
If Israel had any learning ability, it wouldn't dare provoke a Third Middle East War.
The Arabs were convinced that the initiative for offense lay firmly with them, for these reasons.
‘Keep believing that.’
Israel's politicians openly spoke of “peaceful coexistence” and launched a peace offensive, calling for a nonviolent resolution to the Middle East problem.
It was a ploy to inflate the Arabs' unfounded confidence.
Underneath, the Israeli military and intelligence agencies maximized their spy networks to gather military intelligence on Syria and Egypt.
But even with such thorough preparations, they couldn't guarantee victory in one place.
The impregnable fortress of the Golan Heights was Israel's greatest obstacle.
To attack the Golan Heights, the Israeli ground forces had to climb a sheer 1,000-meter slope.
And in the meantime, they'd be unilaterally exposed to Syrian fire.
But was that all?
Far from it.
Beyond that loomed the strategic stronghold of Mount Hermon.
Only by overcoming these hurdles could Israel seize geopolitical superiority.
To counter the terrain's disadvantages, Israel prepared its air force and heliborne units.
‘Pummel them with airstrikes to break their spirit, then finish them off with airborne assault troops in one go.’
These were expensive forces, but for Israel's survival, it was money well spent.
Israel's massive military buildup soon caught the eye of Arab security officials.
“Those bastards seem to be preparing something. Shouldn't we get ready?”
Nasser, leader of Egypt, took the report seriously.
“Just in case, put the forces on alert.”
But Syria's Ba'ath Party thought differently.
“How insane would it be to charge into an impregnable fortress like the Golan Heights? Would they even attack? And if they do, Egypt's the obvious target.”
Iraq, even further back, thought this way.
“When war breaks out, we'll deal with it then.”
For now, economic development came first.
Amid the Arab Federation's mixed reactions, Israel completed its preparations for war.
Originally, they planned to strike during Ramadan to catch the Arabs off guard, but Mossad advised against it.
“Even if a Ramadan surprise is tactically advantageous, it's strategically disadvantageous.”
“What's the reason?”
“Starting a war now would draw the world's eyes straight to us.”
The world's eyes focused on them.
Israeli politicians found the idea burdensome.
“So when do you suggest we set the opening date?”
“Right after the Americans invade Cuba.”
That way, it could slip under the radar of the U.S. invasion.
Israel closely monitored the Cuban crisis, timing the perfect moment to strike.
“June's a bit early. Let's start the war in July.”
With the launch date set, the military urgently impressed upon the government the need to prepare mobilization orders.
“The moment we launch the offensive, issue full mobilization. To crush them with sheer numbers, there can't be a single margin for error.”
“Don't worry, General.”
Israel planned to declare full mobilization alongside the attack, deciding the war's outcome within a week.
‘A drawn-out war favors the enemy.’
Under cover of night, the Israeli forces moved tanks and self-propelled guns to the border.
In the four hours before the storm, ominous signs reached the Arab side.
“Israeli communications traffic is spiking.”
“Isn't that just training?”
Arab officers dismissed the foreboding signals as nothing serious.
Only the Egyptian forces were on full alert.
At dawn on July 11, 1957, Israeli self-propelled guns and field artillery struck Egyptian and Syrian positions across the border like lightning.
Then, Israeli air squadrons hammered Egypt and Syria's airfields.
The Egyptians at least mobilized their air defenses and fired back, but it wasn't enough to stop the massive surprise assault.
The meticulously prepared blitz dealt heavy blows to the Egyptian-Syrian forces.
“If we win this war, we can pass a peaceful homeland to our descendants. But if we lose here, we'll live in constant anxiety tomorrow.”
Right after the precise shelling and bombing, the Israelis dispatched a massive airborne assault force of U.S.-made H-19 helicopters to the Golan Heights.
“Huh? What the hell is that?”
Syrian soldiers, who had been watching only the Israeli positions below the Golan Heights, were stunned by the Israeli heliborne units swarming the skies.
Of course, Syria knew Israel had heliborne units.
But they never imagined such a bold, lightning-fast surprise attack.
“Hold out for just one day—no more, no less. Then the homeland will triumph.”
Israel's airborne assault troops were specially trained soldiers.
They seized key defensive positions before the Syrians could even recover.
The Syrians fought desperately against the Israeli airborne force for nearly 12 hours.
“Those damn stubborn bastards.”
Just as the Syrians were about to suppress the Israeli airborne troops, Israeli ground infantry climbed the Golan slopes and attacked them.
The tide turned once more.
The Israelis kept sending infantry and tanks up to the Golan Heights.
Only then did Syria sense the crisis.
If the Golan fell, an assault on the capital Damascus was only a matter of time.
“We're all gonna die like this. We need reinforcements!”
With Syria screaming for help, Iraq and Egypt couldn't stand idly by.
Orders came down for the Egyptian forces, who had been holding a decent defense against Israel, to go on the offensive.
“Your Excellency, switching to offense now will completely mess up our battle plan.”
“But we can't just watch Syria collapse.”
Nasser owed debts to his fellow Arab Federation nations.
Considering the political debts he owed them, he had no choice but to help, even if it meant overextending.
The Egyptian forces switched to offense on the president's orders.
Problems arose immediately.
“Is this the right way to maneuver?”
The Egyptian army was in a transitional phase, adapting to new weapons and doctrines.
As a result, their offensive showed inexperience.
“No, when the tank units advance, the infantry has to follow fast and cover the flanks!”
“That's not what the old doctrine said.”
With outdated and new doctrines mixed together, the Egyptians produced countless discords during the offensive.
Spotting the enemy's lack of offensive proficiency, Israel immediately feigned a retreat, luring them deep into Israeli territory.
“Ugh, so frustrating—I'm taking the tanks and going.”
The Egyptians pressed into Israeli inland, thinking they just needed to apply pressure however they could.
But this decision proved fatally wrong.
“They've forgotten about us, but the skies are ours.”
Out from under their air defense umbrella, the Egyptian tank units faced relentless Israeli air strikes.
The Egyptian air force, still reeling from the opening shock, couldn't respond.
Then, Israeli armored units charged fiercely through the sand, kicking up dust toward the battered tanks.
“Wipe them all out!”
In just 12 hours, most of the Egyptian tank force was reduced to scrap metal.
With the armor destroyed, the infantry and artillery had nothing to do.
While the Egyptians panicked, the Israeli armor ignored them and surged into the Sinai Peninsula.
“Advance—only advance!”
In the north and south alike, Israel's victory was assured.
The Israeli ground forces reached the Suez Canal in the south and fully occupied the Golan Heights in the north.
Iraq didn't even have a chance to intervene before the outcome was sealed.
The Arab Federation as a whole was shocked by Israel's combat prowess.
‘No way—we were modernizing too, and we get pushed around like this by the Jews?’
The Arabs analyzed the defeat.
Because of Arab complacency?
That was part of it, but it didn't explain everything.
Soon, the Arabs found the answer they wanted.
‘The Americans.’
The massive U.S. supplies and support had made the Jews that strong.
The Arab Federation's politicians concluded that as long as America meddled in Middle East affairs, winning wars would be impossible.
So they had no choice but to find a big brother in Washington to counter them.
Korea stayed out of such matters, leaving the Soviets as the Arabs' only great power option.
“Contact Moscow.”
The Arab Federation resolved to strengthen ties with the Soviet Union.