By Sarah Saad
During the October War, Israel lost a third of its tanks, half of its fighter aircraft, and a third of its naval vessels, a 24-page classified report from the Armed Forces Operations Authority revealed.
The report was reviewed by then deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Mohamed Abdel Ghani el-Gamasy, and the National Security Committee in November 1973.
Field Marshal El-Gamasy said the War of Attrition, which lasted for two years before the 1973 October war, aimed to inflict maximum damage on Israel and shift political dynamics.
When the Egyptian army succeeded in doing this, he said, the US had to intervene.
The US proposed the Rogers’ Plan for a temporary ceasefire, but this proposal was made only after Israeli aircraft were downed by the Egyptian air defence.
Egypt accepted the ceasefire to achieve several objectives, primarily complete the construction of what came to be known as the ‘Missile Wall’, he said.
No war, no peace
Field Marshal Gamasy explained that Egypt sought to break the “no war, no peace” deadlock, accepting all United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Israel exploited the delay to bolster its military. Meanwhile, Egypt used the time to strengthen its own forces.
The use of military force in October 1973 was intended to advance Egypt’s political goals, create a favourable environment for further strategies, and demonstrate Arab unity.
This unity isolated Israel and the US, deepened divisions between America and its allies, and leveraged the oil weapon along with Arab diplomacy.
October Battles
Fighting lasted from October 6 to October 25, 1973.
On October 6, Egypt, with the help of Syria, launched a coordinated assault involving 260 aircraft, targeting Israeli airports and defences.
Egyptian artillery, numbering 82 battalions, and missile brigades struck the Bar Lev Line.
By 2:20 pm, the first wave of 8,000 Egyptian soldiers crossed the Suez Canal, followed by an additional 80,000 by 7:30 pm, securing a 170-kilometre front and capturing 15 enemy strongpoints.
Engineering units then opened gaps in the Bar Lev Line and built bridges for tanks and heavy equipment to cross into Sinai under the cover of darkness.
The Egyptian navy launched missile attacks on strategic locations like Sharm el-Sheikh and disrupted Israeli communications near the Bab el-Mandab Strait.
Qualitative advancements
Field Marshal Gamasy noted that the ‘Offensive Advancement’ plan aimed to relieve pressure on Syria by pushing towards strategic mountain passes, despite the challenges of moving beyond air defence cover.
Crossing
Approximately 100,000 soldiers and 1,200 tanks crossed the canal.
Egyptian casualties amounted to around 6,000 martyrs, 9,000 wounded, and 9,000 missing, totalling 25,288 personnel.
Air and naval
operations
The Egyptian Air Force executed 6,200 sorties, with an average of 310 per day, including 483 sorties on October 8.
The Navy fought four major battles, bombed 125 coastal targets, repelled nine enemy naval attacks, and conducted four special operations.
Israeli losses
Estimates indicate that Israel lost a third of its tanks, half of its air force, and a third of its naval vessels.
Egypt’s losses were significantly less in comparison, with Field Marshal El-Gamasy stressing Egypt’s solid military position at that time.
The October War, he said, shattered the myth of Israel’s ‘invincible army’, showcased Arab military and economic co-operation, and resulted in the largest military crossing operation in the history of warfare.
