Chronology of Armed Forces General Command October War Communiques

By Sarah Saad

Communique 1, at 14:10 October 5, 1973

“The enemy, at one thirty in the afternoon, attacked our forces in the Zaafarana and Sokhna areas in the Gulf of Suez through formations of its air forces while some of its naval boats were approaching the western coast of the Gulf. Our forces are currently battling the invading forces.

Communique 2, at 14:25 October 6, 1973

“In response to the treacherous aggression carried out by the enemy against our forces in both Egypt and Syria, some of our air formations are currently bombing enemy bases and military targets in occupied Egyptian territories.”

Communique 3, at 15:02 October 6, 1973

“Further to Communique No. 2, our air forces have successfully carried out missions and directly hit enemy positions. All of our aircraft returned safely to their bases except for one.”

Communique 4, at 15:07 October 6, 1973

Within five minutes of the third Communique, the General Command of the Egyptian Armed Forces issued this Communique: “Enemy forces attempted to seize part of our lands west of the Suez Canal, and our ground forces battled them and launched a successful counterattack with concentrated artillery bombardments on the enemy’s strongholds. Our forces stormed the Suez Canal and chased the enemy to the eastern bank in some of its areas.”

Communique 5, at 16:00 October 6, 1973

“Our Armed Forces succeeded in storming the Suez Canal in many sectors and managed to seize the enemy’s strongholds and raise the Egyptian flag on the eastern bank of the canal. The Syrian Armed Forces also stormed enemy positions, battled them and achieved similar success in several sectors.”

Communique 6, at 17:30 October 6, 1973

“As a result of the success of our Armed Forces in crossing the Suez Canal, the enemy spread its air forces in large numbers, but our valiant fighters engaged them in fierce battles and destroyed eleven aircraft. Our forces lost ten military aircraft.”

Communique 7, at 19:30 October 6, 1973

“Our Armed Forces succeeded in crossing the Suez Canal along the entire front lines. We seized the area of the eastern shore of ​​the canal. Presently our forces are successfully battling the enemy. Our naval forces also protected the left side of our military forces on the Mediterranean coast. They pounded key enemy targets on the northern coast of Sinai, inflicting direct hits on them.”

Communique 8, at 00:37 October 7, 1973

“The enemy launched counterattacks from several directions with tanks and mechanized infantry against our forces that crossed the Suez Canal. Our Armed Forces managed to repel all these attacks and inflicted the enemy with heavy losses in personnel and equipment. Our Armed Forces are still fighting from their positions on the eastern bank of the canal.”

Communique 9, at 07:00 October 7, 1973

The General Command of the Armed Forces announced the developments of fighting on October 6, 1973, stating that the Israeli enemy launched treacherous air attacks on both Egypt and Syria. Our forces had successfully repelled them with some casualties.

Our Armed Forces succeeded in crossing the canal, seized most of the eastern shore, and continued fighting to strengthen their positions.

On the night of October 7, 1973, our forces continued fighting against the enemy. Fierce battles took place during which the enemy launched counterattacks, in an attempt to restore the positions, but failed. Our forces repelled the enemy, which suffered heavy losses in personnel and equipment.

Our naval forces also destroyed five enemy vessels in the Mediterranean Sea and bombed some enemy areas on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Suez.

Communique 10, October 7, 1973

“Our Armed Forces are still fighting in Sinai, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. Meanwhile, the enemy’s air forces carried out an aerial bombardment of large formations over some points, while our fighters engaged with them, destroyed and shot down five enemy aircraft, and the enemy’s raids did not achieve their goals.”

Communique 11,  at 12:53October 7, 1973

“The enemy gathered its armoured vehicles and air forces to launch counterattacks against our forces in the northern and southern sectors following the success of our Armed Forces in their operations in Sinai. With the assistance of fighter-bombers, artillery, and our air defence, our ground forces repulsed the enemy’s counterattacks and inflicted heavy losses on its armoured forces and personnel. A number of enemy soldiers were taken prisoner and the remainder started to retreat eastward.

Communique 12, at 14:29 October 7, 1973

“This afternoon, our air formations launched an air strike against enemy positions in the central and northern Sinai, including some of the enemy’s administrative positions, artillery, and air defence, inflicting huge losses in personnel and equipment. All of our aircraft returned safely to their bases except for one.

On the northern coast of Sinai, our naval forces successfully carried out their missions in bombing the coastal positions of the enemy. They shot down an enemy helicopter that attempted to engage in the battle.

Our ground forces successfully eliminated central sites of enemy resistance and captured an additional number of enemy personnel.

Communique 13, at 22:53 October 7, 1973

“Our armed forces continued to flow through the Suez Canal and were successfully fighting the enemy forces along the frontline in Sinai. Our ground, naval and defence forces repelled and destroyed the enemy’s counterattacks, inflicting heavy losses in equipment and lives and forcing the enemy forces to retreat east.

Our aircraft also bombed enemy targets deep in Sinai in the northern and central sectors, and participated with the air defence forces in confronting enemy aircraft that attempted to raid some of our airports this morning.

At the same time, our naval forces carried out combat missions, secured our shores on the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and bombed enemy positions on the northern coast of Sinai.

This afternoon, the enemy tried to attack the crossings on the canal, but all its attempts failed, and our forces, tanks, mechanised infantry, and artillery continued to cross into Sinai.

Communique 14, at 13:36 October 8, 1973

“Our Armed Forces continued to storm into Sinai through strong bridges over the canal. Last night the enemy tried desperately to carry out counterattacks to stop the advance of our forces, but they were met with heavy bombardments from tanks, artillery, and anti-tank weapons.

Around 20 enemy tanks were destroyed, in addition to heavy losses in equipment and soldiers. The eastern bank of the canal became completely in the hands of our Armed Forces, and the enemy’s strong points surrendered. Our naval forces continued their operations in the Mediterranean and Red Seas directing powerful strikes at the enemy’s coastal positions.

Communique 15, at 20:30 October 8, 1973

“Our Armed Forces maintained their progress inside Sinai and carried out their combat missions successfully. Several clashes took place with the enemy throughout the day. Our forces were able to repel and destroy the enemy’s troops and forced them to withdraw, suffering heavy losses in personnel and equipment.”

Communique 16, at 21:09 October 8, 1973

“he Egyptian flag was raised again above the second city of Sinai-Qantara East-after it was liberated by our Armed Forces. The Egyptian forces seized large quantities of enemy weapons and equipment, including a

number of Centurion and AMX tanks. The Egyptian citizens rushed to support ourfighters for the sake of the nation’s honour and pride.

Communique 17, at 21:14 October 8, 1973

Within fifty minutes of the previous Communique, the General Command of the Armed Forces announced: “This evening, the enemy began bombing the city of Port Said, destroying a number of homes and buildings, causing some losses to the civilians. Therefore, this is the first time that a city has been struck in Egypt, and the enemy must bear the consequences of this operation.

Communique 18, October 8, 1973

“The Armed Forces received orders to deprive the enemy of benefiting from Sinai oil. Accordingly, our forces raided the oil wellare as on the shore of the Gulf of Suez in Belayim and set them on fire.” It clashed with enemy forces in the area, leaving wells burning. An oilrig was destroyed and sunk. Our Armed Forces returned to their bases safely.”

Communique 19, at 10:10 October 9, 1973

“After completing the seizure of the entire eastern shore of the Suez Canal, our Armed Forces formations advanced along the confrontation lines to 15 kilometres inside Sinai. They destroyed all the enemy positions on their way, inflicting heavy losses in personnel and equipment. Hundreds of enemy forces fled their positions, weapons and ammunition.”

Communique 20, at 10:30 October 9, 1973

Our Armed Forces advanced this morning into Sinai, and in co-operation with the air forces, they managed to destroy the 1st Battalion of the 190th armoured Netka Brigade, and captured its commander Colonel Assaf Yaguri.”

Communique 21, at 12:45 October 9, 1973

“In the early hours of this morning, our naval forces clashed with an enemy formation on the northern coast, advancing in the west direction, sinking five of its boats and shooting down 4 helicopters. The rest of the formation was forced to withdraw. Three of our boats were hit during this battle.”

Communique 22, at 14:20 October 9, 1973

“This afternoon, an enemy formation attacked some of our front airports. Our air and Armed Forces engaged it and shot down 16 Phantom and Skyhawk aircraft. Four pilots were captured.”

Communique 23, at 17:14 October 9, 1973

“During their advance inside Sinai, our ground forces engaged with two armoured brigades of the enemy in the southern and central sectors, in a fierce battle. Our forces destroyed 42 tanks in the Sinai’s southern sector and 60 tanks in the central sector. The remaining enemy’s tanks withdrew in panic to the east. They were pursued by our tanks to destroy them. A number of tank crews from both brigades were also captured.”

Communique 24, at 13:35 October 10, 1973

“This morning, the enemy’s air forces tried to attack some of our air bases, but the Egyptian air defence troops confronted them and forced them to drop bombs far from the air bases. Our troops shot down two enemy aircraft over the northern sector of the Sinai.

Communique 25, at 14:30 October 10, 1973

“Our ground forces are still adjusting their advanced positions east of the Suez Canal under the protection of Egypt’s air forces and air defence troops, as the enemy retreats eastward.”

One of our patrols in the northern sector of the Sinai detected and pursued some enemy armoured vehicles. The enemy fled east, leaving some of its tanks and armoured vehicles. Our forces captured 15 tanks and armoured vehicles, most of which were intact, including 12 M60 tanks and Centurions, 3 armoured vehicles, and some prisoners.

Communique 26, at 17:20 October 10, 1973

“As our ground units advance in the southern sector of Sinai, they clashed with enemy armoured forces in a fierce battle and destroyed a large number of tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery.” The enemy personnel left behind their weapons intact. Our forces seized three Centurion tanks, 4 105mm cannons, six½-inch guns, 4 M-240 81mm mortar and a large number of rifles and machine guns. They are all usable.

Communique 27, at 10:15 October 11, 1973

“Yesterday afternoon, a fierce armoured battle took place in the central sector of Sinai, during which the enemy pushed in large numbers of tanks in an attempt to stop our advancing forces. Our armoured vehicles clashed with them in a fierce battle that lasted more than four hours.” The enemy withdrew eastward, suffering heavy losses in tanks, vehicles, personnel, and weapons. Another battle took place during the night to destroy the besieged enemy forces. Fighting continued at the time of this Communique.

Communique 28, at 12:00 October 11, 1973

“The battle that took place in the central sector of Sinai last night ended with complete destruction of the besieged enemy. They lost 25 tanks during the confrontation.”

Communique 29, at 13:17 October 11, 1973

“Yesterday evening, our air forces launched an air strike against the Israeli military forces in Ras Abu Rudeison on the Red Sea coast and the Baloza area on the Mediterranean coast, inflicting significant losses in equipment and personnel.”

As a result, the enemy fighter jets tried this morning to bomb some of our airports in the northern Delta, Port Said, and Suez Canal regions. Our fighters engaged with them and shot down four Phantom and Mirage planes. The remaining planes were forced to drop their bomb loads on some nearby villages and flee, causing some losses to the citizens.

Our air defence forces confronted the enemyplanes and shot down five more of them. The total number of aircraft lost this morning on the Egyptian front within half an hour was nine aircraft, and there were no losses to our forces.

Communique 30, at 19:29 October 11, 1973

“Our air and defence forces inflicted heavy losses on the Israeli army in aircraft and equipment.”

When the enemy aircraft tried to raid Mansoura airport this morning, our fighters shot down four planes. As the enemy tried to penetrate our airspace in the Delta area this afternoon using 6 Phantom planes, the Egyptian fighter jets shot them down.

Communique 31, at 13:36 October 12, 1973

“A formation of our aircraft attacked the enemy’s command centres in the central axis of Sinai last night with missiles, setting them on fire and destroyed the enemy’s two radar stations.”

​On the eastern coast of the Gulf of Suez, our naval forces fired at three enemy naval missile launchers and destroyed one of them. They tracked the other two at the port of Ras Sidr and bombarded them.

Communique 32, at 17:56 October 12, 1973

“A battle took place between one of our ground formations and a hostile mechanised force in the central sector of Sinai at eleven o’clock this morning. Our troops destroyed 13 enemy tanks and 19 armoured vehicles. About two hundred enemy troops were killed and wounded. Our forces also siezed two Patton tanks and captured their crews. Our planes returned to their bases safely.”

Communique 33, at 20:23 October 12, 1973

“The Israeli air forces attempted during the day to carry out several air strikes against Port Said and our ground forces in the central sector of Sinai. Our air defence forces engaged with them and shot down 7 aircraft over Port Said area and 8 aircraft over central Sinai, including 3 helicopters.”

Communique 34, at 21:02 October 13, 1973

“Two enemy reconnaissance planes penetrated our airspace from north of Port Said and reached Naga Hammadi. Then, they returned north in the direction of Cairo and then east to Sinai in the direction of Lebanon and Syria. They later headed towards the northwest over the Mediterranean Sea, taking 25 minutes. The two planes were flying at an altitude of 25km at a speed exceeding the speed of sound by three. It turned out that they were US R.71. A models. This type of aircraft is owned only by the United States, and this is the first time that this type of aircraft has penetrated our airspace.”

Communique 35, at 22:23 October 13, 1973

“Our ground forces continue to strengthen and consolidate the areas they have recovered in Sinai. This afternoon, a formation of our aircraft bombarded the enemy’s concentrations of tanks and mechanical vehicles on the northern axis in Sinai. At the same time, another formation attacked a gathering of enemy tanks and armoured vehicles in the southern axis. Both attacks inflicted heavy losses on enemy tanks, equipment, and personnel. The enemy hit four air defence aircraft. Our air defence systems downed sixteen enemy aircraft, including three helicopters.

Communique 36, at 9:49 October 14, 1973

“Our Armed Forces started an attack to the east at six o’clock this morning as per pre-set plan. The battle is still going on successfully.

Communique 37, at 14:27 October 14, 1973

“Fierce fighting is still going on along front lines inside Sinai between our armoured and mechanised forces, who are advancing eastward, and the enemy.

Accordingly, our air forces bombarded the enemy positions, which obstructed the advance of our forces.

Enemy aircraft have intervened in the battles, but our air defence shot down 24 aircraft at the time of reading this Communique.

Communique 38, at 18:58 October 14, 1973

“Following the fierce battles that took place throughout the day with the objective being to destroy the enemy’s armour, our forces managed to liberate new swathes of land throughout the confrontation line in Sinai, despite repeated attempts by the enemy to prevent the advance of our forces. Despite the enemy’s repeated countre strikes, our forces achieved their goal after destroying 150 enemy tanks. Our Air Forces bombarded a centre for anti-tank missile sites, which impeded the progress of our forces, and destroyed a large part of them and forced the rest to flee eastwards.

Communique 39, at 21:15 October 14, 1973

“Several air battles took place between our air forces and enemy aircraft. The most violent of them was the battle that took place this afternoon over the northern Delta, during which 15 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Three of our aircraft were hit. Our air defence systems shot down 29 enemy aircraft, including two helicopters, throughout the day. Therefore, the enemy lost 44 aircraft, including two helicopters this day only.

Communique 40, at 13:11 October 15, 1973

“The enemy air forces attempted this morning to attack our airports, but our air defences downed 9 air craft, and the enemy failed to achieve its goals.”

Meanwhile, a formation of our air forces bombarded the enemy forces as they advanced on the northern axis in Sinai, destroying 6 tanks, tracked vehicles, and about 20 administrative vehicles.

The enemy attempted later to carry out a counterattack against one of our units in its new positions, but our forces repelled the attack and destroyed 7 enemy tanks, forcing others to withdraw eastward.

Communique 41, at 14:26 October 15, 1973

“At dawn today, one of our ground units carried out an ambush against a fortified enemy site on the coastal axis in Sinai. The forces were parachuted at night behind the enemy and stormed the site from several directions. They clashed with the enemy in fierce, close combat and were able to inflict heavy losses in equipment and lives. Our forces returned to their base safely, except for some losses in personnel.”

Communique 42, at 09:15 October 16, 1973

“Our naval forces carried out two successful operations in the Mediterranean and the Red Seas in the evening yesterday. They bombarded enemy positions on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Suez and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy’s equipment and personnel. All our naval vessels returned to their bases safely.”

In the early hours of this morning, a naval formation of the enemy attempted to approach our shores in the northern Delta region. However, our naval units engaged with the enemy and succeeded, with the assistance of the Air Force, in destroying four enemy boats, and the remaining units of the formation fled.

In the central sector of Sinai, last night, our forces discovered an armoured enemy force comprising 21 tanks advancing towards our positions and succeeded in destroying them. 34 of the enemy aircraft were spotted and destroyed.

Communique 43, at 17:53 October 16, 1973

“The enemy attempted this afternoon to assemble a large number of armoured vehicles on the central axis and launched counterattacks, trying to advance through the bridgehead of one of our formations. However, a fierce battle is currently taking place using our armoured vehicles and infantry forces. The mechanised infantry force is being assisted by our air forces to repel enemy penetration and destroy it.

Communique 44, at 21:30 October 16, 1973

“Referring to Communique No. 43, our armoured vehicles destroyed a large part of the enemy’s armoured vehicles, which carried out the counterattack this afternoon.

Our air formations participated in large numbers in this battle and carried out concentrated bombardment on the enemy’s tanks, forcing them to withdraw.

Enemy aircraft intercepted our air formations and a dogfight took place in which we shot down 11 enemy aircraft, and all of our aircraft returned to their bases safely except for two planes.

During the fighting, at two-thirty in the afternoon, the enemy launched a desperate raid, using seven tanks across the Bitter Lakes in an attempt to raid some sites west of the canal. Our artillery poured heavy fire on them, destroying three of them and dispersing the rest

Communique 45, at 18:38 October 17, 1973

“Fierce battles have been taking place since early morning in the central sector. The enemy has suffered heavy losses in tanks and armoured vehicles and in the southern sector of the front.”

Throughout the day, our air forces assisted our ground forces and clashed with enemy aircraft in an aerial battle that resulted in the destruction of four enemy aircraft. One of ours was damaged.

Our air defence forces also responded to enemy aircraft that raided the battlefront and shot down 17 aircraft, including 5 helicopters.

Communique 46, at 14:53 October 18, 1973

“Fighting has been raging between our forces and the enemy’s armoured forces in the central sector of the front since yesterday morning. Our forces, with the help of the air forces and concentrated artillery bombardments, have succeeded in causing large and heavy losses to the enemy forces.

This morning, the enemy tried to attack our formations on the frontlines to disrupt their advance. Our air defence responded and shot down 12 aircraft. Four pilots were captured.

Our navy also engaged with enemy vessels, which attempted to bomb civilian facilities in Port Said, destroying one of them and forcing the rest to flee”.

Communique 47, at 21:59 October 18, 1973

“Our Armed Forces continued throughout the day to exert intense pressure on the enemy forces. Formations of our aircraft supported our forces in carrying out their combat missions and inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipment on the enemy. Our air defence systems engaged with enemy aircraft that attempted to attack some of our forward positions and our forces on the front, destroying 15 including 3 helicopters.”

Communique 48, at 13:40 October 19, 1973

“Fighting intensified between our ground formations east of the canal and enemy forces, who were pushed to the battlefield to compensate for their heavy losses in the battles that took place over the past few days.

Our artillery and aircraft assisted our forces with great efficiency during the battles that are taking place now throughout the battlefront. They focus their bombing on areas where enemy tanks and vehicles are gathered, causing heavy losses.

Our forces have destroyed parts of enemy tank assembling sites around the ‘Deversoir’ area.

Our air defence systems responded this morning to enemy aircraft, which tried to intercept our forces aircraft on the front and destroyed 4 of their fighter jets.”

Communique 49, at 20:00  October 19, 1973

“Battles continue on the central axis of the battlefront. Huge forces of armour, mechanised infantry, field artillery, and anti-tank artillery joined the fighting. The enemy suffered heavy losses in equipment and lives.

Our forces are engaged in fierce clashes with enemy elements that crossed to the western bank of the canal via the Bitter Lakes.

Our air forces continued to bomb enemy tanks and vehicles. They also clashed with the enemy aircraft, destroying 3 of them and arrested one pilots, who admitted that 35 US-Phantom aircraft to the battlefield with their American pilots.

Communique 50, at 14:28 October 20, 1973

“Our ground formations and special units, in co-operation with our air forces and artillery fire inflicted heavy losses on the enemy’s equipment and personnel.

The fighting resulted in the destruction of 85 tanks and 56 half-track vehicles. Our forces have also captured entire crews of some of its tanks.

Our air defences have also shot down 10 aircraft, and captured two pilots.

In the northern Delta region, five other enemy Mirage aircraft were also shot, bringing the enemy’s losses today to fifteen aircraft so far.

Communique 51, at 09:45 October 21, 1973

“Fierce tank battles continued in the central axis and Deversoir region. The fighting resulted in the destruction of 40 enemy tanks in addition to many of its administrative vehicles.

Formations of our aircraft assisted our forces. When the air enemy tried to bomb our positions on the front and evacuate its soldiers in the Deversoir area, our air defence systems shot down 14 aircraft yest    erday afternoon, including electronic reconnaissance and five Hel aircraft.

In the Red Sea, a group of enemy special naval units (commandos) attempted to approach the shore, but members of our navy and artillery engages with them and destroyed two of its boats.

Communique 52, at 18:52 October 21, 1973

“Fierce aerial battles continue. Our air defence system destroyed 9 of the enemy planes, and 3 of its pilots were captured.

Our air defence systems shot down seven enemy aircraft, including 5 helicopters, which were trying to support the besieged troops in Deversoir area. Our fighters and bombers achieved their missions in hitting enemy targets.

Communique 53, at 20:58 October 21, 1973

“The largest and most violent battles continue throughout the day between our ground formations and enemy forces east of the canal and in the Deversoir region.

Our forces also carried out a number of counterattacks, after which they annexed new swaths of territory east of the canal, and captured a number of enemy tank crews. The enemy’s losses are as follows:

70 tanks were destroyed, 40 tracked vehicles were smashed, 25 aircraft, including 12 helicopters were shot down and destroyed and large numbers of enemy soldiers died, injured or taken captives”.

Communique 54, at 17:00 October 22, 1973

“Our formations of fighter and heavy bombers destroyed enemy concentrations of tanks and vehicles east of the canal and in the Deversoir area, inflicting heavy losses in equipment and personnel.

On the northern Port Said coast, a battle took place between members of our navy and a hostile naval formation, which tried to approach our coast supported by helicopters. The battle resulted in the destruction of 3 enemy naval vessels and two helicopters.”

Another enemy naval formation comprising three fast naval units attempted to approach our coast on the Red Sea after midnight last night. Members of our navy engaged with the enemy and destroyed two of its units.

As of morning, formations of our fighter jets and bombers support our ground forces by bombarding enemy positions, causing heavy losses.

Our air defence system sengaged with approaching enemy aircraft them and destroyed 12 of them.

Communique 55, at 10:00 October 23, 1973

“The enemy took advantage of the ceasefire agreement and pushed a number of its tanks last night into the Deversoir area, trying to infiltrate to gain some new positions. It opened fire from its positions, and tried to attack our forces.

The General Command of the Armed Forces announced that these actions are a violation of the ceasefire agreement and a provocation to the Egyptian forces, which will force us to respond to these provocations.

Communique 56, at 15:05 October 23, 1973

“The enemy seized the opportunity of the ceasefire and reinforced his forces in the Deversoir area during the night and attacked the positions of our forces and opened fire on them.

“Our forces responded to the enemy’s attempts in fierce battles with tanks, artillery and fighter jets. 4 enemy Phantom and Mirage aircraft were shot down”.

Communique 57, at 21:57 October 23, 1973

“The enemy forces continued to violate the ceasefire agreement throughout the day. They fired on our positions east and west of the canal.

They use large numbers of aircraft, tanks and artillery in their aggression, so our forces confronted them.

In these battles, the enemy lost 7 aircraft, including 3 Mirages and 4 Phantoms, and large number of tanks and vehicles.

Communique 58, at 12:28 October 24, 1973

“When the order for a ceasefire was issued at 18:52 on October 22, 1973, our forces stationed east of the canal were firmly committed to the lands they had reclaimed from the enemy in Sinai. The enemy’s attacks against beachheads east of the canal failed, except for a gap in the Deversoir area, from which some enemy forces had managed to escape and disperse in some areas west of the canal. Israel announced in its Communique issued on 10/21/1973 that its forces were deployed in an area of 475 square miles, west of the canal.

From that time until seven o’clock in the morning on October 24, 1973, Israeli forces took advantage of the ceasefire, and began to deploy again southwards for the purpose of showing the breadth of lands they are holding. But it clashed with our forces, and a fierce battle took place. The enemy used its air force to cover some of its smaller units to leak southwards to the port of Adabiya”.

Communique 59, at 16:00 October 24, 1973

“The enemy continued to break the ceasefire throughout the day. Formations of its air forces carried out numerous and intense attacks on the positions of our forces in the southern sector, east of the Suez Canal.”

The enemy moved some tanks towards the city of Suez and tried to storm it, but our forces engaged with them and destroyed 13 tanks.

Communique 60, at 16:55 October 24, 1973

“Due to continued enemy aerial attacks on the positions of our forces east of the canal, our fighter planes engaged with them in a dogfight and shot down 8 Mirage planes.

It has been noted that some of the Mirage aircraft that attacked our forces today belong to a foreign country.

Communique 61, at 15:35 October 25, 1973

“For the third day in a row, the enemy continues to violate the Security Council ceasefire resolutions”.

The enemy troops tried again this afternoon to storm Suez with tanks and artillery, but our Armed Forces engaged with them and destroyed 11 tanks, and forced the remaining ones to withdraw.

Communique 62, at 21:20 October 25, 1973

“As the violations of the UN Security Council ceasefire resolutions, which were issued on October 22 and 23, continued, the enemy attempted for the second time this afternoon to storm the Suez, using large numbers of tanks under cover from long-range aircraft and artillery fire. Therefore, our Armed Forces engaged with them, with support from the Popular Resistance Forces. We managed to destroy eight tanks and our air defence systems shot down an enemy aircraft in the northern sector of the front”.

Communique 63, at 12:20 October 26, 1973

“The Israeli military spokesman announced at nine o’clock this morning that it sank the Panama-flagged oil tanker Sirius at the entrance to the Gulf of Suez. The Israeli spokesman also claimed that an Egyptian force of tanks and artillery in the Third Army area north of Suez attacked the Israeli forces located to the west, trying to find a pretext to break the ceasefire with these false allegations.

Communique 64, at 19:10 October 26, 1973

“The dimensions of the false allegations of the enemy this morning about the sinking an oil tanker and using tanks and artillery in bombing Israeli positions west of the canal have been uncovered.”

The enemy violated the ceasefire resolutions and launched intensive air strikes on the positions of our forces in the southern sector, east of Suez. These strikes began at eleven o’clock and continued at intermittent intervals, forcing our forces to respond.