Six-Day War - Preliminary Air Attack. Main article: Operation Focus Israel's first and most important move was a pre-emptive attack on the Egyptian Air Force. It was by far the largest and the most modern of all the Arab air forces, sporting about 450 combat aircraft, all of them Soviet-built and relatively new. Of particular concern to the Israelis were the 30 TU-16 Badger medium bombers, capable of inflicting heavy damage to Israeli military and civilian centers. See also:

Six-Day War, Six-Day War - Background, Six-Day War - Main reasons for the war, Six-Day War - Condition of Combatant Armies, Six-Day War - Warfare, Six-Day War - Preliminary Air Attack, Six-Day War - Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula, Six-Day War - West Bank, Six-Day War - Golan Heights, Six-Day War - War in the air and at sea, Six-Day War - Conclusion of conflict and post-war situation, Six-Day War - Accusations and controversial claims, Six-Day War - IDF killings of Egyptian prisoners of war, Six-Day War - U.S. and British support, Six-Day War - Soviet instigation, Six-Day War - Footnotes

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Since 1967, part the Golan Heights territory of South East Syria is under Israeli military occupation or annexation. Since 1973, the cease-fire line has generally been respected by both sides, with very few incidents. Syria does not recognize the State of Israel. Syria also considers the Hatay Province of Southern Turkey to be Syrian territory and under occupation, but there has been no fighting over this issue. The Syrian military is also believed to be actively supporting Lebanese and Palestinian militias such as Hizbullah, Hamas, PFLP-GC and Islamic Jihad. Until the 1990s, Syria supported the K ...

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Syrian Army, Syrian Army - Involvement in military conflict, Syrian Army - International disputes, Syrian Army - Some estimates from the CIA Factbook

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In January 1961 Tzur was appointed as the IDF Chief of Staff. One of his first actions was to appoint Major General Yitzhak Rabin as his deputy. Tzur's term was relatively quiet, except for border incidents with Syria which shelled Israeli settlement from the Golan Heights. The biggest IDF operation during Tzur's term was held on March 16, 1962, when the Golani Brigade raided Syrian outposts to the north of the Sea of Galilee in order to stop Syrian shelling. 7 Israeli soldiers and 30 Syrian soldiers were killed during the battle. However, the shelling was not stopped in the area and on August 19, 1963, Syrian forced ...

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Tzvi Tzur, Tzvi Tzur - Early life, Tzvi Tzur - Military career, Tzvi Tzur - Chief of Staff, Tzvi Tzur - Civlian career

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Yom Kippur War - Egypt's trapped Third Army. The United Nations passed a cease-fire, largely negotiated between the U.S. and Soviet Union, on October 22. It called for an end to the fighting between Israel and Egypt (but technically not between Syria and Israel). It came into effect 12 hours later at 6:52 PM Israeli time. (Rabinovich, 452). Because it went into effect after darkness, it was impossible for satellite surveillance to determine where the f ...

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Yom Kippur War, Yom Kippur War - Background, Yom Kippur War - Causes, Yom Kippur War - Events leading up to the War, Yom Kippur War - Lead up to the surprise attack, Yom Kippur War - Lack of an Israeli pre-emptive attack, Yom Kippur War - The War, Yom Kippur War - In the Sinai, Yom Kippur War - On the Golan Heights, Yom Kippur War - At sea, Yom Kippur War - Participation by other Arab states, Yom Kippur War - Armaments, Yom Kippur War - The cease-fire and immediate aftermath, Yom Kippur War - Egypt's trapped Third Army, Yom Kippur War - Nuclear alert, Yom Kippur War - Northern front de-escalation, Yom Kippur War - Post-cease-fire negotiations, Yom Kippur War - Long-term effects of the war, Yom Kippur War - Fallout in Israel, Yom Kippur War - Camp David Accords, Yom Kippur War - Commemorations, Yom Kippur War - Notes

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Yom Kippur War - In the Sinai. The Egyptian units would not advance beyond a shallow strip for fear of losing protection of their SAM missile batteries. In the Six-Day War, the Israeli Air Force had pummelled the defenseless Arab armies. Egypt (and Syria) had heavily fortified their side of the cease-fire lines with SAM batteries, against which the Israeli Air Force had no effective countermeasures. Israel, which had invested much of its defense budget building the region's strongest air force, would see its air force rendered almost use ...

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Yom Kippur War, Yom Kippur War - Background, Yom Kippur War - Causes, Yom Kippur War - Events leading up to the War, Yom Kippur War - Lead up to the surprise attack, Yom Kippur War - Lack of an Israeli pre-emptive attack, Yom Kippur War - The War, Yom Kippur War - In the Sinai, Yom Kippur War - On the Golan Heights, Yom Kippur War - At sea, Yom Kippur War - Participation by other Arab states, Yom Kippur War - Armaments, Yom Kippur War - The cease-fire and immediate aftermath, Yom Kippur War - Egypt's trapped Third Army, Yom Kippur War - Nuclear alert, Yom Kippur War - Northern front de-escalation, Yom Kippur War - Post-cease-fire negotiations, Yom Kippur War - Long-term effects of the war, Yom Kippur War - Fallout in Israel, Yom Kippur War - Camp David Accords, Yom Kippur War - Commemorations, Yom Kippur War - Notes

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When Egypt and Syria attacked the Sinai and the Golan Heights, respectively, on the night of October 6, 1973, the Western world was stunned. Iraq had also sent some troops. With their dramatic successes early in the war, Arab nations also issued a warning that they would stop all oil shipments to any nation that assisted Israel in defense. However, it soon became clear that Israel was in desperate need of supplies if they were to repulse the attack, and on October 9, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir issued a personal appeal for assistance. ...

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Operation Nickel Grass, Operation Nickel Grass - Operation, Operation Nickel Grass - Effects

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Although rapid economic development followed the declaration of independence, Syrian politics from independence through the late 1960s was marked by upheaval. Between 1946 and 1956, Syria had 20 different cabinets and drafted four separate constitutions. In 1948, Syria was involved in the Arab-Israeli War. The Syrian army was pressed out of the Israel area, but fortified their strongholds on the Golan Heights and managed to keep their old borders. A series of military coups, begun in 1949, undermined civilian rule and led to army colonel Adi ...

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History of Syria, History of Syria - Ancient history, History of Syria - Eblan civilization, History of Syria - Syria in antiquity, History of Syria - Early Christian and Islamic history, History of Syria - French occupation, History of Syria - Instability and growth: independence to 1970, History of Syria - Ba'ath Party rule under Hafiz al-Assad 1970-2000, History of Syria - 21st century

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Six-Day War - Main reasons for the war. The 1956 Suez War represented for Egypt a military defeat, but a political victory. Heavy diplomatic pressure forced Israel to withdraw its military from the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip. After the 1956 war, Egypt agreed to the stationing of a UN peacekeeping force in the Sinai, UNEF (United Nations Emergency Force), to keep that border region demilitarized, and prevent guerrillas from crossing the border into Israel. As a result the border between Egypt and Israel qu ...

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Six-Day War, Six-Day War - Background, Six-Day War - Main reasons for the war, Six-Day War - Condition of Combatant Armies, Six-Day War - Warfare, Six-Day War - Operation Focus, Six-Day War - Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula, Six-Day War - West Bank, Six-Day War - Golan Heights, Six-Day War - War in the air and at sea, Six-Day War - Conclusion of conflict and post-war situation, Six-Day War - Accusations and controversial claims, Six-Day War - IDF killings of Egyptian prisoners of war, Six-Day War - U.S. and British combat support, Six-Day War - U.S. and British non-combat support, Six-Day War - Soviet instigation, Six-Day War - Footnotes

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The dramatic events of the Six Day War have given rise to a number of accusations of atrocities and controversial claims and theories. Six-Day War - IDF killings of Egyptian prisoners of war. In a 16 August 1995 interview for Israel Radio, Aryeh Yitzhaki of Bar Ilan University, who had worked previously in the IDF history department, accused a reconnaissance unit, known as Shaked (Almond), of which then housing minister in the Labour government Binyamin Ben-Eliezer had been acting commander, of kill ...

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Six-Day War, Six-Day War - Background, Six-Day War - Main reasons for the war, Six-Day War - Condition of Combatant Armies, Six-Day War - Warfare, Six-Day War - Operation Focus, Six-Day War - Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula, Six-Day War - West Bank, Six-Day War - Golan Heights, Six-Day War - War in the air and at sea, Six-Day War - Conclusion of conflict and post-war situation, Six-Day War - Accusations and controversial claims, Six-Day War - IDF killings of Egyptian prisoners of war, Six-Day War - U.S. and British combat support, Six-Day War - U.S. and British non-combat support, Six-Day War - Soviet instigation, Six-Day War - Footnotes

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There are theories that the entire 1967 War was a botched attempt by the Soviet Union to create tensions between West Germany and Arab countries by highlighting West Germany's support for Israel. In her September 2003 article in the Middle East Review of International Affairs, Isabella Ginor detailed Soviet GRU documents proposing such a plan and further detailing faulty intelligence fed to Egypt claiming troop buildups near the Golan Heights in Syria. See also:

Accusations on the Six-Day War, Accusations on the Six-Day War - IDF killings of Egyptian prisoners of war, Accusations on the Six-Day War - U.S. and British combat support, Accusations on the Six-Day War - U.S. and British non-combat support, Accusations on the Six-Day War - Soviet instigation, Accusations on the Six-Day War - Footnotes

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1 If the Golan Heights region is not considered part of Israel, then an unnamed location on the Lebanese border (the Blue Line), immediately to the north of Metulla, is Israel's northernmost point. 2 If the Golan Heights region is not considered part of Israel, then an unnamed location on the border with Syria west of Qela is Israel's easternmost point 3 If the Gaza Strip is not considered part of Israel, then Kerem Shalom crossing, the Egypt-Israel-Gaza tripoint, is Israel's westernmost point.< ...

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Geography of Israel, Geography of Israel - Topography, Geography of Israel - Climate, Geography of Israel - Area and boundaries, Geography of Israel - Resources and land use, Geography of Israel - Environmental concerns, Geography of Israel - Extreme points, Geography of Israel - Other geographic features, Geography of Israel - Sources

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Despite tense relations with Israel, Assad has repeatedly called for a resumption of talks on the issue of the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel since 1967. However, the United States and Israel continue to accuse Assad of supporting militant anti-Israeli groups, classified as terrorist groups by US State Department, including Hizbullah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Assad opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, despite a long standing animosity between the Syrian and Iraqi regimes, using Syria's position holding one of the rotating seats on th ...

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Bashar al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad - Personal, Bashar al-Assad - Foreign relations, Bashar al-Assad - Internal power struggle, Bashar al-Assad - 2005 Lebanon crisis, Bashar al-Assad - Family

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Main article: Governorates of Syria Syria has fourteen governorates, or muhafazat (singular: muhafazah). A governor, whose appointment is proposed by the minister of the interior, approved by the cabinet, and announced by executive decree, heads each governorate. The governor is assisted by an elected provincial council. Note that parts of the Quneitra governorate is under Israeli occupation since 1967 (see Golan Heights). Damascus Rif Dimashq Quneitra Dara As Suway ...

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Syria, Syria - Name, Syria - History, Syria - French occupation, Syria - Independence to 1970, Syria - 1970 to 2005, Syria - 2000 to 2005, Syria - The events from 2005, Syria - Politics, Syria - Government, Syria - Governorates, Syria - Geography, Syria - Economy, Syria - Demographics, Syria - Culture, Syria - Holidays, Syria - Fairs and festivals, Syria - Miscellaneous topics

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Despite tense relations with Israel, Assad has repeatedly called for a resumption of talks on the issue of the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel since 1967. However, the United States and Israel continue to accuse Assad of supporting militant anti-Israeli groups, classified as terrorist groups by US State Department, including Hizbullah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In May 2001, Assad caused an uproar over his Damascus speech welcoming the visit of Pope John Paul II, in which he criticized Israel and Jews, saying: "They tried to kill the ...

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Bashar al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad - Personal, Bashar al-Assad - Foreign relations, Bashar al-Assad - Internal power struggle, Bashar al-Assad - 2005 Lebanon crisis, Bashar al-Assad - Family

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The German explorer Gottlieb Schumacher first surveyed Hippos in 1885, although he incorrectly identified the ruins as those of the town of Gamala. The first excavations were carried out by Israeli archaeologist Claire Epstein in 1951-1955. She unearthed the main Byzantine church that had probably been the seat of Hippos' bishop. After her excavations, the Israeli Defense Forces used Mount Sussita for the same purpose as the ancient Greeks: as a fortress. It was used as a border defense against Syria until the Golan Heights were ...

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Hippos, Hippos - History, Hippos - Hellenistic period, Hippos - Roman period, Hippos - Byzantine period, Hippos - Umayyad period, Hippos - Excavations, Hippos - Biblical connection

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Although all areas in question were captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel claims that they fall into three different categories: "East Jerusalem" - Jerusalem and its surroundings were envisioned as an international area under UN administration in the 1947 partition plan. In 1948, Jordan captured and annexed the eastern half of Jerusalem, while Israel captured and annexed the west. Following the war in 1967 Israel annexed the eastern part, together with several villages around it. The Golan Heights, which we ...

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Israeli settlement, Israeli settlement - Terminology, Israeli settlement - Historical background, Israeli settlement - Population, Israeli settlement - Communities established on the sites of previous recent Jewish communities, Israeli settlement - Legal status of territories, Israeli settlement - Motivations for settlements, Israeli settlement - Land grab accusations, Israeli settlement - International and legal background, Israeli settlement - Tensions mistrust and accusations, Israeli settlement - Dismantlement of Settlements, Israeli settlement - The Sasson Report

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The Yom Kippur War. Syria and Egypt attack Israeli forces in the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula. ...

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Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - British Era, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Headline text, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - UN Resolution, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Creation of Israel, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - After Creation, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Six-Day War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Post Six-Day War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Yom Kippur War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Post Yom Kippur War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Lebanon, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - First Intifada, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Gulf War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - After Gulf War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Peace Process, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Second Intifada begins, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Recent Developments, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - External Reference:

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The total area of the sovereign territory of Israel —excluding all territories captured by Israel in 1967 — is 20,770 (20,330 land) square km; the total area under Israeli law —including East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights — is 22,145 (21,671 land) square km; the total area under Israeli control — including the military-controlled and Palestinian-governed territory of the West Bank — is 28,023 (27,549 land) square km. Israel - Metropolitan areas. See also: Districts of Israel &am ...

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Israel, Israel - History, Israel - Historical roots, Israel - Zionism and Aliyah, Israel - Establishment of the State, Israel - War of Independence, Israel - Continuing immigration, Israel - Subsequent wars, Israel - Articles related to the wars, Israel - Politics and law, Israel - Legislature, Israel - Constitution and Legal System, Israel - Judiciary, Israel - Military, Israel - Geography, Israel - Metropolitan areas, Israel - Economy, Israel - Demographics, Israel - Children's welfare, Israel - Religion in Israel, Israel - Culture and religion, Israel - Footnotes, Israel - Annotated List of Israeli Media Sources

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In addition to sponsoring attacks against Israel (often through Jordanian territory, much to King Hussein's chagrin), Syria also began shelling Israeli civilian communities in north-eastern Galilee, from positions on the Golan Heights, as part of the dispute over control of the Demilitarized Zones (DMZs), small parcels of land claimed by both Israel and Syria. [11] In 1966, Egypt and Syria signed a military alliance, initiated for both sides if eit ...

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Background to Six-Day War, Background to Six-Day War - 1956 Suez War aftermath, Background to Six-Day War - Israel's National Water Carrier, Background to Six-Day War - Israel and Jordan: The Samu Incident, Background to Six-Day War - Israel and Syria, Background to Six-Day War - Withdrawal of the United Nations Emergency Force, Background to Six-Day War - The Straits of Tiran, Background to Six-Day War - Egypt and Jordan, Background to Six-Day War - The drift to war, Background to Six-Day War - Diplomacy and intelligence assessments, Background to Six-Day War - The condition of the combatant armies, Background to Six-Day War - Footnotes

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The Hula Valley lies within the northern part of the Syrian-African Rift Valley at an elevation of about 70 metres above sea level. On both sides of the valley are steep slopes -- the Golan Heights to the east and the Upper Galilee mountains to the west, rise to 400 to 900 metres above sea level. Basaltic hills of about 200 metres above sea level along the southern side of the valley intercept the Jordan River, and are commonly referred to as the basalt "plug" (actually a temporary geologic base level), as they restrict water drainage downstream into the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret). The Hula Valley covers an area of ...

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Lake Hula, Lake Hula - Topography, Lake Hula - Climate, Lake Hula - The name of the valley, Lake Hula - The history of the valley, Lake Hula - The drainage of the lake, Lake Hula - Lake Agmon

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The Six-Day War. Israel launches what it describes as a pre-emptive strike against the Egyptian Air Force on suspicion that Egypt and Syria are planning to invade. Israel defeats the combined forces of Egypt, Syria and Jordan and captures the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt, East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. ...

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Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - British Era, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Headline text, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - UN Resolution, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Creation of Israel, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - After Creation, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Six-Day War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Post Six-Day War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Yom Kippur War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Post Yom Kippur War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Lebanon, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - First Intifada, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Gulf War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - After Gulf War, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Peace Process, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Second Intifada begins, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Recent Developments, Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - External Reference:

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