55 years ago/June 9, 1967

On the southern front the Israeli troops continued closing up to the Suez Canal. Paratroopers advancing from Sharm el-Sheikh along the coast of the Gulf of Suez northern direction met Israeli troops advancing southward. There were reports about Israeli troops attacking the retreating Egyptian units, and Israeli air raids against the canal zone. Israel reported Egyptian raids. Cairo also said that Israeli troops had crossed the Suez Canal, but it turned out to be fake as well. President Gamal Abdel Nasser resigned, mass demonstrations in Egypt and the Arab world expressed their support for him and rejected his resignation. In the morning the Israeli leadership decided to attack on the northern front. On the left wing, the main forces attacked the northern part of the Golan Heights to capture Tel Azzaziat and Tel Fakher, then continue the attack toward Banias on the north, Quneitra in the south. In the middle two infantry brigades attacked towards Quneitra. On the right wing units of the Peled division attacked south of the Sea of Galilee in Fiq-Butmiya direction. Despite the difficult terrain and the fierce Syrian resistance, the Israeli troops on the left wing captured Tel Azzaziat, Tel Fakher, Zaura and Kela. In the middle they reached the Trans-Arabian Pipeline. The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 235 and called Israel and Syria for cease-fire. Both countries accepted it during the day, however accused each other continuing military actions. For Israel, the Golan Heights were important because of the infiltrations which happened here, besides the heights were a natural protection for Syria and give a good insight to the Syrians into Israel. The infiltrations in the region were one of the reason of the escalation of the conflict. While the Syrian leadership launched loud verbal attacks against Israel, and broadcasted fake news, the Syrian army – except the air force – was practically intact. The inactivity of Syria led to some speculation, that the Syrian leadership tried deliberately intensifying the tension, because Nasser could have lost face as an Arab leader if he hadn’t stepped up or could have risked a military defeat if the situation had turned into a war. In Moscow the communist leaders had an emergency meeting (June 9-10) on the war. During the two-day meeting they stated that the situation is the result of the conspiracy of the imperialists, mainly the USA, against the Arab states. They also emphasized that Israel didn’t follow the UN Security Council resolutions. They supported the people of the Arab countries who protected a right case, and praised the success of the UAR and other progressive regimes. They promised they would help to repel the aggression. They also stated that it was the responsibility of the UN to condemn the aggressor.