The Yom Kippur War (also known as the October War and Ramadan War) was fought from October 6 to October 22/24, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Egypt and Syria.
Background
After the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula. Israel spent $500 million fortifying the "Bar-Lev Line" along the Suez Canal. President Sadat resolved to fight Israel after Nasser's death in 1970. Egypt received MiG-23s, SAM-6s, RPG-7s, and Sagger ATGMs from the Soviet Union.
The War
Egypt and Syria launched a joint surprise attack on Yom Kippur. In the Golan Heights, five Syrian divisions attacked two Israeli brigades. The 7th Brigade held the northern sector while the Barak Brigade was badly mauled in the south. By October 11, Israeli reserves had pushed the Syrians back beyond 1967 lines and were shelling the outskirts of Damascus.
In the Sinai, Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal and advanced 15 km. Israeli counter-attacks in air and land were initially unsuccessful due to new anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. On October 15, a division led by Ariel Sharon breached the line between Egyptian armies and created a bridgehead. A ceasefire was negotiated following US and Soviet pressure.
Aftermath
On October 17, Arab states declared an oil embargo against the West. On March 5, 1974, Israeli forces withdrew from the canal's west bank. A disengagement agreement between Syria and Israel was signed May 31, 1974. A further interim agreement in September 1975 provided for another Israeli withdrawal in the Sinai.