The Suez Crisis, also known as the Suez War, Suez Campaign, or Kadesh Operation, was a 1956 war fought on Egyptian territory. The conflict pitted Egypt against an alliance between France, the United Kingdom and Israel. The European nations had economic and trading interests in the Suez Canal, while Israel had a pressing need to open the canal for Israeli shipping.
By the conclusion of the war, the canal had been closed and the alliance was forced to withdraw by intense diplomatic pressure from the United States and the Soviet Union. The crisis is generally seen as marking the end of European colonial dominance in global affairs and the emergence of the United States and Soviet Union as the dominant superpowers.
Background
The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, was owned by the Suez Canal Company, in which British and French interests held majority shares. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the canal on July 26, 1956, claiming that revenues would fund the construction of the Aswan High Dam after the United States withdrew its financial support.
Military Operations
Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula on October 29, 1956. Britain and France issued an ultimatum demanding both sides withdraw from the canal zone. When Egypt refused, Anglo-French forces began bombing Egyptian airfields on October 31 and landed paratroopers at Port Said on November 5.
Aftermath
Under intense pressure from both the United States and Soviet Union, a ceasefire was declared on November 7. The crisis led to the deployment of the first United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) and accelerated the decolonization process. British Prime Minister Anthony Eden resigned in January 1957 due to the political fallout.