Operation Kadesh was launched in October 1956 to address growing security threats emanating from the Egyptian-controlled Sinai Peninsula. The primary objective for Israel was to end the long-standing maritime blockade of the Straits of Tiran. This narrow waterway serves as the only access point from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Without control of this passage, the Port of Eilat remained economically paralyzed and isolated from global trade.
The blockade was viewed by the Israeli government as a clear casus belli and a direct violation of international maritime law. Egypt had installed long-range artillery batteries at Ras Nasrani to fire upon any Israeli-flagged vessels. These actions ignored several United Nations resolutions regarding the rights of innocent passage through international straits. Israel's leadership eventually determined that military action was the only remaining solution to secure its sovereign maritime rights.
Background and the Maritime Blockade
Since the 1948 War of Independence, Egypt had maintained a state of active belligerency against the newly formed Jewish state. The Suez Canal was already closed to Israeli cargo, which forced all southern trade to rely on the Gulf of Aqaba. However, in 1953, Egypt tightened its grip by prohibiting all flights and shipping through the Tiran area. This effectively cut off Israel's nascent trade routes to Africa and the Far East.
Regional tensions were further exacerbated by the nationalization of the Suez Canal by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1956. This move alarmed Britain and France, who sought to regain international control of the vital waterway. Israel saw a strategic opportunity to align its security needs with those of the European powers. The secret Protocol of Sèvres established the framework for a coordinated campaign to demilitarize the Sinai and reopen the straits.
The Tactical March of the 9th Brigade
The capture of Sharm el-Sheikh was assigned to the 9th Motorized Infantry Brigade under the leadership of Colonel Avraham Yoffe. Their mission was arguably the most difficult of the entire campaign due to the treacherous geography of the eastern Sinai. The brigade had to navigate over 200 miles of trackless desert and shifting dunes along the coastline. This required immense logistical coordination and the use of specialized vehicles to handle the deep sand.
Egyptian military planners had previously assumed that this specific terrain was impassable for large motorized military units. Consequently, the defenses at Sharm el-Sheikh were focused primarily on the sea and the established northern roads. The 9th Brigade's arrival from the rugged desert interior achieved complete tactical surprise against the defenders. By the time they reached the southern tip of the peninsula, the Egyptian garrison was already isolated and disorganized.
Key Facts of the Operation
- The 9th Brigade completed its historic desert crossing in only nine days despite the lack of paved roads.
- Israeli forces successfully silenced the Egyptian coastal batteries at Ras Nasrani on November 5, 1956.
- The operation resulted in the capture of over 800 Egyptian soldiers and significant amounts of heavy military equipment.
- Following the victory, the Port of Eilat saw an immediate 100 percent increase in commercial shipping traffic.
- The campaign led to the first deployment of the United Nations Emergency Force to maintain regional stability.
Strategic Analysis of the Capture
The military success at Sharm el-Sheikh had immediate and profound geopolitical consequences for the entire Middle East. By removing the Egyptian batteries, Israel demonstrated its ability to project power far from its primary population centers. This action forced the international community to acknowledge the necessity of free navigation in the Gulf of Aqaba. The subsequent deployment of the United Nations Emergency Force provided a vital buffer between the two nations. Detailed accounts of the campaign's planning can be found through the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs archives.
From a maritime perspective, the reopening of the shipping lanes allowed for the massive expansion of the Port of Eilat. This transformed the southern city from a small military outpost into a vital economic engine for the Negev region. Israel was finally able to secure steady oil supplies from the Persian Gulf, which significantly reduced its energy dependence. Further analysis of the conflict's historical impact is available at the Jewish Virtual Library, which details the withdrawal process.
Conclusion and National Significance
The capture of Sharm el-Sheikh remains a defining moment in the history of the Israel Defense Forces and national sovereignty. It proved that the State of Israel would not tolerate the illegal blockade of its primary commercial trade routes. The campaign established a precedent for freedom of navigation that remains a cornerstone of Israeli foreign policy today. Although Israel eventually withdrew its forces in 1957, the strategic achievements of the operation secured a decade of relative prosperity.