Operation Dawn (1967)
Encyclopedia
Operation Dawn was an Egyptian military operation planned to strike the Israeli Air Force
, in the prelude to what would become the Six-Day War
. The Egyptian attack plan would involve strategic bombing of major ports, the Negev Nuclear Research Center
near Dimona
, airfields and cities. Arab armies would then attack, effectively cutting Israel
in half with an armored thrust from northern Sinai via the Negev desert.
Nasser had provoked Israel when he closed the Straits of Tiran
. He was intent on getting revenge for previous military defeats. The army had been mobilized in the Sinai, and was poised to launch what he called "the operation that will surprise the world". The operation was set to take place on May 27, 1967. Abdel Hakim Amer
, an Egyptian general, planned the operation.
Operation Dawn was called off after Nasser was informed by Russia that the US was aware of the plan.
Israel was then able to give the first strike. This is detailed in the article about the Six-Day War.
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
, in the prelude to what would become the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
. The Egyptian attack plan would involve strategic bombing of major ports, the Negev Nuclear Research Center
Negev Nuclear Research Center
The Negev Nuclear Research Center is an Israeli nuclear installation located in the Negev desert, about thirteen kilometers to the south-east of the city of Dimona. The purpose of Dimona is widely assumed to be the manufacturing of nuclear weapons, and the majority of defense experts have...
near Dimona
Dimona
Dimona is an Israeli city in the Negev desert, to the south of Beersheba and west of the Dead Sea above the Arava valley in the Southern District of Israel. Its population at the end of 2007 was 33,600.-History:...
, airfields and cities. Arab armies would then attack, effectively cutting Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in half with an armored thrust from northern Sinai via the Negev desert.
Nasser had provoked Israel when he closed the Straits of Tiran
Straits of Tiran
The Straits of Tiran , are the narrow sea passages, about wide, between the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas which separate the Gulf of Aqaba from the Red Sea...
. He was intent on getting revenge for previous military defeats. The army had been mobilized in the Sinai, and was poised to launch what he called "the operation that will surprise the world". The operation was set to take place on May 27, 1967. Abdel Hakim Amer
Abdel Hakim Amer
Mohamed Abdel Hakim Amer was an Egyptian general and political leader. Born in Astal, Samallot, in the Al Minya Governorate in 1919, he served in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, took part in the 1952 Revolution and commanded the Egyptian Army in the Suez Crisis, the North Yemen Civil War and the...
, an Egyptian general, planned the operation.
Operation Dawn was called off after Nasser was informed by Russia that the US was aware of the plan.
Israel was then able to give the first strike. This is detailed in the article about the Six-Day War.