Unforgettable Stances Showed by Arab Countries in October War

The 6th of October war in 1973, also known as Yom Kippur War, was fought between an Arab coalition of Egypt and Syria against Israel.

The war took place mostly in Sinai and the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.

During the war, a number of Arab countries showed unforgettable stances to support Egypt and Syria in their war against Israel.

Here, I will mention what Arab countries did during the war:

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud issued a royal decree to ban the export of oil to countries that are in the Israeli side and reduced oil production only to 340 million barrels from October until December 1973.

The Saudi king’s decision caused a hike in oil prices at that time, increasing from $ 3 to $ 11 a barrel.

The ban of oil exports continued until March 1974.

Saudi Arabia also operated an airlift with Syria, sent about 20,000 soldiers for fighting against Israel and donated $ 200 million to Egypt.

In an interview with a journalist, King Faisal said that what he did during the war was nothing compared to what Egypt and Syria was doing in order to liberate their lands.

He also confirmed that he was ready to set all Saudi oil to fire by himself if it used against any Arab country.

Iraq

Iraqi late president Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr announced, at that time, that all army units would be under the Egyptian and Syrian command.

He sent Iraqi air forces and three infantry pisions to fight against Israel on the Syrian front along with 600 tanks.

The Iraqi President also sent two Squadrons of Hawker Hunter fighter aircrafts to Egypt before the war began, as well as two armored and infantry pisions.

Libya

Libya inked a deal with France for the purchase of aircrafts to enable Egyptian pilots to travel to France and train on them as if they were Libyan citizens.

It also provided Egypt with $1 billion in aid to purchase new arms for the 1973 war.

Yemen

Yemen played a great role when it closed Bab al – Mandab and prevented any Israeli vessels to transit through the strait.

Algeria

Algerian president Houari Boumédiène sent a squadron of fighter aircrafts to Egypt and Syria and donated 200 million dollars for the purchase of arms from the the Soviet Union.

Tunisia

Tunisia also sent an infantry battalion to Egypt and took part in the war against Israel in Sinai.

Sudan

Sudan was one of the first countries to provide support to Egypt.

It held an urgent conference in Khartoum to announce its rejection for reconciliation and negotiation with Israel.

During the October war, Sudan also moved Egyptian military academies to it, in addition to sending an infantry battalion to defend Egyptian and Syrian lands.

Jordan

Jordan sent an artillery battalion to Syria and arrived there on 14 October.

Bahrain

The Bahraini government held conferences and mass gatherings to raise donations in favor of Egypt, in addition to the statement released by Bahraini Sheikh Khalifa, to announce the halt of oil exports to the US and abort all agreements signed between the two countries.

Morocco

Morocco sent an infantry brigade to Egypt and another one to the Golan Heights.

Kuwait

Kuwait sent two military forces to Egypt and Syrian, in addition to five Hawker Hunter aircrafts, despite having only 8 ones.

It also sent two other aircrafts to transport ammunition and spare parts.

United Arab Emirates UAE

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, May God have mercy upon him, asked the UAE ambassador in London to allocate all operation rooms in hospitals in Europe for the injured Egyptian and Syrian troops.

Sheikh Zayed brought 40 journalists from England and Western Europe to travel to Egypt and Syria to closely follow up what were happening there after he saw a complete bias towards Israel.

Sheikh Zayed was the first Arab ruler to donate £ 100 million, on behalf of his country, to help Egypt and Syria in their war against Israel.

Sheikh Zayed held a press conference, in which, he famously said, “Neither money nor oil is more expensive than Arab blood in Egypt and Syria”.

He also decided to halt oil exports to Israel and any country standing by its side, including the US, in order to practice pressure on the Jewish country to stop war and withdraw from the Arabia territories.

We can say that the Arab countries showed the best example during October war in sacrificing in favor of their Arab identity against any foreign invasion.