- After the overthrow of King Farouk in 1952, Gamal Abdel Nasser emerged as the leader of Egypt.
- Nasser was a charismatic and populist leader who promoted Arab nationalism and socialism.
- He also sought to modernize Egypt's military and make it a major power in the region.
2. The Suez Crisis:
- In 1956, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, which was previously controlled by the British and French.
- This led to the Suez Crisis, in which Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt.
- The Egyptian military, under Nasser's leadership, successfully resisted the invasion and emerged as a powerful force in the region.
3. The Six-Day War:
- In 1967, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan went to war with Israel in the Six-Day War.
- The Egyptian military was defeated in the war, and Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights.
- The defeat of the Egyptian military in the Six-Day War marked a major setback for Nasser's ambitions and led to his resignation as president.
4. The Yom Kippur War:
- In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
- The Egyptian military, under the leadership of President Anwar Sadat, successfully crossed the Suez Canal and retook the Sinai Peninsula.
- The Yom Kippur War ended with a ceasefire, and the Sinai Peninsula was eventually returned to Egypt as part of a peace treaty in 1979.
5. The Camp David Accords:
- In 1979, Egypt and Israel signed the Camp David Accords, which established peace between the two countries.
- The Camp David Accords were brokered by the United States, and they led to the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.
- The Camp David Accords also helped to improve Egypt's relations with the West and led to increased military and economic aid from the United States.