44 dead as divided Egypt marks 40 years since Yom Kippur War

[Gabre]

At least 44 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in clashes during protests in Egypt on Sunday, a security source said.

Fighting began after supporters and opponents of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood took to the streets. Most of the dead had gunshot wounds, on the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the nation's last war with Israel, security sources said.

Supporters of deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi had been marching in Delga, about 300 km south of Cairo, when the clash erupted as protesters neared a police station, the sources said.

The security and medical sources said the protesters threw stones at police who responded with live fire. It was not immediately possible to verify what started the clash.

Egyptian jetfighters staged celebratory flights over Cairo Sunday, ushering in the commemoration of the 1973 war on a day when rival rallies by supporters and opponents of the ousted Islamist president carry the potential for violence.

Security forces are deployed across much of the Egyptian capital in anticipation of clashes. Local media reported that checkpoints on all access roads to Cairo and key state institutions were manned by soldiers.

Sunday's rallies in Tahrir Square, birthplace of the 2011 uprising against autocrat Hosni Mubarak, were likely flashpoints. Authorities have vowed not to allow supporters of the ousted Mohammed Morsi into the square.

The possibility of bloodshed on an occasion revered by most Egyptians is seen as a sign of the schism that began soon after Morsi's narrow election victory in 2012.

Barbed wire and barricades blocked traffic to the square as security personnel were deployed with sniffer dogs outside the nearby National Museum. Metal detectors were also installed at entrances to Tahrir to prevent weapons from being smuggled into the square.

An alliance led by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood called for anti-military protests in Tahrir Sunday, which marks Army Day and the 40th anniversary of the Egyptian-Israeli war.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Egypt since Morsi's overthrow in clashes involving his supporters, opponents and security forces.

Morsi's Brotherhood and its Islamist allies have denounced the ouster of Egypt's first democratically elected president on July 3 as a coup, and vowed to continue protesting until he is reinstated.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.550792

[Gabre]

Leave it to stupidass savage Egyptians to have a holiday celebration when Egyptians started a failed war against Israel and got their asses handed to them. And then they get killed by the dozens on this day! f-king theater of nonsense.

[Tanker]

While Egyptians are killing each other Israel is celebrating in unity today, 40 years ago they defeated and humiliated, Egypt and Syria are burning today in civil wars.

[FAH1223]

Wasn't the 1973 war a stale mate?

[ZubeirAwal]

Tanker is disgusting, anyways I foreseen this happening, expect Israel to invade egypt in a decade or so.

[Gabre]

Wasn't the 1973 war a stale mate?

No. It was a pretty complete Israeli victory and route of Egypt and Syria. The Arabs did an attack that surprised Israel because it happened on Yom Kippur Jewish holiday and Ramadan Muslim holiday.

Despite this, Israel managed to push back the initial Egyptian and Syrian gains and by the end of the war had recaptured the entire Sinai and the Golan Heights, and advanced deep into Egypt an Syria. The Soviet Union grew alarmed and declared that it would enter the war against Israel, which forced the Israeli advance to stop. By the end of the war, Israel was surrounding Cairo, from less than 60 miles and Damascus less than 25 miles.

[BigRedBook]

While Egyptians are killing each other Israel is celebrating in unity today, 40 years ago they defeated and humiliated, Egypt and Syria are burning today in civil wars.

[Navy9]

I think they *originally* celebrated for proving that the Bar Lev line's propaganda as being invincible is a pure myth. They did knock it down by using water. I have watched a documentary where late Saad El-Shazly, one of the high army officers, attacking late Saddat for giving wrong orders to the army during the war and Shazly stating that he advised Saddat against them. Sadat sent him to exile and when he returned in the 1990s, Mubarak sent him to prison.

Anyhow, as *governments* write down stories for the future generation, Egyptians celebrate it. They should celebrate only return of Sinai instead, if any!

[FAH1223]

Wasn't the 1973 war a stale mate?

No. It was a pretty complete Israeli victory and route of Egypt and Syria. The Arabs did an attack that surprised Israel because it happened on Yom Kippur Jewish holiday and Ramadan Muslim holiday.

Despite this, Israel managed to push back the initial Egyptian and Syrian gains and by the end of the war had recaptured the entire Sinai and the Golan Heights, and advanced deep into Egypt an Syria. The Soviet Union grew alarmed and declared that it would enter the war against Israel, which forced the Israeli advance to stop. By the end of the war, Israel was surrounding Cairo, from less than 60 miles and Damascus less than 25 miles.

Then why do Egyptians celebrate the 6th of October? Is it cause they surprised Israel?

[Gabre]

Wasn't the 1973 war a stale mate?

No. It was a pretty complete Israeli victory and route of Egypt and Syria. The Arabs did an attack that surprised Israel because it happened on Yom Kippur Jewish holiday and Ramadan Muslim holiday.

Despite this, Israel managed to push back the initial Egyptian and Syrian gains and by the end of the war had recaptured the entire Sinai and the Golan Heights, and advanced deep into Egypt an Syria. The Soviet Union grew alarmed and declared that it would enter the war against Israel, which forced the Israeli advance to stop. By the end of the war, Israel was surrounding Cairo, from less than 60 miles and Damascus less than 25 miles.

Then why do Egyptians celebrate the 6th of October? Is it cause they surprised Israel?

Yes, because as Navy9 says the Bar Lev Line that was supposed to be impregnable was broken through thanks to the element of surprise, and because government propaganda in the Arab world hailed it as a victory. The initial Arab successes were hailed as a victory on Arab radio and TV.

In Israel this war despite being a success was very unpopular and had big ramifications. Lots of Israelis died, many Israeli prisoners of war were tortured and killed in Egyptian and Syrian captivity. The Israelis became used to kicking Arab ass after 1967 and the reaction back home was lots of shock as this was the first serious military challenge to them. Lots of top Israeli military and intelligence brass resigned including the legendary Moshe Dayan. PM Golda Meir and her cabinet had to resign. In Israel there was a lot of anger because there was an understanding that in the case a coming attack was sensed from the Arabs, Israel would always launch a pre-emptive strike and end any threat in the bud. Moshe Dayan as Chief of Staff was ready before the initial Arab strike, but Kissinger told Israel and PM Meir not to. That's why Henry Kissinger is so hated in Israel.

[Navy9]

...and the Israelis were tipped off by Hussein of Jordan of the imminent attack but they brushed it off, many later on were so mad at the government.

[SecretAgent]

Navy y did da saudis stop da oil embargo,n somali army didn't send troops instead of jus bananas

[Navy9]

Navy y did da saudis stop da oil embargo,n somali army didn't send troops instead of jus bananas

They say Saddat was behind it, why? Political reasons and not for military reasons. Are you asking about 73? right!



I have no idea about Somalia, I am yet to see people agreeing on something and putting aside clan politics.

[SecretAgent]

Yes king faisal started da oil embargo to support his arab brothers in da 73 war

[Navy9]

No, I was not answering that question, I have heard that Saddat persuaded the arabs against the oil embargo for political reasons.