(Day-by-Day Timeline Lorebook)

Yom Kippur War, fourth of the Arab-Israeli wars, which was initiated by Egypt and Syria on October 6, 1973, on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. It also occurred during Ramadan, the sacred month of fasting in Islam, and it lasted until October 26, 1973. The war, which eventually drew both the United States and the Soviet Union into indirect confrontation in defense of their respective allies, was launched with the diplomatic aim of persuading a chastened (if still undefeated) Israel to negotiate on terms more favourable to the Arab countries.

Israel

Leadership: Prime Minister Golda Meir, Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, Chief of Staff David Elazar.

Government: Parliamentary democracy.

Ideology: Zionism, secular nationalism.

GDP (1973): ~$10.2 billion USD.

Military (IDF): ~310,000 troops (including reservists), strong air force, limited armor at start.

Egypt

Leadership: President Anwar Sadat, Defense Minister Ahmed Ismail Ali, General Saad el-Shazly.

Government: Republic under single-party rule.

Ideology: Arab nationalism, socialism, pan-Arab unity.

GDP (1973): ~$13.3 billion USD.

Military: ~800,000 troops (active and reserve)

Syria

Leadership: President Hafez al-Assad, General Mustafa Tlas.

Government: Ba’athist authoritarian regime(Alawite dominated).

Ideology: Arab socialism, pan-Arabism.

GDP (1973): ~$4.2 billion USD.

Military: ~400,000 troops; heav

y armor, Soviet-supplied aircraft and SAMs.