Israeli Airstrikes Continue in Gaza

Above: Israeli Airstrike

According to Hamas sources, an Israeli airstrike hammered down a Hamas base in Gaza, killing six militants and injuring ten more.

Israel Defense Forces confirmed they carried out the airstrike. This was not the first time in recent days that such an attack was made.

The move comes a day after a suicide bomber from Gaza attacked a crowded Israeli shopping mall. The bombing killed three and wounded several other civilians. The attack in Dimona was the first suicide bombing in Israel in a span of over a year. The military wings of Palestinian militant groups Islamic Jihad and Fatah claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. According to intelligence reports, two Palestinians left Gaza across the recently breached border with Egypt and then entered Israel to carry out the suicide mission.

SIX-DAY WAR

Above: Map of Israel and neighboring Countries (click map to enlarge)

In 1967 war broke out between Israel and the combined forces of Egypt, Jordan and Syria. The latter group was aided by Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Algeria. Israel came out victorious. The war lasted for 132 hours and 30 minutes - that is a little less than six days. In two of the three fronts the duration was even shorter. Only on the Syrian front did the war last for six days.

Above: Israeli army advancing to Golan Heights (June 1967)

YOM KIPPUR WAR

Above: Injured Israeli Army on the side of the road during YOM KIPPUR WAR

The most recent full-scale war in the history of the Middle East is the Yom Kippur War or October War, of 1973. It is so called because it started on the holy day of the Jews - the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. The two leaders of Israel and Egypt were Golda Meir and Anwar Saddat respectively.

Above: Uncrewed Syrian Tanks left behind at an Israeli anti-tank dike