How the Suez Crisis Changed Egypt

[00:00:00]As Israeli forces pushed [music] deep across the Sinai Peninsula and went on to capture Gaza, Egypt still refused to surrender. Then Britain and France entered the war from the air, bombing Egyptian airfields. For a moment, it looked like Egypt was about to lose control of its most valuable waterway.

[00:00:15]Then the crisis reached its most dangerous moment. From one side, the Soviet Union warned that the invasion could trigger a nuclear age confrontation. From the other side, the United States made it clear that Britain, France, and Israel had to stop the attack and withdraw or face overwhelming diplomatic, political, and financial pressure. Because America knew this crisis was bigger than Egypt. The Middle East held vital oil resources, and if the United States stayed silent while Egypt was attacked, the Arab world could lose trust in the West and move closer to the Soviet Union. Then the United Nations stepped in, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign forces. Britain and France stopped first, and by March 1957, Israel also withdrew from Sinai and Gaza. Egypt suffered on the battlefield, but kept the real prize, full control of the Suez Canal.