Latest news with #WarofAttrition
Miami Herald
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Trump's Iran gamble could end in war — or a Nobel Prize
While many are applauding President Donald Trump's bold conduct in striking Iran's nuclear arsenal, one wonders if there can really be a shortcut between the present situation and the desired political end: peace in the Middle East., The past gives us pause and reminds us to consider what the end game is for Trump and the U.S., and to try to avoid the unfortunate necessity of a bloody attempt by each side to make its point. It reminds me of June 1967, when we destroyed the Arab air forces in one swift blow. When I and my Israeli Air Force comrades were able to get out of our airbase on our first leave, we were pulled out of our vehicle and carried on the shoulders of a jubilant crowd. Except that our Arab enemies didn't surrender. Recuperating from their defeat, they launched the War of Attrition against us, and subsequently the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which, eventually, led to the 1978-1979 Camp David Accords and the peace between Israel and Egypt. It seems, then, that enemies have to go through a difficult process of fiercely trying to pursue their goals until the bitter reality forces them to compromise. Unfortunately, reason prevails only after a lot of blood has been shed. The horrific Hamas attacks on Israel in Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel's retaliation in Gaza are examples of that truth. Every war has to serve a political end, and that end is a peace which is better than the one which had existed before the war. In the current conflict with Iran, Israel, while aiming at destroying as much as possible of Iran's nuclear project and missile launching capabilities, wasn't entirely clear about the kind of political goals it had been pursuing, which led it to waver and even muse about a regime change in Iran. The U.S., on the contrary, was clear: Surrender unconditionally, President Trump said to the Iranians. Come back to the table to negotiate a deal by which you won't have any nuclear program. In case you don't understand, we are sending bombs, with more to come if you dare to retaliate. It seems unlikely that the proud Iranians, after insisting they wouldn't negotiate under threat and vowing to retaliate if attacked by the U.S., would simply do nothing and come back subdued to the negotiating table. America, on the other hand, given Trump's bravado, would find it hard not to hit back if Iran attacks its assets. So are we doomed to see this tragic scenario materialize? Not if both sides think outside the box. Here's an idea: The Iranians, knowing perfectly well that an all-out attack on American assets might cause the fall of their regime, could consider carrying out a symbolic attack, declaring victory and coming back to the table, while saving face. Then Trump should swallow his pride and ego, strike back moderately and declare himself the greatest peacemaker ever. This might lead to a better nuclear deal with Iran, the end of war in Gaza and the possibility of the greater deal Trump envisions: Peace between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and the Nobel Peace Prize. Uri Dromi was the spokesman for the Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres governments from 1992-1996.
Daily News Egypt
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Bahr Al-Baqar: When Israel Massacred Egyptian Children
On the morning of Wednesday, April 8, 1970, inside a modest, two-room schoolhouse in the village of Al-Salhiya, Sharqia Governorate, children in Egypt were embarking on another day of lessons. Just 110 kilometres from Zagazig, Bahr Al-Baqar Primary School was a place of simple safety, where young minds grappled with the alphabet. But this tranquility was shattered when Israeli Phantom jets appeared in the sky above. What began as an ordinary school day swiftly descended into a documented crime against humanity. Without warning, the Israeli aircraft unleashed five bombs and two missiles upon the Bahr Al-Baqar school, reducing the building to rubble in a matter of moments. Thirty children perished, and over fifty more were wounded or permanently disfigured – a grim testament to the tragedy that unfolded that day. In the aftermath, Tel Aviv claimed its jets had targeted only military installations during the raid on Egyptian territory. Yet this explanation rang hollow, especially as the attack came less than two months after the bombing of the Abu Zaabal factory, a civilian site where 89 workers were killed. At Bahr Al-Baqar, there was no military objective, no strategic asset – only a humble building holding the aspirations of children who knew nothing of war or politics. Their schoolbags contained pencils and notebooks, not weapons or threats. The massacre occurred at the height of the War of Attrition, a period when Egypt was striving to reclaim the Sinai Peninsula following the 1967 defeat. Israel's intent, it seemed, was to deliver a brutal message to the Egyptian state: retreat, or face further suffering. But the attack backfired. Instead of submission, it ignited a wave of public outrage and galvanised national unity behind the Egyptian army in its struggle to restore dignity. Despite widespread international condemnation from numerous countries, Israel has never been held accountable for the Bahr Al-Baqar massacre. No independent investigation was ever launched by an international body. This silence stands as a stark reminder of global complicity, and the impunity that often cloaks the crimes committed under occupation. The Bahr Al-Baqar massacre has not been forgotten in Egypt. It is deeply etched into the national memory and culture. Renowned singer Abdel Halim Hafez immortalised the tragedy in his famous song, 'The lesson is over, they packed up the notebooks'—lyrics penned by the poet Salah Jahin—broadcasting the cry of innocent children who left behind only their books and small bags. The ruined school has been transformed into a symbolic, national shrine – a permanent image in the collective consciousness, reminding generations that the enemy makes no distinction between soldier and child, and that the real war is against identity and life itself. Today, more than five decades later, the Bahr Al-Baqar massacre remains an open wound in Egypt's heart. It serves as a constant reminder that war is not confined to battlefields; it can begin within the walls of a school. The blood of those children, even when dried, still cries out for a justice denied, and for an accountability that is long overdue. The anniversary of this horrific event serves as a somber reminder to Egyptians that Israel was—and, according to some, will always remain—an eternal enemy to Egypt and its people.
Egypt Independent
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Sisi delegates defense minister to lay wreaths at Martyrs' Memorial
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has delegated Defense Minister Abdel Meguid Saqr to lay wreaths at the Memorial of the Armed Forces Martyrs in Cairo's Nasr City district. Martyr's Day falls on March 9 every year to commemorate the death of Lieutenant General Abdel-Moneim Riad who was chief of staff of the Egyptian army from 1967 until 1969. Praised as a diligent and practical soldier, Riad was charged with preparing Egypt's army to drive Israeli forces from the Bar-Lev Line, which Israelis had constructed along the Suez Canal after occupying the area in 1967. Always a general who led from the front, he was killed in 1969 by Israeli artillery during the War of Attrition (1968–70) as he inspected preparations for just such an assault. His plan laid the groundwork for a later Egyptian assault as part of the October 6 War in 1973. Zaki was accompanied by Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Khalifa and commanders of main army branches. The minister also laid a wreath at the tomb of former President Mohammad Anwar el Sadat.
Middle East
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// Sisi delegates defense minister to lay wreaths at Martyrs' Memorial
CAIRO, March 9 (MENA) - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has delegated Defense Minister Abdel Meguid Saqr to lay wreaths at the Memorial of the Armed Forces Martyrs in Cairo's Nasr City district. Martyr's Day falls on March 9 every year to commemorate the death of Lieutenant General Abdel-Moneim Riad who was chief of staff of the Egyptian army from 1967 until 1969. Praised as a diligent and practical soldier, Riad was charged with preparing Egypt's army to drive Israeli forces from the Bar-Lev Line, which Israelis had constructed along the Suez Canal after occupying the area in 1967. Always a general who led from the front, he was killed in 1969 by Israeli artillery during the War of Attrition (1968–70) as he inspected preparations for just such an assault. His plan laid the groundwork for a later Egyptian assault as part of the October 6 War in 1973. Zaki was accompanied by Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Khalifa and commanders of main army branches. The minister also laid a wreath at the tomb of former President Mohammad Anwar el Sadat. (MENA) I S N/R G E
Al-Ahram Weekly
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
President El-Sisi salutes Egyptian martyrs on Martyrs' Day - Defence
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi paid tribute Sunday to the Egyptian martyrs on the occasion of Martyrs' Day, noting that the martyrs fulfilled their oath by sacrificing their lives for the nation, ensuring that they will be remembered forever. "On Martyrs' Day, we renew our pledge and loyalty to the memory of our heroes, who sacrificed their pure souls to ensure that Egypt remains steadfast, secure, and stable," President El-Sisi wrote on his official Facebook page. The Egyptian president further reaffirmed his dedication to the noble cause for which the Egyptian martyrs sacrificed. "We continue the path of defending the nation and elevating its status, regardless of the challenges we face," El-Sisi wrote. In addition, the president reaffirmed his commitment to providing all the necessary support to the families of the Egyptian martyrs, expressing pride in their heroic contributions to Egypt. "Those heroes, whose names will be etched in the most dignified pages of history across generations. May Allah have mercy on our martyrs and protect Egypt from the evils of its enemies." El-Sisi added. Egypt marks Martyrs' Day in remembrance of Lieutenant General Abdel-Moneim Riyad, an Egyptian army chief of staff and veteran commander who was killed in an Israeli mortar attack on 9 March 1969 during the War of Attrition. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
