686 Chapter 5
Coding changes: Start Date changed from September 27, 1961. End Date changed from
September 27, 1961. Outcome changed from Unclear. Fatalities changed from None.
MID#3412
Dispute Number: 3412
Date(s): August 15, 1966 to November 27, 1966
Participants: 651 Egypt, 652 Syria, 663 Jordan/666 Israel
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On August 15, 1966, there was a clash between Syrian and Israeli forces
on both land and sea. Egyptian jet fighters were sent to Syria to reinforce their air
force, 17 of which were Syrian jets that had been retained in Egypt since 1961 when
the countries’ union dissolved, the other 20 were Egyptian jets. The MiGs were
accompanied by 60 Egyptian air force technicians and arrived at the Dmeyr Base
outside of Damascus on September 16. On September 21, Israeli jets were fired on by
Syrian batteries near the Sea of Galilee. Following Israeli raids on Jordanian villages
on November 13, opposition groups began to stir unrest amongst the Jordanian popu-
lation, accusing Hussein of not having a strong enough stance against Israel. Israel
was condemned by the United Nations for the raids. After demonstrations, Hussein
pledged to strengthen Jordan’s 200-mile frontier with Israel on November 27. Syrian
and Israeli jets again clashed that same day.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from September 17, 1966.
MID#1035
Dispute Number: 1035
Date(s): December 17, 1966 to June 10, 1967
Participants: 645 Iraq, 651 Egypt, 652 Syria, 663 Jordan, 670 Saudi Arabia, 690
Kuwait/666 Israel
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: This dispute describes the events that ultimately led to the Six-Day
War pitting Israel against the allied Arab world (mostly Egypt, Syria, and Jordan
in combat). An Israeli attack on Jordan led to a Jordanian-Egyptian defense pact on
May 30, 1967. When Syria was thought to be the next target for an Israeli assault,
Egypt intervened quickly. Egyptian troops moved into the Sinai, removed the UN
peacekeepers stationed there since the Sinai War (see MID#200), blockaded the
Tiran Straits and gave every indication that the conflict was likely to escalate.
Israel decided to take the initiative, launching an attack on June 5, 1967. By demol-
ishing the Egyptian air force on the first day, the Israelis set the path for a victory
after six days of fighting. Israel concluded that it had met its military objectives and
willingly agreed to a ceasefire agreement promulgated by the major powers. Israel’s
success was resounding and drastically rearranged its borders. Israel occupied the
entirety of the Sinai Peninsula, which was eventually returned to Egypt following the
Camp David Accords.