On the holiest day in Judaism known as "Yom Kippur" (see Yom Kippur Part I in September archives), Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack against Israel on October 6th, 1973.
It was a very strategic move for Egypt and Syria. Israeli men and women in the army reserves were home with family and friends, and most of them were fasting for the holiday. This left them with little energy to fight off not one, but two invading armies.
But miraculousy, they did.
Within three weeks, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had sucessfully pushed back its attackers- crossing the Suez Canal on the Egyptian side, and advancing to within 20 miles of Damascus on the Syrian side.
(Note: At this time Israel already had control over the Sinai peninsula as a result of a previous war in 1967).
