Igniting a Holy War, an Arab Ambush against Israel

The 1973 Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, was an armed conflict fought from 6 to 25 October 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. It took place during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. The conflict caught the Israelis by surprise, as the Arab coalition effectively utilized their latest weapons in both Sinai and the Golan Heights, giving them an advantage over Israel in the initial days of the war. Additionally, this conflict drew the attention of the superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, almost escalating into World War Three.