How Tanks Changed the Middle East. From the Suez Crisis to the Bar-Lev Line

Before the division of Palestine, Israeli agents secretly acquired heavy weaponry, including French R-35 tanks. Arab states also armed themselves with surplus weapons from colonial powers. During the 1948-1949 war, tanks played a minor role. The Soviet Union supported Egypt with T-34/85 and IS-3M tanks, altering the balance of power. The Suez Crisis in 1956 saw Israel invade Sinai, employing tactics reminiscent of the German blitzkrieg. Despite the short conflict, Israel significantly expanded its armored forces. By 1967, both sides were heavily armed, leading to the Six-Day War, where Israel achieved a swift victory against Egyptian forces, showcasing the effectiveness of its armored units. However, this success led to an overemphasis on armored development at the expense of infantry.