How Intervention In Yemen Caused The Six Day War And The Decline Of Egyptian

Interventions in foreign countries can have far-reaching consequences, often resulting in unforeseen conflicts and contributing to the decline of the intervening country. One such example is the intervention in Yemen, which ultimately led to the Six Day War and the decline of Egypt.

The Yemeni Civil War, also known as the North Yemen Civil War, took place between 1962 and 1970. It began with a coup d'état by the military officers of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen against the ruling Imamate, leading to a power struggle between Royalist forces and Republican revolutionaries. The conflict escalated as external powers intervened to support their respective factions, turning Yemen into a proxy battleground.

One of the key interveners in the Yemeni Civil War was Egypt, under the leadership of President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Nasser saw Yemen as an opportunity to spread his ideology of Arab nationalism and unite the Arab world under his leadership. Egypt provided military and financial support to the Republican forces, committing thousands of troops to the conflict.

Nasser's Gamble: How Intervention in Yemen Caused the Six-Day War and the Decline of Egyptian Power

by Jesse Ferris(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5436 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	348 pages

FREE

However, Nasser's intervention in Yemen proved to be a strategic mistake. The prolonged and costly involvement in the Yemeni Civil War drained Egypt's resources and military capabilities. The conflict not only diverted crucial resources away from domestic development but also exposed the limitations of Egypt's military strength, becoming a major burden on the already strained Egyptian economy.

Furthermore, the intervention in Yemen strained Egypt's relations with other Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia. The Saudi monarchy, fearing the rise of Arab nationalism and the spread of Egypt's influence, backed the Royalist forces in Yemen. This led to tensions between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, exacerbating the regional divisions within the Arab world.

The intervention in Yemen also had wider regional implications. It placed Egypt in direct confrontation with Israel, a long-standing adversary. As Egypt's attention and resources were consumed by the Yemeni Civil War, Israel saw an opportunity to take advantage of Egypt's weakened state. In 1967, Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, starting the Six Day War.

The Six Day War, which lasted from June 5th to June 10th, resulted in a resounding victory for Israel. Egypt suffered significant territorial losses, including the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip. The humiliating defeat further weakened Nasser's leadership and eroded Egypt's status as the leading Arab power.

The decline of Egypt as a result of its intervention in Yemen was not limited to the military realm. The Yemeni Civil War also had significant political consequences, leading to the erosion of Nasser's popularity and undermining Egypt's domestic stability. The prolonged conflict and its negative outcome diminished the faith of the Egyptian people in their government's ability to achieve regional goals.

Additionally, the intervention in Yemen diverted Egypt's attention away from pressing domestic issues. The high levels of involvement and resources dedicated to the conflict hindered Egypt's economic progress and social development. As resources were redirected towards the war effort, the ordinary citizens of Egypt experienced a decline in their living standards and witnessed the exacerbation of socio-economic disparities.

, the intervention in Yemen had far-reaching consequences for Egypt, ultimately leading to the Six Day War and the decline of the Egyptian state. President Nasser's strategic miscalculations and the prolonged involvement in the Yemeni Civil War drained Egypt's resources, strained its relations with other Arab countries, and diverted attention away from pressing domestic issues. The outcome was a weakened Egypt, both militarily and politically, with significant territorial losses and a tarnished regional reputation. The Yemen intervention serves as a cautionary tale of the unintended consequences of foreign interventions, highlighting the importance of careful assessment and strategic decision-making in international affairs.

Nasser's Gamble: How Intervention in Yemen Caused the Six-Day War and the Decline of Egyptian Power

by Jesse Ferris(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5436 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	348 pages

FREE

Nasser's Gamble draws on declassified documents from six countries and original material in Arabic, German, Hebrew, and Russian to present a new understanding of Egypt's disastrous five-year intervention in Yemen, which Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser later referred to as "my Vietnam." Jesse Ferris argues that Nasser's attempt to export the Egyptian revolution to Yemen played a decisive role in destabilizing Egypt's relations with the Cold War powers, tarnishing its image in the Arab world, ruining its economy, and driving its rulers to instigate the fatal series of missteps that led to war with Israel in 1967.

Viewing the Six Day War as an unintended consequence of the Saudi-Egyptian struggle over Yemen, Ferris demonstrates that the most important Cold War conflict in the Middle East was not the clash between Israel and its neighbors. It was the inter-Arab struggle between monarchies and republics over power and legitimacy. Egypt's defeat in the "Arab Cold War" set the stage for the rise of Saudi Arabia and political Islam.

Bold and provocative, Nasser's Gamble brings to life a critical phase in the modern history of the Middle East. Its compelling analysis of Egypt's fall from power in the 1960s offers new insights into the decline of Arab nationalism, exposing the deep historical roots of the Arab Spring of 2011.