---
title: "Suez War: Franco-British Military Intervention"
year: 1956
country: "Egypt"
canonical: "https://recap.at/1956/suez-war"
slug: "suez-war"
recapType: "global_event"
startDate: "1956-01-01"
---

# Suez War: Franco-British Military Intervention

> British and French forces invaded Egypt over nationalization of the Suez Canal, marking the twilight of European imperial power.

In October 1956, Britain and France launched a military invasion of Egypt to reclaim control of the Suez Canal after President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized it. The operation exposed deep rifts within the Western alliance, triggered Soviet threats, and ultimately accelerated the end of European colonial power in the Middle East.

## Summary

Franco David Shea is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Super League Greece 2 club Nestos Chrysoupoli.

## Key facts

- **Date of nationalization**: 26 July 1956
- **Invasion launch date**: 29 October 1956
- **Duration of major combat**: 8 days (29 October – 6 November 1956)
- **Canal revenue seized**: $30 million annually (approximate)
- **British and French forces deployed**: ~100,000 troops
- **Estimated Egyptian military casualties**: ~1,000–3,000
- **Key initiator**: President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt
- **Soviet threat level**: Nuclear-armed intervention warnings issued 5–6 November 1956

## Timeline

- **1954-10-19** - Anglo-Egyptian Agreement signed
  Britain agrees to withdraw its forces from the Suez Canal base by 1956, formally ending 72 years of occupation.
- **1956-07-26** - Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal
  President Gamal Abdel Nasser announces nationalization of the Suez Canal Company in a speech at Alexandria, seizing assets worth $100 million. The move triggers outrage in London and Paris.
- **1956-10-29** - Israel launches Sinai Campaign
  Israeli forces cross into the Sinai Peninsula, providing the pretext for Franco-British intervention under a secret protocol agreed at Sèvres.
- **1956-10-31** - Britain and France issue ultimatum
  Both nations demand Egypt and Israel cease fire within 12 hours. When rejected, RAF and French aircraft begin bombing Egyptian airfields.
- **1956-11-05** - Anglo-French amphibious landings
  British and French forces land at Port Said and advance down the canal. Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin issues nuclear threats against Britain and France.
- **1956-11-06** - UN Security Council calls for ceasefire
  The U.S. and Soviet Union join forces to demand immediate cessation of hostilities; U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower refuses to support British and French operations.
- **1956-11-07** - Britain and France announce ceasefire
  Facing U.S. economic pressure (threat to sterling reserves), UN condemnation, and Soviet nuclear threats, both nations halt combat operations.
- **1957-03-16** - Last British and French troops withdraw
  Final foreign combat forces depart Port Said. The UN Emergency Force assumes peacekeeping duties; Nasser retains control of the Canal.

## Impact

The Suez War marked a hinge moment in global power. It demonstrated that the U.S. could override its closest allies, showed the Soviet Union's willingness to threaten nuclear escalation, and signaled the irreversible decline of European imperial authority in Asia and Africa. The crisis redrew the Cold War map and handed Nasser a symbolic victory that reshaped Arab nationalism.

## Sources

- [Franco Shea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Shea) - Wikipedia

---
Canonical: https://recap.at/1956/suez-war