Operation Musketeer (1956)

Operation Musketeer was a joint military operation launched by the United Kingdom, France, and Israel against Egypt in October and November 1956. The primary objective was to regain control of the Suez Canal, which had been nationalized by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser in July 1956. The operation was also driven by concerns about Nasser's growing influence in the Arab world and his support for anti-colonial movements.

The invasion began with an Israeli incursion into the Sinai Peninsula on October 29, 1956. British and French forces then intervened, ostensibly to separate the Egyptian and Israeli forces and protect the Suez Canal. However, the real intention was to seize control of the Canal Zone and remove Nasser from power.

The operation was militarily successful in its initial stages, with the Anglo-French forces rapidly gaining control of the Suez Canal area. However, it was met with strong international condemnation, particularly from the United States and the Soviet Union. The US, under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, feared that the operation would destabilize the Middle East and push Arab nations towards the Soviet bloc. The Soviet Union threatened military intervention on Egypt's behalf.

Faced with immense political and economic pressure, the UK, France, and Israel were forced to cease their military operations in November 1956. A United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) was deployed to the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip to supervise the withdrawal of the invading forces.

The Suez Crisis, of which Operation Musketeer was the military component, had significant long-term consequences. It exposed the declining power of Britain and France on the world stage and highlighted the growing influence of the United States and the Soviet Union. It also strengthened Nasser's position as a leader of the Arab world and accelerated the decolonization process. The crisis is often seen as a turning point in post-World War II international relations.