United States Begins Operation Nickel Grass to Resupply Israel

The October war followed years of unsuccessful bargaining over territory Israel had occupied in 1967. Anwar Sadat had explored an interim settlement and opened a confidential channel to Henry Kissinger, but no agreement produced Israeli withdrawal. American leaders and intelligence officials continued to doubt that Egypt and Syria would attack. [1]

American C-5 and C-141 transport aircraft began delivering weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Israel on 14 October 1973. Operation Nickel Grass carried the supplies across the Atlantic and Mediterranean after Israel suffered losses in the opening days of the Arab–Israeli war. [2] [1]

Egyptian and Syrian forces had attacked Israeli positions in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights on 6 October. With the Soviet Union resupplying Egypt and Syria, Israel asked Washington for help, and Richard Nixon approved an American response. Both superpowers were supplying armies still engaged in battle. [1]

The airlift continued into November and carried more than 22,000 tons of materiel, while Henry Kissinger pursued ceasefire negotiations with Soviet and regional leaders. American supplies helped Israel replace its losses. Arab oil producers imposed an embargo, and confrontation over the ceasefire briefly raised the danger of direct American–Soviet intervention. [2] [1]

Kissinger negotiated a ceasefire in Moscow, and the Security Council adopted Resolution 338 on 22 October. Continued fighting brought a Soviet warning about possible intervention and an American nuclear alert before another ceasefire arrangement took hold. [1]

Related Diplomats

1. Simcha Dinitz [3] [4] [5]

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