Israeli forces invaded Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on October 29, 1956, in a coordin

Featured Event 1956 Event

Israel Invades Sinai: Suez Crisis Begins

Israeli forces invaded Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on October 29, 1956, in a coordinated plan with Britain and France. The real target was the Suez Canal, which Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser had nationalized four months earlier. Britain and France issued an 'ultimatum' demanding both sides withdraw from the canal zone, then sent their own troops when Egypt refused. The plan worked militarily but backfired politically. The United States and Soviet Union both condemned the invasion. Eisenhower threatened to sell U.S. holdings of British pounds, which would have crashed the currency. Britain and France withdrew within weeks. The crisis proved that European colonial powers could no longer act independently of American approval. Britain's humiliation at Suez accelerated decolonization across Africa and Asia.

Talk About This Event

October 29, 1956

70 years ago

What Else Happened on October 29

539 BC Event

Cyrus the Great walked into Babylon in 539 BCE without a battle. The priests had opened the gates for him — they hated their own king. He immediately issued a d…

312 Event

Constantine entered Rome in 312 after defeating Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, where his rival drowned in the Tiber wearing full armor. Soldiers fished out th…

437 Event

Valentinian III was six years old when he became Western Emperor. Licinia Eudoxia was probably around the same age. The marriage united the two halves of the Ro…

969 Event

Byzantine forces reclaimed Antioch from the Hamdanid dynasty, ending over three centuries of Arab control. This victory restored the city as a critical eastern …

1268 Event

Conradin was 16 years old. He'd marched to Italy to reclaim his grandfather's throne. Charles I of Sicily captured him after battle, tried him for invading, and…

1390 Event

Paris held its first witchcraft trial. A woman named Jehenne de Brigue stood accused of causing impotence through sorcery, killing livestock with curses, meetin…

View all events on October 29 →

Talk to History

Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.

Start Talking

← Back to October 29

Israel Invades Sinai: Suez Crisis Begins

Key Figures & Places

What Else Happened on October 29

Talk to History