Israelis pushed out of Eilat! Dunkirk of the Middle East?
In a major coordinated offensive by the Egyptian coalition, the IDF was driven out of Eilat, including its military airport.
Cutting into Israel just above Eilat, the coalition forces established a northern frontline and then cut south towards Eilat, leaving IDF soldiers and fleeing civilians nowhere to go but the sea. Consequently, thousands of IDF soldiers were seen boarding civilian boats which then headed towards the US 5th Fleet in the gulf to seek refuge.
The offensive was made possible through a fresh supply of Soviet tanks, support from Syrian forces which finally made their way down through Jordan after the last week’s strong fighting, Libyan soldiers who were sent in support of coalition troops and other coaltion supporting units.
Casualties were severe on all sides, with several dozens of tanks having been destroyed by Israeli forces and thousands of soldiers dead on both sides. Still, this now leaves the Egyptian Coalition in control of the Eilat military Airport and harbour, securing a continuous supply line between Jordan and Egypt. Israel consequently currently has no more access to the Gulf of Aqaba.
While parts of the coalition forces continued on further west, a significant deployment had to remain just north of Eilat to keep the city from falling back into the hands of the IDF.