War in the Middle East was on most everyone’s minds in October 1973, much like it has been this past year, especially with Iran’s Oct. 1 missile attack on Israel.
A 1973 article in the Baltimore Jewish Times detailed the Yom Kippur War — the fourth Arab-Israeli war — which was initiated by Egypt and Syria and fought between Oct. 6 and 25, 1973.
The JT article reported that the Israeli government had been expecting an attack, but not during Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Also unexpected is that the attack took place during the holy month of Ramadan, celebrated by Arab people.
Similarly, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war began on Simchat Torah in October 2023, one day after the conclusion of Sukkot. Simchat Torah is traditionally a joyful holiday filled with singing and dancing, so Israelis likely never expected the Oct. 7 attack.
The three weeks of the Yom Kippur War killed more than 2,600 soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces, an estimated 15,000 Egyptians and 3,500 Syrians. Seven thousand Israelis were injured.
In response to Israeli losses, the United States intervened on behalf of Israel after much deliberation, according to the U.S. Department of State, sending Israel a full-scale airlift of military equipment on Oct. 10, 1973.
The U.S. remains supportive of Israel’s war efforts in the present day — on Sept. 26, Israel confirmed receipt of an $8.7 billion aid package from the U.S. to support its ongoing military efforts and to maintain a “qualitative military edge” in the Middle East region amid the Israel-Hamas war, according to Reuters.
The package will cover $3.5 billion for “essential wartime procurement” and $5.2 billion for air defense systems, including the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system and an advanced laser system.
