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| Economics and Politics played a large role in the war to obtain the Suez Canal. |
The Suez Crisis was an offensive war in October 1956, fought by France, Britain, and Israel against Egypt. Soon after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France joined as allies and began to bomb Cairo. These attacks have been seen as France as the instigator, Britain as the partner, and Israel as the trigger. British and French forces withdrew before the end of the year, but Israeli forces stayed until March 1957. This war followed President of Egypt Nasser’s decision in July 1956 to nationalize the Suez Canal. The main point of the attacks was to regain control of the canal for the West and to prepare for the fall of Nasser from power, who was seen as a threat to the three countries. Britain, France, and Israel were primarily successful in succeeding in their military objectives, but pressure from the Soviet Union and America made them withdraw. Britain and France ultimately failed at their goals of controlling the canal and taking Nasser from power. As a result of the Suez Crisis, the United Nations Emergency Force would police the Egyptian-Israeli border to keep them from fighting.