How int’l media reacted to 6th of October victory

CAIRO – 7 October 2017: On the 44th anniversary of the 6th of October War victory, we would like to remind our readers of how its grandeur took over international media headlines.

Telegraph UK: Oct. 7, 1973

“When the Egyptians crossed the Suez Canal, cut through Bar Lev line, they changed the history of Egypt and the Middle East,” read an article published by the U.K.



newspaper The Telegraph a day after the Egyptian victory was announced.
It went on explaining that the Egyptian soldiers’ winning over their Israeli counterparts reshaped the history of Egypt and the whole region, and that the Israelis got thunderstruck by the courage and determination of the Egyptian army, which was believed to be militarily unable to attack them.

Financial Times: Oct. 11, 1973

Financial Times said that the Israeli army was misled with their alleged “invincible” prowess, and “this overconfidence that Israel has gained in the aftermath of [their] 1967 victory had been shattered in the 6th October War, as demonstrated by the statements made by Israeli officials themselves, including [the-then Israeli defense minister] Moshe Dayan."



Daily Mail: Oct. 12, 1973

"The last week disciplined Israel and was a week of torture for them,” read an article in the U.K. Daily Mail newspaper.



The paper said that Arab armies are fighting “with force, courage and determination.” The Daily Mail added that the war demonstrated the “unparalleled” courage of the Arab armies, emphasizing their utmost and “fair” right to defend their lands against the Israeli aggression.

Washington Post: Oct. 8, 1973

"The Egyptians delivered a physiological win over Israel,” said an article in the U.S. Washington Post newspaper, referring to the regaining of Egyptian control over the east bank of the Suez Canal, which shattered the Israeli illusions that the Arabs are not ready for war.

“The victory is unparalleled,” the article added.

Reuters: Oct. 11, 1973,

Three days after the war was over, Tel Aviv-based Reuters reported that the 1973 war was the fiercest war Israel had ever waged since the 1948 war, adding that “it was clear cut that they lost the initiative in this war,” adding that the Israeli army had been taken aback by the wide scale of the high-tech weapons used during the war by the Arab alliance.

French, German Newspapers

"The 6th October War has shattered their security border theory and that Israel's security and peace can only be maintained through peace settlement with the Arab neighbors, not through tanks and missiles," as read in an article published by the French newspaper L’Humanité's on Oct. 17, 1973.



The German magazine Der Spiegel said on Nov. 5, 1973 that “the possibility of the massive Egyptian attack on Oct. 6 was not absolutely foreseen by the Israelis, and therefore, they paid a heavy price.”