✈️ Operation Focus (June 5, 1967, Six-Day War) What happened? At dawn Israel launched a surprise preemptive strike on Egyptian air bases, destroying many aircraft on the ground and gaining air control. Later that day, after fighting spread, Jordanian and Syrian fields were struck, enabling rapid ground gains. Why the war started: Border clashes; Soviet reports that Israel was preparing to attack Syria; Egypt asked the UN Emergency Force to leave Sinai; Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran (narrow channel at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba between Egypt’s Sinai and Saudi Arabia), which Israel had long called a casus belli (cause for war under international law). Jordan signed a defense pact with Egypt; Syria aligned. Who fired first? Israel opened hostilities on June 5 with morning air strikes on Egyptian airfields. Later that morning Jordan shelled Israeli positions after the war was underway. Soviet role: The USSR backed Egypt and Syria with arms and advisers. The May 13 warning about...