In September, 1970, a ten-day civil war broke out in Jordan between the Jordanian army and the Palestine Liberation Army, the military force of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Syria sent in about two hundred tanks to help the Palestinians. Under attack by the Jordanian army, the Syrians lost half their tanks and withdrew. Large numbers of Palestinians were expelled from Jordan. The PLO moved its headquarters and bases to Lebanon, from where PLO guerrillas launched raids against Israel.
The Syrian fiasco in Jordan was a major reason for Syrian general Hafiz al-Asad to mount a coup in November, 1970. Asad became prime minister of Syria and was elected president on March 14, 1971. He achieved a position of absolute power and became the nation's leading figure. Asad belonged to the Alawite sect of Muslims. While they make up only about 12 percent of Syria's population of about 17 million people, under Asad the minority group ruled the country and repressed its opponents. Under Asad's leadership, Syria enjoyed its most stable period since independence.
Asad continued Syria's strong anti-Israeli policy and built up its military with Soviet aid in preparation for further war. Under Asad, Syria emerged as the leading Arab military power and the only country that posed a real military threat to Israel. In November, 1970, Syria and Egypt signed a military agreement and began planning strategy. Despite the continued military buildups, Israel did not believe the Arabs would attack.
Syria and Egypt mounted a surprise attack against Israel on October 6,1973. This war is often called the Yom Kippur War after the Jewish holy day of that name. Syria and Egypt defeated Israeli troops and overran fortifications in the Sinai Desert and Golan Heights. Israel counterattacked and quickly recaptured the Golan and marched farther into Syria, stopping only twenty-five miles from Damascus. Before a cease-fire was in place, Israel also crossed the Suez Canal into Egypt.
After the cease-fire agreement, Israel withdrew from the new areas it had captured. Although defeated in the war, the prestige of Asad and Syria increased in the Arab world. Asad presented himself as the great champion of the Palestinian cause. Israel continued to increase settlements in the Golan Heights and in 1981 annexed the occupied territory.
World History
