The Neighborhood Health Clinic

It is October the 6th, and on this day in 1973, the surprise attack by Egyptian and Syrian forces on Israel threw the Middle East into turmoil and threatened to bring United States and Soviet Union into direct conflict for the first time, uh, since the missile Cub- uh, Cuban missile crisis in 1962.

Though actual combat did not break out between the two nations, the events surrounding Yom Kippur War seriously damaged US-Soviet relations and all but destroyed President Nixon's much-publicized policy of detente.

Initially, it appeared that Egy- Egyptian and, uh, Syrian forces would emerge victorious from the conflict.

Armed with up-to-date Soviet weaponry and two nations hoped to avenge their humiliating defeat in the Six Day War of '67, Israel caught off guard initially reeled under the fir- two-front attack.

But Israeli, uh, counterattacks turned the tide, aided by massive amounts of US military assistance, as well as disorganization among the Syrian and Egyptian forces.

The Syrians were driven back with Israeli troops seizing the strategically important Golan Heights.

Egyptian, uh, forces fared even worse, retreating back through the Sinai Desert.

Thousands of their troops were surrounded and cut off by the Israeli army.

Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, uh, together with Soviet counterparts, eventually arranged a shaky ceasefire.

When it became clear that I- Israel would not give up its siege of the Egyptian troops, low on food and medicine at the time, the Soviets threatened to take unilateral action to rescue them.

Tempers flared on both Washington, DC and Moscow.

US military forces went to stage three alert.

Stage one is war.

The Soviets backed down on their threat, but the damage to relations between the two nations was serious and long-lasting.

Kissinger worked furiously to bring about a peace settlement between Israel and Syria and Egypt in what became known as the, uh, shuttle diplomacy.

The Secretary of State flew from nation to nation, hammering out the details of the peace accord.

Eventually, Israeli troops withdrew from some of their positions in both the Sinai and Syrian territory, while Egypt promised to forgo the use of force in its dealings with Israel.

[clear throat] Syrian, Syria grudgingly accepted the peace plan, but remained adamantly opposed to the existence of the Israeli state.

Uh, on the brink of war.

It is October the 6th, and on this day in 1973, the surprise attack by Egyptian and Syrian forces on Israel threw the Middle East into turmoil and threatened to bring United States and Soviet Union into direct conflict for the first time, uh, since the missile Cub- uh, Cuban missile crisis in 1962.

Though actual combat did not break out between the two nations, the events surrounding Yom Kippur War seriously damaged US-Soviet relations and all but destroyed President Nixon's much-publicized policy of detente.

Initially, it appeared that Egy- Egyptian and, uh, Syrian forces would emerge victorious from the conflict.

Armed with up-to-date Soviet weaponry and two nations hoped to avenge their humiliating defeat in the Six Day War of '67, Israel caught off guard initially reeled under the fir- two-front attack.

But Israeli, uh, counterattacks turned the tide, aided by massive amounts of US military assistance, as well as disorganization among the Syrian and Egyptian forces.

The Syrians were driven back with Israeli troops seizing the strategically important Golan Heights.

Egyptian, uh, forces fared even worse, retreating back through the Sinai Desert.

Thousands of their troops were surrounded and cut off by the Israeli army.

Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, uh, together with Soviet counterparts, eventually arranged a shaky ceasefire.

When it became clear that I- Israel would not give up its siege of the Egyptian troops, low on food and medicine at the time, the Soviets threatened to take unilateral action to rescue them.

Tempers flared on both Washington, DC and Moscow.

US military forces went to stage three alert.

Stage one is war.

The Soviets backed down on their threat, but the damage to relations between the two nations was serious and long-lasting.

Kissinger worked furiously to bring about a peace settlement between Israel and Syria and Egypt in what became known as the, uh, shuttle diplomacy.

The Secretary of State flew from nation to nation, hammering out the details of the peace accord.

Eventually, Israeli troops withdrew from some of their positions in both the Sinai and Syrian territory, while Egypt promised to forgo the use of force in its dealings with Israel.

[clear throat] Syrian, Syria grudgingly accepted the peace plan, but remained adamantly opposed to the existence of the Israeli state.

Uh, on the brink of war.