Suez

1956

.....In July 1956, Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, and refused to allow free access to ships of all nations. Following the successful Israeli offensive across the Sinai desert to the Suez Canal, the British and Frencg governments put into operation a plan to seize the canal. 3 PARA, in conjunction with French parachute units, were ordered to carry out a parachute assault.
Flying from CYPRUS and landing 24 hours ahead of the seaborne force, 3 PARA secured El Gamil airfield by coup de main, cleared the road to Port Said and sealed off the native quarter. They then linked up with 2 PARA who arrived by sea and assisted with the securing of the town and the advance down the canal, which was halted only by political pressures on the two governments.

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