The Straits of Tiran, also known as the Suez Canal, is a very important artificial canal used for cargo. In the beginning of Nasser’s presidency in 1956 his closing of the Straits of Tiran was a catalyst for the Suez Crisis, which came to have international notoriety.

On this day May 22, in 1967, The Straits of Tiran are closed by Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser. What ensued on June 5, 1967, came to be known as the Six Day War. Nasser made a blockade of all ships heading to Israel, despite it being made illegal by the U.N. in 1956.

The Six Day War was fought June 5-10, and it was a conclusive victory for Israel. The background of the war and the closing of the Straits have been traced back to false information the Soviet Union provided to Nasser. Egypt then amassed its own army, blockading the Straits of Tiran. In a pre-emptive attack Israel struck Jordan, Syria, and Egypt, all of whom had amassed armies set to invade. Israel won Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Sinai Peninsula in this war. The Soviet Union’s intentions, to this day, are still unknown.