May 15, 1948
Arab Armies Invade Israel
Historical context
On 15 May 1948, the armies of five Arab states invaded Israel, the day after independence.
Archive record
Read the event, then follow its documented sources and archive threads.
- Date
- May 15, 1948
- Verified sources
- 1
- Archive threads
- 3
On this day, the armies of Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq invaded the new State of Israel. The Jewish Virtual Library records that the invasion began as the British Mandate ended, the day after Israel declared independence, and that an Egyptian air attack on Tel Aviv announced it.
The new state had no matching artillery, tanks, or warplanes in the first days. The Haganah met the invasion with small arms.
Research trail
Sources and further reading
- The War of Independence: Arab Armies Invade · Jewish Virtual Library · Jewish Virtual Library View source
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