Realizing that all diplomatic efforts will lead…

Realizing that all diplomatic efforts will lead to a dead end, Sadat decides to try a limited military option that, combined with an oil embargo, will lead to a significant Israeli withdrawal from Arab territories.

On Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, October 6, 1973, Syria and Egypt launch a concerted surprise attack against Israel; thus the "Yom Kippur War").

In the south, waves of Egyptian infantrymen cross the Suez Canal and overrun the defense of the much touted Bar-Lev Line.

For the first time, Egypt makes substantial progress and inflicts a level of casualties especially damaging for the outnumbered Israelis.