What events led to the Six-Day War in 1967?

The Six-Day War in 1967 was preceded by a period of escalating regional tensions and a series of military confrontations between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Key factors leading to the conflict included:

• Border Skirmishes: Frequent attacks by Palestinian guerrilla groups based in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan led to retaliatory Israeli strikes, such as the November 1966 raid on the village of Al-Samūʿ in the West Bank.31
• Escalating Rhetoric and Intelligence: In April 1967, the Israeli Air Force shot down six Syrian MiG fighter jets. Subsequently, inaccurate Soviet intelligence reports suggested Israel was planning a campaign against Syria, further heightening regional alarm.23
• Mobilization and Blockade: Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser mobilized forces in the Sinai Peninsula, requested the withdrawal of the United Nations Emergency Force, and closed the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping, which Israel had previously declared a cause for war.31
• Military Alliances: Egypt signed mutual defense pacts with Jordan and later Iraq, placing their forces under Egyptian command.43

In response to these developments, Israel launched a preemptive air assault on June 5, 1967, targeting Egyptian and Syrian air forces.23