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Why was Alexandria threatened during World War II?

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Abu El-Abbas mosque in Alexandria, Egypt, featuring ornate domes, arched entrances, intricate stonework, and a large patterned courtyard in the foreground. — Alexandria The mosque of Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Mursī, Alexandria, Egypt.

During World War II, Alexandria was threatened because it was a vital Allied naval base in the eastern Mediterranean and stood within striking distance of advancing Axis armies.1

The threat to the city was part of a broader strategic campaign by German and Italian forces to seize the Suez Canal and overrun Egypt. As Axis forces, commanded by Erwin Rommel, pushed eastward along the North African coast, they reached the British defensive lines at El-Alamein—located only about 60 miles west of Alexandria—in June 1942.23

Because of its proximity to the front lines, Alexandria faced the constant danger of capture and was subjected to repeated bombardment. The city's strategic importance as a naval hub also made it a direct target for Axis naval operations, including an attack by Italian frogmen in December 1941 that crippled two British battleships stationed in its harbor.14