EXPLAINED: The yom kippur war | Rare Historical Photos

On October 6 1973, the Yom Kippur War – mainly involving Egypt, Syria and Israel –triggered one of the biggest energy crises of the 20th century. Eleven days later, several Arab members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced they would stop selling oil to countries supporting…

The world-renowned Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai has told FRANCE 24 how Israel is now a "traumatised society" after the events of October 7. Likening the plight of Israelis to the American population after 9/11, he said the savage attack on civilians by Hamas is even worse than what happened in…

Last Friday, Israeli newspapers were filled with stories about the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, also called the October War. In 1973, the country had nearly been defeated by co-ordinated surprise attacks from its Arab neighbors. Never again, people thought.

Gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, killing at least 250 Israelis and escaping with dozens of hostages in by far the deadliest day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. More than 230 Gazans were also killed when Israel…

Fifty years on from the surprise attack Egypt and Syria launched on Israel, what was its legacy for the region – and what was the effect on the soldiers?

Egypt and Syria’s joint attack ushered in a new dynamic around the fracture lines in the Middle East

Decades later, war heroes question purpose while optimism for the country's future persists.