Raid on the Suez Canal
The Raid on the Suez Canal, also known as Actions on the Suez Canal, took place between 26 January and 4 February 1915 when a German-led Ottoman Army force advanced from Southern Palestine to attack the British Empire-protected Suez Canal, marking the beginning of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–1918) of World War I (1914–1918).
Substantial Ottoman forces crossed the Sinai peninsula, a few managed to cross the Canal, but the entire attack failed – mainly because of strongly held defences and alert defenders.
Background[edit]
Since its opening in 1869 the Suez Canal had featured prominently in British policy and concerns. Among its great advantages were as a line of communication and also the site for a military base as the well equipped ports at Alexandria and Port Said made the region particularly useful.[4] However, the Egyptian public was becoming increasingly opposed to the British occupation of Egypt, in particular various policies issued by Britain during the occupation.[5]
The Convention of Constantinople of 1888 by the European great powers guaranteed freedom of navigation of the Suez Canal.[6] In August 1914 Egypt was defended by 5,000 men in the Force in Egypt.[7]