April 7, 1967
Over the previous two years, cross the border tensions erupt into regular violence perpetrated from Syrian territory against Israelis. Responding to Syrian shelling of Israeli villages, kibbutzim, and settlements in northern Israel, Syrian and Israeli aircraft clash, with the Syrian planes downed. The event raises tension in Syrian-Israeli relations, causing the Russians in early May to erroneously suggest that Israel is massing troops on its border with Syria. Russia makes the claim to show support for Syria; Egypt’s Nasser takes the claim as true; he moves troops into Sinai as a show of force on behalf of Syria and against Israel.