Many battles and conflicts were significant in shaping world history and left lasting marks. Others had less historical impacts but were notable in their own right. For me, the Six-Day War fought between Israel and the Arab States of Egypt, Jordan and Syria from June 5 to June 10, 1967, stands out on so many different levels. Tensions had been building in the region since the 1956 Suez Canal conflict and Israel determined that a pre-emptive strike was necessary against the Arab alliance as a means of survival. Israel was outnumbered almost 2.5:1 in ground force troops but ended up routing the Arabs in six days. The result was Israel captured and expanded its territory approximately three times the area that stood before the war began and an estimated 21,000 Arabs were killed with only 1,000 Israeli casualties. Gradually, most of the captured territory was exchanged for peace agreements with Egypt and Syria but we all know that peace has been temporary and sporadic mainly due to disputes over territorial boundaries and land rights. This has added to the historical hatred between Israel and its neighbors with the birth of modern terrorism as a result. Our support of Israel as an allied sovereign nation has also drawn us into the line of fire for many Muslim nations and terror groups that played a significant role in 9/11. On a side note, Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon were notable Israeli Commanders during the Six-Day War that served as future Prime Ministers of Israel.

Which battles or conflicts stand out for you and why?