The Suez Canal has been at the center of several political crises. The Suez Crisis in 1956, triggered by Egypt’s nationalization of the canal, led to a complex international conflict involving the UK, France, Israel, the US, and the Soviet Union. Wars in 1967 (the Six-Day War) and 1973 (Yom Kippur) also disrupted canal work. In light of ongoing tensions in the region, the canal remains a possible flashpoint.