Battle of the Sinai ( 1973 ) The Battle of the Sinai was one of the most consequential battles of the Yom Kippur war . An Egyptian attacking force that advanced beyond their line of defense at the Bar - Lev Line was repulsed with heavy losses by Israeli forces . This prompted the Israelis to launch Operation Abiray - Lev ( Stouthearted Men ) the next day , penetrating the Egyptian line of defense and crossing the Suez Canal . Background . After Egyptian infantry had successfully crossed the canal and captured the Bar - Lev Line on October 6 , Israeli forces made several counterattacks in attempts to push the Egyptians back across the Suez Canal . The Israelis suffered heavy losses in these attacks , and by October 9 Egyptian forces in the Sinai had managed to destroy 500 Israeli tanks . Following this both sides dug in . The Egyptians would not attack for fear of losing the cover of their SAM defences . In the Golan Heights , Israel had repelled Syrian forces and had pushed into Syria itself . By the time Syrian forces had managed to put a halt to the Israeli advance , Israeli forces were 40 km from Damascus . Syrian president Hafez Al - Assad requested his Egyptian ally , Anwar El - Sadat for an attack in the Sinai , which would draw Israeli attention away from the Syrian front . Sadat consented and ordered the attack . His War Minister , Ahmed Ismail , and his Chief of Staff , Saad El Shazly , opposed the idea of an attack ; Shazli in particular stated that for Egyptian forces to advance outside their SAM defences would mean their exposure to the Israeli Air Force , which the Egyptian Air Force was too weak to challenge . Sadat insisted that the attack proceed however , and both Ahmed Ismail and Shazli had no choice but to acknowledge the order . Prelude . The attack was to proceed on October 13 , but was postponed to October 14 . Four armored brigades and one mechanized infantry brigade under the command of the Second and Third Armies were to make four independent thrusts . Awaiting for them was a dug - in force of 800 Israeli tanks supported by infantry equipped with SS . 11 missiles , as well as American - made LAW and TOW anti - tank missiles . Israel had in the Sinai by October 14 around fifteen brigades totaling nearly 60 , 000 infantry . The Israeli air force provided intense air cover during the battle . Battle and aftermath . The Egyptians launched their offensive early morning on October 14 , at 6 : 30 . The mechanized infantry brigade was to attack in the direction of the Gidi Pass , one armored brigade was to attack in the direction of the Mitla Pass , one brigade to attack towards Baluza , and two brigades to attack in the direction of Tasa . As anticipated by many Egyptian officers , the attack was a failure . Encountering stiff Israeli resistance , the Egyptian assault came to a halt after suffering heavy losses , and Egyptian troops retreated back to their lines on the Suez Canal . Egyptian losses in the battle were 250 tanks and up to 1 , 000 men killed and wounded in action . By contrast , Israeli losses were 40 tanks . The following day , the Israelis launched Operation Abiray - Lev , crossing the Suez Canal and cutting of the Egyptian Third Army ' s supply lines .