The Yom Kipur war started on October 6th, 1973, when combined heavy Egyptian and Syrians forces launched a surprise attack on Israeli forces over the Sinai and the Golan Heights. The attack started on the noon of the holiest day in the Jewish year- Yom Kippur.

During the first days of the war the Arab forces succeeded breaking through the Israeli forces, the lost among the Israelis were very high, and the atmosphere among the Israeli high command was very bad,even including statements about the fall of the entire state of Israel. In the Golan the Armor clashes between Israel and Syria were the biggest one since WWII.
Eventually the IDF managed to block the Arab offensive and succeeded to launch it's own offensive in both fronts.The war ended with a cease fire on October 24th.

That war was considered as the most difficult war Israel ever faced, and was a national trauma among the Israeli society for many years. The casualties among Israel were 2200-2300 dead and more then 7000 injured.

Egypt lost around 15,600 men (25,000 injured) and Syria casualties were around 4000 dead and 10,000 injured.

The war was eventually the mile stone for the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.