The Eve of Destruction

In October 1973, a coalition of Arab armies caught Israel in an inventive surprise attack. More than 80,000 highly trained Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal in a daring offensive that overran Israeli resistance and penetrated deep into the Sinai Peninsula. The renowned Israeli Air Force was shattered by the sophisticated missile defense systems protecting the Syrian and Egyptian lines; one third of all its fighter jets were shot down in the first two days of the war.

Based on declassified Israeli government documents and interviews with soldiers, generals, and intelligence operatives on both sides of the conflict, The Eve of Destruction is a suspenseful tale of war, politics, and deception. It is also the moving story of the men and women whose lives and destinies were swept up in the Yom Kippur War.

Howard Blum, an award-winning former reporter for the New York Times and currently a contributing editor of Vanity Fair, is the author of several bestselling non-fiction books, including The Brigade, The Gold of Exodus, Gangland, and Wanted!

“A lively and informative account of a pivotal conflict ... that altered the psychology and diplomacy of the Middle East down to the present day.” — New York Times Book Review