Monday 8 October

Al-Ahram reported the second day of fighting in 1973 under the headline “Tel Aviv: Fighting on the second day very critical for Israel.”

The article emphasised the success of Egypt’s attack on Israeli forces, reporting that Israel lost 30 planes and 32 tanks and Syrian forces were making headway in the occupied Golan Heights.

Details about the fighting on both fronts were laid down much as on the 7 October front page, with a section on the Egyptian front and another on the Syrian front.  

The paper describes the offensive as successful so far, reporting that Israeli counter attacks were thwarted by Egypt, whose forces were still advancing into Sinai and had secured their position along the Suez Canal above the Gulf of Suez. The paper notes that no Egyptian losses had been reported.

US President Richard Nixon cut his vacation short and called for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting, Al-Ahram reported, adding that the UNSC meeting would take place the following Monday, according to sources.

The paper’s front page published reports conveying support from other Arab nations for the war effort. “Libya finances the battle with money and oil” (upper left), and underneath: “Algerian forces arrive in Cairo” – expanded in an article explaining that Algerian fighter pilots were sent to join the battle alongside Egyptian forces.

At the bottom of the page, Al-Ahram reported that Israeli rabbis were being mobilised to conduct the funerals of dead soldiers. Next to this, another article states that the Soviet government placed responsibility for unfolding events on Israeli aggression, and announced its support for Arab states.