Video: 'The Six-Day War Begins - 1967 | Today in History | 5 June 16'

(Monday, June 5, 1967, 7:48 a.m. IST) — The Six-Day War erupted today in the Middle East as Israel, anticipating a possible attack by its Arab neighbors, launched a series of preemptive airfield strikes that destroyed nearly the entire Egyptian air force (Syria, Jordan and Iraq immediately entered the conflict).

By the time fighting ended on the sixth day, Israel had captured the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

Video: 'Six days in June' (June 5, 1967, at 53:44)