Despite Israel's decisive victory in the Six Day War, Egypt continued hostilities, refusing to sit down at the negotiating table. Gradually, the Egyptian armed forces were significantly strengthened by the Soviet Union.
The Egyptians, on March 8, 1969, began what became known as the "War of Attrition" against Israel. In response, Israel planned Operation Boxer which involved a landing on the west coast of the Suez Canal and the destruction of the Egyptian forces there. But before that the Egyptian early warning radar on Green Island had to be neutralized (Operation Bulmus 6). This was achieved on July 19
The Boxer is coming
So the next day, July 20, the Israelis launched the Suez attacks with the first target being the Egyptian Soviet missile arrays. At 1400 two Israeli Mirages destroyed the SA-2 missile array radar west of Port Said. A-4 Skyhawks of the 109th Squadron then destroyed the missiles. Massive raids on the area followed with every available Israeli aircraft. Within three hours the Israelis had carried out 171 sorties dropping 200 tons of bombs and rockets.
Having managed to take their opponents by surprise, the Israelis continued undisturbed with their action without the Egyptian air force daring to intervene...However, it attempted a counter-distraction attack in Sinai with 60 aircraft. The Israelis immediately took off six Mirages and immediately attacked. In the fierce air battle that followed, three Egyptian and two Israeli aircraft were shot down. The Egyptians lost two more aircraft to anti-aircraft fire.
The operation continued the following day with four Israeli A-4s neutralizing Egyptian anti-aircraft, preparing the ground for the second phase (Boxer 2) which began on 24 July. Again two Mirages destroyed an Egyptian radar station at Gebel Ataka. This was followed by 161 sorties by Israeli aircraft that caused great destruction.
Again the Egyptian air force attempted a diversionary attack but with meager results and the loss of six aircraft – three to Mirage fighters and three to anti-aircraft fire. The following July 25th, the third phase (Boxer 3) began, followed by subsequent phases until July 28th (Boxers 4 to 6) with the Israelis hitting their opponents hard. In total the Egyptians had over 300 casualties. They also lost nine aircraft and much material. However, the Suez crossing operation planned by the Israelis was cancelled.