Jordan was involved in the Six-Day War because of its alliance with Egypt. Egypt had signed a mutual defense pact with Syria, and Jordan with Iraq, and Nasser sent troops to Syria at the request of the Syrian government, to act as a deterrent to Israel. However, the move was mistaken by Israel as a prelude to an imminent attack, precipitating the outbreak of the war on 5 June 1967. King Hussein of Jordan had made it clear that his country would not interfere if there was a war between Israel and Syria. However, on the morning of 5 June, the Israeli Air Force attacked Jordanian positions along the West Bank of the Jordan River and Jordanian cities deep within Jordan, and Jordanian artillery responded. The Arab League immediately requested a cease fire, but Israel, which by then had gained the upper hand, refused.