How Egyptians Followed News of the October War Before the Internet

On October 6, 1973, Egyptians learned that their army had crossed the Suez Canal, reached its eastern bank and raised the Egyptian flag over Sinai.

The news marked a momentous development for people waiting to hear what was happening on the battlefield. In the hours and days that followed, they continued to track reports of the fighting.

Long before internet access and instant phone alerts, radio, television and printed newspapers were the main ways Egyptians received news. Broadcasts brought updates into homes, while newspapers provided accounts readers could return to and share.

Following the war meant waiting for fresh reports rather than refreshing a live feed. Information arrived through scheduled coverage and announcements, shaping the rhythm of how people experienced events far from the front.

The crossing and the raising of the flag became defining images of October 6. For Egyptians following from home, the story of the battle unfolded through the news they heard, watched and read.