1956: SUEZ CRISIS. Egypt's seizure of the Suez Canal and purchase of Red arms brought war in the mid-East. Israeli forces attacked the Sinai Peninsula; and Anglo-French troops attacked to seize the Canal - an attempt halted by United Nations action in which the United States and USSR [Union of Soviet Socialist Republics] joined. A United Nations emergency police force emerged from the crisis; as the world's forum achieved a ceasefire in a clash that threatened world peace.