1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. Middle East Issues

November 17 in Middle East History

By Pierre Tristam, About.com

1869: The Suez Canal is inaugurated in Egypt.

1922: Mehmed VI, Turkey’s last Ottoman sultan, is forced into exile in Italy.

1997: In an attack orchestrated by Ayman al-Zawahiri (who’d subsequently become the #2 man in al-Qaeda), six men dressed in black attacked tourists visiting Luxor temple in Upper Egypt. Sixty-two men, women and children were killed. The police then kill the assailants.

Explore Middle East Issues

About.com Special Features

What is a Recession?

Sure, we're all talking about it, but what, exactly, defines a recession? More >

Weird Breaking News

A daily look at some of the oddest (and dumbest) crimes around. More >

  1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. Middle East Issues
  4. Middle East 101
  5. November 17 in Middle East History - This Day November 17 in Middle Eastern History >

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.