Suez Crisis participated in later years, since Canada had spearheaded the idea of a neutral force). By 24 April 1957 the canal was fully reopened to shipping. Egyptian sovereignty and ownership of the canal had been confirmed by the United States and the United Nations. In retirement, Anthony Eden, the British Prime Minister at the time, maintained that the military response had prevented a much larger war in the Middle East. Israel had been expecting an Egyptian invasion in either March or April 1957, as well as a Soviet invasion of Syria. The crisis may also have hastened decolonization, as many of
Suez Veterans' Association Suez Veterans' Association The Suez Veterans' Association is an association of those who served in the British Armed Forces and civilian support units in the Suez Canal Zone between 1939 and 1956 (the Suez Crisis). It was formed on the 15 April 1997 and membership is open to all British armed forces, nursing services and civilian support staff who served in the Suez Canal Zone. In June 2003 veterans were able to claim the Naval General Service Medal and the General Service Medal with Canal Zone clasp for serving in the Suez Canal Zone of Egypt between 16 October 1951