Ras Banas

Coordinates: 23°54′17″N 35°47′20″E / 23.90472°N 35.78889°E / 23.90472; 35.78889 Ras Banas (Greek: Lepte Akra, Egyptian Arabic: راس بناس  pronounced [ɾɑːs bæˈnæːs]) is a peninsula in Egypt extending into the Red Sea. The inlet of water sheltered to the south of it is called Foul Bay, at the head of which sits the ancient port of Berenice. It is believed that Mukawwa Island to the south of the tip of the peninsula, may have been connected to the peninsula at some point in the past however little or no research has been conducted to support this claim.

History

Ras Banas has a detailed military history.

What was then only a small military airport is used to fold the Egyptian air force base housing a part of the 9th light bomber squadron equipped with Ilyushin Il-28 is bombarded by four Sud Aviation Vautour of Israeli air force during the Six Day War on June 5 196. The 29 Egyptian Il-28 are destroyed in this conflict except the only two in air combat.

It served as a Soviet military base until they moved out. The Soviets were allowed to construct the base following the 1964 USSR-United Arab Republic (Egypt) fishing agreement. The Soviets commenced the construction of the base in 1970, becoming their first base in Egypt, although the construction of the base was kept secret until 1972 when an Israeli newspaper published details of the base. The Egyptian government continued to try to cover up the base by alleging that a new port was being constructed at Berenice with a road being constructed from there to Aswan, although through treacherously difficult terrain. This new road would allow produce from the area to travel to Aswan and also allow for pilgrims to travel from Egypt to Saudi Arabia. These claims by the Egyptian government were later proven incorrect following international investigation. In July 1972, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, seeking to establish good relations with the United States, ordered the Soviets to leave.