  The $\gamma$-ray strength function of $^{56}$Fe has been measured from
proton-$\gamma$ coincidences for excitation energies up to $\approx 11$ MeV.
The low-energy enhancement in the $\gamma$-ray strength function, which was
first discovered in the ($^3$He,$\alpha\gamma$)$^{56}$Fe reaction, is confirmed
with the ($p,p^\prime\gamma$)$^{56}$Fe experiment reported here. Angular
distributions of the $\gamma$ rays give for the first time evidence that the
enhancement is dominated by dipole transitions.
