War of Attrition in the Bashan Salient

Last updated

The War of Attrition in the Bashan Salient was an armed conflict between Israel and Syria in the Bashan Salient from March through May of 1974. The region was conquered by the Israeli army (IDF) at the end of the Yom Kippur War in October of 1973, and held by Israeli forces until the signing of the disengagement agreement on May 31, 1974 that saw the evacuation of all Israeli forces and the Bashan Salient returned to Syria.

Contents

The Salient held by Israel shown in Crimson Bashan salient.png
The Salient held by Israel shown in Crimson

History

Israeli occupation of the Salient: October 1973

By the time the second ceasefire was imposed to end the Yom Kippur War, the IDF had conquered a 400 km2 salient into Syria. Known as the Bashan Salient due to its location in the Bashan region, the Israeli salient included many Syrian villages and several key military outputs. Most notably, it included several positions on Mount Hermon, which were within artillery range of the Syrian capital of Damascus. [1]

Low-intensity conflict: November 1973 – March 1974

Consultation at Northern Command, October 10, 1973.
Head of Northern Command Yitzhak Hofi is pointing at the map, while IDF Chief of Staff David Elazar is leaning on the map with both hands Yom Kippur War (G-1-4063-dTS).jpg
Consultation at Northern Command, October 10, 1973.
Head of Northern Command Yitzhak Hofi is pointing at the map, while IDF Chief of Staff David Elazar is leaning on the map with both hands

The Syrians, having lost strategic outposts on Mount Hermon in the Yom Kippur War and with their capital threatened, refused to accept the presence of Israeli troops on their soil. Despite the existing ceasefire, Syrian forces led numerous ambushes and firefights against the Israeli salient. According to Syrian Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam, Syria's constant artillery attacks were "part of a deliberate war of attrition designed to paralyze the Israeli economy", and were intended to pressure Israel into yielding the occupied territory. [2] Aerial engagements also took place, and both sides lost several aircraft during the escalating conflict.

War of attrition: March – May 1974

In February 1974, negotiations between Israel and Syria began under the mediation of Henry Kissinger, the US Secretary of State. Alongside these negotiations, the fight went on, slowly growing in intensity, with over 1,000 incidents between March and May. The Israelis called these incidents, which included the shelling of Israeli civilian settlements in Golan territory, the "War of Attrition in the Syrian Salient" or the "Little War of Attrition", to distinguish from the War of Attrition against Egypt in 1969–70.

Due to harsh winter weather and logistical difficulties, the Israeli army removed the permanent garrison on Hermon Summit's outpost, relying on occasional patrols to secure the asset. The vacating of the outpost was noticed by the Syrians, who started paving a road toward the summit in late March 1974. For the two months of April and May 1974, in parallel to the armistice negotiations, the conflict in the salient escalated to days of almost full combat. On April 6, 1974, Israeli observation posts observed that Syrian commando forces had scaled the non-garrisoned Hermon summit. The IDF retaliated with artillery and airstrikes, and on that same night, a small Israeli force reached the summit and claimed it after a short firefight. After this incident, Israeli forces equipped for the harsh weather conditions were permanently stationed at the outpost. These forces took shelter in a natural cave near the summit.

On April 16, 1974, the Israeli Engineering Corps completed a paved road to the summit, even while suffering heavy Syrian artillery bombardment, with a D-9 tractor becoming the first mechanized vehicle to ever reach the peak. After the road was complete, Israeli tanks and APCs were placed at the outpost, and its defenses were fortified. These armored vehicles would prove crucial in repelling Syrian attacks on the Israeli outpost on April 18–19, and again on April 22. Several aerial dogfights also took place over the salient at this time, with both sides losing aircraft.

On April 27, 1974, the Syrians shelled one of the forts on the summit, killing eight Israeli soldiers and wounding seven. An Israeli Yas'ur helicopter sent to evacuate the wounded soldiers crashed on the mountain, killing the six crew members. The Syrians also shelled the surrounding forts, as well as the daily convoys bringing men and equipment. The Israeli Air Force retaliated with airstrikes on Syrian army camps on the slopes of the mountain. On May 1-2, 1974, Syrian commandos raided an Israeli tank park, killing two Israeli soldiers and taking several others prisoner. This raid proved to be the final Syrian military action in the salient.

Golan Heights Golan heights rel89-orig.jpg
Golan Heights
Yom Kippur War ribbon Yomkippurribon.svg
Yom Kippur War ribbon

The signing of the armistice

On May 31, 1974, a disengagement agreement was signed between Israel and Syria. In line with the agreement, Israel evacuated all its forces from Syrian territory, including the Hermon Summit outpost, in the following three weeks. Israeli forces returned to the pre-war Purple Line, which remained the de facto border between the countries, except for minor changes such as Israel's handing the abandoned city of Quneitra to the Syrians. A buffer zone was created on the Syrian side of the border held by UNDOF, a UN peace-keeping force, with Syria retaining the civil administration. This arrangement continues to the present day, with the Israeli-Syrian frontier among the quietest in the region.

Campaign medal

Israeli soldiers who served in the Bashan Salient for a period of at least 18 continuous days received the Yom Kippur War medal and ribbon.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yom Kippur War</span> 1973 war between Israel and a coalition of Arab states

The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was fought from 6 to 25 October 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. Most of the fighting occurred in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights, territories occupied by Israel in 1967. Some combat also took place in Egypt and northern Israel. Egypt aimed to secure a foothold on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal and use it to negotiate the return of the Sinai Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War of Attrition</span> 1967–1970 war between Israel and Egypt

The War of Attrition involved fighting between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and their allies from 1967 to 1970.

The history of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intertwines in its early stages with history of the Haganah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golani Brigade</span> Infantry brigade of the Israel Defense Forces

The 1st "Golani" Brigade is an Israeli military infantry brigade. It is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. It is one of the five infantry brigades of the regular Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the others being the Paratroopers Brigade, the Nahal Brigade, the Givati Brigade and the Kfir Brigade. Its symbol is a green olive tree against a yellow background, with its soldiers wearing a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the IDF. The brigade consists of five battalions, including two which it kept from its inception, one transferred from the Givati Brigade (51st).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quneitra</span> Place in Syria

Quneitra is the largely destroyed and abandoned capital of the Quneitra Governorate in south-western Syria. It is situated in a high valley in the Golan Heights at 1,010 metres (3,313 feet) above sea level. Since 1974, pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 350 and the Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria, the city is inside the UN-patrolled buffer zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000–2006 Shebaa Farms conflict</span> Low-level conflict between Hezbollah and Israel

The 2000–2006 Shebaa Farms conflict was a low-level border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah for control of Shebaa Farms, a disputed territory located on the Golan Heights–Lebanon border. Fighting between the two sides primarily consisted of Hezbollah rocket and mortar attacks on Israel and Israeli artillery barrages and airstrikes on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Clashes began a few months after the 2000 Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, which Hezbollah viewed as incomplete due to the presence of the Israel Defense Forces in Shebaa Farms. The conflict culminated in the 2006 Lebanon War; Israel retains control over the territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Battle of Mount Hermon</span> 1973 battle of the Yom Kippur War

The First Battle of Mount Hermon was fought at the outset of the Yom Kippur War between the Syrian Army and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). On Yom Kippur, October 6, 1973, Syrian commandos attacked and captured the IDF outpost on Mount Hermon. Two days later, the Syrians repelled an Israeli counterattack in the Second Battle of Mount Hermon. It was eventually recaptured by Israel on October 21 in the Third battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Battle of Mount Hermon</span> 1973 battle of the Yom Kippur War

The Third Battle of Mount Hermon was fought on the night of October 21–22, 1973, between the Israeli Army and the Syrian Army over Mount Hermon, during the last days of the Yom Kippur War. Syrian troops had captured the IDF outpost on the mountain on October 6, and held it for two weeks. In the third battle, codenamed Operation Dessert, Israeli troops captured the Israeli outpost and the Syrian one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">114 Squadron (Israel)</span> Israeli military unit

The 114 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Night Leaders Squadron, is a helicopter squadron of CH-53-2000 Sea Stallions based at Tel Nof Airbase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israel–Syria relations</span> Bilateral relations

Israel–Syria relations refer to the bilateral ties between the State of Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic. The two countries have been locked in a perpetual war since the establishment of Israel in 1948, with their most significant and direct armed engagements being in the First Arab–Israeli War in 1948–1949, the Third Arab–Israeli War in 1967, and the Fourth Arab–Israeli War in 1973. Additionally, Israeli and Syrian forces also saw relatively extensive combat against each other during the Lebanese Civil War, the 1982 Lebanon War, as well as the War of Attrition. Both states have at times signed and held armistice agreements, although all efforts to achieve complete peace have been without success. Syria has never recognized Israel as a legitimate state and does not accept Israeli passports as legally valid for entry into Syrian territory; Israel likewise regards Syria as a hostile state and generally prohibits its citizens from travelling there, with some exceptions and special accommodations being made by both countries for Druze people residing in Syria and the Golan Heights. Israel and Syria have never established formal diplomatic relations since the inception of both countries in the mid-20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Battle of Mount Hermon</span> 1973 battle of the Yom Kippur War

The Second Battle of Mount Hermon was fought on October 8, 1973, during the Yom Kippur War between the Syrian Army and the Israeli Army. After the IDF outpost on Mount Hermon was captured by Syria on October 6, Israel decided to launch a hasty counterattack. The Syrians repelled the attack, and held on to the Hermon until October 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amir Drori</span>

Amir Drori was an Israeli general, founder and the first director general of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Events in the year 1973 in Israel.

The 2012–2014 Quneitra Governorate clashes began in early November 2012, when the Syrian Army began engaging with rebels in several towns and villages of the Quneitra Governorate. The clashes quickly intensified and spilled into the UN-supervised neutral demilitarized zone between Syrian controlled territory and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria</span> Israeli–Syrian ceasefire after the Yom Kippur War

The Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria, which was signed on May 31, 1974, provided for the continuation of the cease-fire already in effect and for the separation of opposing parties by a UN Peacekeeping Force. The Agreement specifically states that “H. This agreement is not a peace agreement. It is a step toward a just and durable peace on the basis of Security Council Resolution 338 dated October 22, 1973.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">January 2015 Shebaa Farms incident</span> Hezbollah ambush of an Israeli military convoy

As a response to an Israeli attack against a military convoy comprising Hezbollah and Iranian officers on January 18, 2015, at Quneitra in southern Syria, the Lebanese Hezbollah group launched an ambush on January 28 against an Israeli military convoy in the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, firing anti-tank missiles against two Israeli Humvees patrolling the border, destroying the two Humvees and killing 2 and wounding 7 Israeli soldiers, according to Israeli military. The number of Israeli casualties was 15 according to a report by Al Mayadeen television station. A Spanish UN peacekeeper was also killed by Israeli fire during consequent fire exchanges in the area, with Israel firing artillery and Hezbollah responding by mortar shells. The conflict ended later the same day after UNIFIL mediation.

Israel intervened in the Syrian civil war since it began in March 2011. Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian and Hezbollah forces. After the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024 Israel invaded Syria.

The Bashan Salient was a territory in Southwestern Syria which was conquered by the Israeli Army during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The salient was about twenty kilometres wide and encompassed an area of approximately 400 km2, extending to a point 33 kilometres from the Syrian capital of Damascus. The Salient was evacuated by the Israeli army shortly after the signing of a disengagement agreement between the Israeli and Syrian forces on May 31, 1974. The Salient included the summit of Mount Hermon, the town of Beit Jinn, and many other Syrian villages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Israeli invasion of Syria</span> Ongoing Israeli invasion in Syria

On 8 December 2024, Israel invaded the buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and carried out an aerial campaign targeting the Syrian Army's military capabilities, following the fall of the Assad regime. The invasion marked the first Israeli occupation of Syria in over 50 years, since the ceasefire agreements, which were established in the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

References

  1. Benny Morris (May 25, 2011). Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881–1998. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 396. ISBN   978-0-307-78805-4. p.433, "Bashan ... 500 square kilometres... which brought it within 20 miles of Damascus"
  2. Jonathan B. A. Bailey. Field Artillery and Firepower. Naval Institute Press, 2004, p. 398. ISBN   1-59114-029-3.