15 lugl 1948 anni - Battle of Be'erot Yitzhak

Descrizione:

The Battle of Be'erot Yitzhak was a significant confrontation during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, occurring on July 15, 1948, during the ten-day interval between the first and second truces. Egyptian forces attacked the Negev village Be'erot Yitzhak but were repelled by Israeli defenders with reinforcements.

Background: Founded in 1943, Be'erot Yitzhak was a kibbutz established by Czechoslovakian and German immigrants. Initially serving as a staging point for the 11 points in the Negev plan, it became a strategic point during the war. After the British mandate ended, Egypt and other Arab states invaded Israel, leading to repeated assaults on Negev settlements including Be'erot Yitzhak.

The Battle: Starting with an early morning aerial raid followed by artillery bombardment, the Egyptian 3rd Infantry Battalion, supported by 70 tanks and armored vehicles, launched an assault. Despite breaching the village perimeter and capturing some outlying structures, Egyptian forces were met with stiff resistance. The defenders consolidated at an inner defensive position, managing to fend off the advance until reinforcements arrived.

Reinforcements and Outcome: Israeli reinforcements from the Negev Brigade's 9th Battalion, equipped with field cannons and armored vehicles, engaged the Egyptian forces, contributing to a decisive counterattack that led to the Egyptians retreating. The battle resulted in significant Egyptian casualties and marked one of their last offensive actions in the war.

Aftermath: The battle left Be'erot Yitzhak heavily damaged, leading to its eventual abandonment. The residents later re-established the kibbutz near Petah Tikva in 1952. Meanwhile, the area of the original Be'erot Yitzhak saw the establishment of Nahal Oz, the first Nahal settlement, in 1951. This battle underscored the intensity of the fighting in the Negev and the strategic importance of the region in the broader context of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

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