30 окт 1956 г. - Abu Uwayulah operations

Описание:

The Battle of Abu Uwayulah and the "Hedgehog"
Strategic Importance
The village of Abu Uwayulah, located 25 km inside Egyptian territory, was a crucial road center for the entire Sinai, making it a key target for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The village was fortified by several ridges, forming a natural defensive zone known as the "Hedgehog," held by 3,000 Egyptian soldiers of the 17th and 18th battalions of the 3rd Infantry Division under Colonel Sami Yassa. These forces occupied well-fortified trenches, making the "Hedgehog" a formidable position that could only be assaulted from specific flanks.

Initial Assault and Probing Attacks
On October 30, Major Izhak Ben-Ari led a probing attack with Israeli armor against the Umm Qataf ridge, which ended in failure. During the assault, Colonel Yassa was wounded and replaced by Colonel Saadedden Mutawally. Meanwhile, another unit of the Israeli 7th Armored Brigade discovered and captured the al-Dayyiqa gap in the Jebel Halal ridge of the "Hedgehog."

Key Offensive and Capture of Abu Uwayulah
On October 31, at dawn, Colonel Avraham Adan led an IDF force through the al-Dayyiqa gap and launched an attack on Abu Uwayulah, capturing it after an hour of fighting. Simultaneously, another IDF battalion assaulted the Ruafa ridge. Concurrently, the IDF 10th Infantry Brigade attempted an attack on the eastern edge of the "Hedgehog," which ended in failure.

Aerial Assaults and Ground Offensive
By noon on October 31, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted multiple airstrikes on Egyptian positions, inadvertently hitting IDF forces at times. Despite these challenges, Adan directed a three-pronged assault on the Ruafa ridge, involving a northeastern armored strike, a mixed infantry/armored attack on the northern edge, and a feint from a neighboring knoll. The evening attack resulted in chaotic hand-to-hand combat, with all IDF tanks destroyed but Ruafa ultimately falling to the IDF.

Further Assaults and Command Changes
A subsequent attack by the 10th Infantry Brigade on Umm Qataf that night failed due to disorientation in the darkness. Frustrated with the lack of progress, Dayan replaced Colonel Shmuel Golinda with Colonel Israel Tal.

Final Assault and Egyptian Retreat
On November 1, Israeli and French aircraft launched napalm attacks on Egyptian troops at Umm Qataf. Joined by the 37th Armored Brigade, the 10th Brigade's renewed assault failed again. However, the intensity of the IDF attacks, combined with depleting supplies of water and ammunition, led Colonel Mutawally to order a general retreat from the "Hedgehog" by the evening of November 1.

Добавлено на ленту времени:

Дата: