The movements of the force on its return to the base
The force returned to the base under very grueling conditions. This has been defined as one of the most difficult operations of the war.
The force returned to the base under very grueling conditions. This has been defined as one of the most difficult operations of the war. At 2:00 am, when the force began its return, it was accompanied by heavy but ineffective fire from the village. After walking two kilometers on the road, the force went down into the valley. The wounded were attended to anew and the arduous journey was resumed while great care was taken not to injure them further on the rocky terrain. The march proceeded in heavy rain and the soldiers literally sank in the mud, while being constantly beleaguered by the firing from the surrounding villages. Meir Dresdener describes the thoughts that troubled him while they were in the area between Sasa and Zefat: " We had set out to prove that the ל"ה 'Lamed Hei' tragedy would not be repeated (35 Palmach soldiers who had been murdered on their way to Gush Etzion), and here we were being caught up in a similar situation: trapped with wounded soldiers near the villages at daylight…….."
At 6:00 am, after resting in the Meron forest, the company began to walk on the Safsaf-Meron road in order to walk faster an reach their destination before dawn. One of the units protected the road from passing traffic. Disappointingly, a third company with whom they were to meet in the forest west of Meron, had returned to Ein Zeitim after waiting until dawn broke. A reinforcement unit set out to join the force only after communication with the base was renewed. They transported the wounded back to the base thus enabling the exhausted force to speed up its advance.
At about 8:00 am, after more than fifteen grueling hours of which seven were devoted to the return journey, the force returned to its base.
The results of the operation were: 10 buildings were totally destroyed, another 6 buildings were badly damaged, 4 buildings were lightly damaged, 60 Arabs were killed and the operation instilled a great deal of fear in the Arab populations of the villages in the area.
Two of the wounded soldiers were taken off the danger list due to the excellent treatment they were given by the combat medic, Dan Meckler.
At 6:00 am, after resting in the Meron forest, the company began to walk on the Safsaf-Meron road in order to walk faster an reach their destination before dawn. One of the units protected the road from passing traffic. Disappointingly, a third company with whom they were to meet in the forest west of Meron, had returned to Ein Zeitim after waiting until dawn broke. A reinforcement unit set out to join the force only after communication with the base was renewed. They transported the wounded back to the base thus enabling the exhausted force to speed up its advance.
At about 8:00 am, after more than fifteen grueling hours of which seven were devoted to the return journey, the force returned to its base.
The results of the operation were: 10 buildings were totally destroyed, another 6 buildings were badly damaged, 4 buildings were lightly damaged, 60 Arabs were killed and the operation instilled a great deal of fear in the Arab populations of the villages in the area.
Two of the wounded soldiers were taken off the danger list due to the excellent treatment they were given by the combat medic, Dan Meckler.