Recapture of the position by the Arab Legion
The Arab-Jordanian Legion attacked the radar station several times. Eventually, the unit of the Field Corps, even though supported by a platoon from the Fourth Battalion, was forced to evacuate the compound, under heavy fire from a company of Jordanian infantry backed up by armor.
The Arab-Jordanian Legion made a number of counter-attacks to try and recapture the radar station. On the night of 25.5, and the following day, they shelled the compound. On 27.5, the bombardment was resumed, and under its cover an armored column and a company of Jordanian infantry advanced on the position. Because of the heavy shelling, the defenders did not see the approaching infantry, who advanced unnoticed to the fence of the compound. They began firing, and injured several of the defenders’ officers. During the hasty and disorganized withdrawal which followed, the men of the Field Force suffered heavy losses.
The Legion force, flushed with success, continued advancing toward Ma’aleh Hahamisha. When the Fourth Battalion learned of the attack on the radar station, a company was sent to help, under Yitzhak (“Haki”) Amami. One platoon occupied an outpost overlooking the radar station, and opened fire on the Legion soldiers who had penetrated the station. Another platoon, approaching from the north, met the retreating men of the Field Force and helped them get to the Pfefferman house. The platoon then advanced on the radar station, to provide covering fire for the assault.
At this point another Legion armored unit arrived, with vehicles equipped with cannon. The platoon took heavy losses from their fire. A third platoon, commanded by Yosef Ben-Maimon, was sent in and managed to halt the advance of the Legion’s armored column, attacking them at close range with “Molotov cocktails” and bags filled with explosives. This platoon also gave assistance in evacuating the wounded. The entire company began to withdraw in the direction of the Pfefferman house, each unit covering the others. In this encounter our forces lost 19 killed and 12 wounded. That night (the night of 27.5), the Legion attacked again. The Palmach force, faced with armored troops, was obliged to withdraw. A further 11 men were killed and five wounded.
On 31.5.48, Leon Alkalai and Moshe Heresh were killed while laying mines.
The Legion force, flushed with success, continued advancing toward Ma’aleh Hahamisha. When the Fourth Battalion learned of the attack on the radar station, a company was sent to help, under Yitzhak (“Haki”) Amami. One platoon occupied an outpost overlooking the radar station, and opened fire on the Legion soldiers who had penetrated the station. Another platoon, approaching from the north, met the retreating men of the Field Force and helped them get to the Pfefferman house. The platoon then advanced on the radar station, to provide covering fire for the assault.
At this point another Legion armored unit arrived, with vehicles equipped with cannon. The platoon took heavy losses from their fire. A third platoon, commanded by Yosef Ben-Maimon, was sent in and managed to halt the advance of the Legion’s armored column, attacking them at close range with “Molotov cocktails” and bags filled with explosives. This platoon also gave assistance in evacuating the wounded. The entire company began to withdraw in the direction of the Pfefferman house, each unit covering the others. In this encounter our forces lost 19 killed and 12 wounded. That night (the night of 27.5), the Legion attacked again. The Palmach force, faced with armored troops, was obliged to withdraw. A further 11 men were killed and five wounded.
On 31.5.48, Leon Alkalai and Moshe Heresh were killed while laying mines.