The Third Assault
The third assault took place on the night of 10.5.48. Before the attack, “Harel” brigade headquarters decided on a change of plan.
Both regiments were exhausted. The commanders of the Fourth Battalion asked that the attack be postponed. Yitzhak Rabin, the brigade commander, refused.
A change of plan was decided on: one day before the Fifth Battalion would advance under cover along the north side of the road, and on the following night would cross the road, move west of the pumps, and capture outposts 21 and 16. The Fourth Battalion would be transported in vehicles to Saris, and from there would capture outpost 15.
Yiska’s company captured outposts 21 and 16 with little resistance. The Fourth Battalion was hampered by fog, but succeeded in advancing on outpost 15.
In the morning, when the Arabs discovered that outpost 21 had been taken, they began to attack it in force, assisted by forces which had come up from the village of Dir-Raban. The situation was serious. The brigade commander called for air support. One small plane appeared, but could do nothing because of the foul weather. The plane was seen to go down.
This was not encouraging for our fighters. Nevertheless, the men of the Fifth Battalion held off the enemy assault. It was impossible to bring up reinforcements; but by nightfall, the men of “Harel” brigade were still holding outposts 16, 21, and 15. The plan now called for the men of the Fourth Battalion, who had not spent all day under fire, to advance on the “Masrek” outpost on the hill overlooking the village, and after firing a few rounds from “Davidka”, which would make a lot of noise, to charge the positions on “Masrek”.
The “Davidka” was brought up to outpost 16 with the help of a “GADNA” (Youth Regiment) unit, from the “Noam” company of the Jerusalem Hagana. It fired a number of rounds, making a great deal of noise, and the order was given for the assault. The position was not easily captured, for the outpost had well-entrenched positions, in which there were apparently soldiers from foreign armies.
After “Masrek” was captured, “Davidka” was brought there from outpost 16, and fired upon the village. The few remaining villagers fled, and our men moved in. Defensive positions were set up and manned by “Harel” fighters.
In the village were found things which had been stolen from convoys attacked on their way to Jerusalem, including sacks of sugar, and clothes belonging to the convoy personnel.
A change of plan was decided on: one day before the Fifth Battalion would advance under cover along the north side of the road, and on the following night would cross the road, move west of the pumps, and capture outposts 21 and 16. The Fourth Battalion would be transported in vehicles to Saris, and from there would capture outpost 15.
Yiska’s company captured outposts 21 and 16 with little resistance. The Fourth Battalion was hampered by fog, but succeeded in advancing on outpost 15.
In the morning, when the Arabs discovered that outpost 21 had been taken, they began to attack it in force, assisted by forces which had come up from the village of Dir-Raban. The situation was serious. The brigade commander called for air support. One small plane appeared, but could do nothing because of the foul weather. The plane was seen to go down.
This was not encouraging for our fighters. Nevertheless, the men of the Fifth Battalion held off the enemy assault. It was impossible to bring up reinforcements; but by nightfall, the men of “Harel” brigade were still holding outposts 16, 21, and 15. The plan now called for the men of the Fourth Battalion, who had not spent all day under fire, to advance on the “Masrek” outpost on the hill overlooking the village, and after firing a few rounds from “Davidka”, which would make a lot of noise, to charge the positions on “Masrek”.
The “Davidka” was brought up to outpost 16 with the help of a “GADNA” (Youth Regiment) unit, from the “Noam” company of the Jerusalem Hagana. It fired a number of rounds, making a great deal of noise, and the order was given for the assault. The position was not easily captured, for the outpost had well-entrenched positions, in which there were apparently soldiers from foreign armies.
After “Masrek” was captured, “Davidka” was brought there from outpost 16, and fired upon the village. The few remaining villagers fled, and our men moved in. Defensive positions were set up and manned by “Harel” fighters.
In the village were found things which had been stolen from convoys attacked on their way to Jerusalem, including sacks of sugar, and clothes belonging to the convoy personnel.