Operation "Horev"
The objective of the operation was to destroy and banish the Egyptian army from the land of Israel. Palmach Brigades- 'Negev' and' Harel', the 8th armored Brigade and the 'Golani' Brigade overcame the Egyptian army, forcing it to leave the land of Israel.
Yitzhak Sadeh - 2
The Negev Brigade - 6
The Negev Brigade - 7
Two Egyptian Brigades were deployed in 2 branches: the 3rd Brigade in the western branch- the Gaza- Rafiah axis, the 2nd Brigade in the eastern branch- in Uja-El-Hafir (Nizzana), 12 km south of Be'er-Sheba, as well as a light tank Company, 2 armored companies and 2 artillery companies.
Front Commander, Yigal Alon commanded the 'Golani; Brigade in the western sector; the 8th armored Brigade, 'Negev' and 'Harel' Brigades in Haluza, aided by 2 artillery Battalions, a mortar Battalion, an antitank battery and an engineering Battalion.
The objective of the operation was to destroy Egyptian army bases and banish the forces beyond the international border. The Air Force, the Navy and 'Golani' Brigade set up a diversion in the western branch, 24 hours later the 3 other Brigades initiated the main battle in the eastern branch and invaded Sinai along with the western branch.
Phase 1: The diversion
On the night of the 22nd of December, 1948, a tactical diversion was carried out in the western branch. The Air Force bombarded the El-Arish airfield, the Navy bombarded the coast of Gaza, 'Golani' Brigade occupied army post no. 86 at midnight, blocking the center of the Gaza- Rafiah axis. On the following day the enemy attacked army post no.86 and moved it's armored and tank companies to the western branch. , 'Golani' Brigade was forced to retreat from army post no.86. Because they were unable to transfer reinforcements through the rain flooded Negev Wadis, phase 2 was delayed for 48 hours due to the floods.
Phase 2: creating a wedge and purging the area of enemy forces
The 8th and the 'Negev' Brigades fought correspondingly in the section between the Tamila and Nizzana. On the 24th of December, 1948 the 8th Brigade, reinforced by the 'Harel' Brigade began moving towards Nizzana, flanking from the east on the difficult Ruheiba- Wadi- Aviad axis. On the noon of the 26th of December, the attack against Nizzana failed, but it was occupied the following day.
On the night of the 25th of December, a 'Negev' Brigade mobile patrol force captured the המשרפה and blocked the road leading from Be'er-Sheba to Nizzana; the 9th Battalion occupied Bir- Tamila and no. 14 army posts before occupying the Tamila itself. The Egyptians counterattacked the no. 14 army post, the 9th Battalion still hadn’t managed to occupy the Tamila and the reinforcements sent to the army post were forced to retreat passing the 9th Battalion on its way to the Tamila. The occupation of the Tamila on the morning of the 26th of December completed the creation of 2 wedges. Enemy forces entrapped between Nizzana and Be'er-Sheba scattered and fled to the Egyptian border. On the 27th of December, during a fight with the Egyptian armored Company the area was purged of enemy forces who ran leaving their weapons behind. The road leading from Nizzana to Be'er-Sheba was reopened. 'Harel' Brigade replaced the 8th Brigade in the occupancy of Nizzana and the 8th Brigade was stationed as a southern front reserve force in Bir-Asluj.
Phase 3: invading Sinai- raiding and occupying
On the after noon of the 28th of December the ' Negev' Brigade and the 8th Brigade 82nd Battalion invaded Sinai. The Brigade occupied Um-Qatef during the night, captured Abu-Agila the following day, raided the airfields in Bir-Hana and Bir-Lachfen and threatened El-Arish. 'Harel' Brigade 10th Battalion raided Qasima and Bir-Hasna, but the forces were ordered to retreat due to American pressure, which led to Phase 4.
Phase 4: an attempt to occupy Rafiah from the south
The 8th Brigade was held in Gevulot as a reserve force while the 'Negev' Brigade was preparing to occupy Gaza. The 'Harel' Brigade and the 'Negev' Brigade 9th Battalion moved forward on the Nizzana- Rafiah axis in order to attack Rafiah from the south; 'Golani' Brigade attacked Rafiah from the north and the 8th Brigade did not participate in the battle because it was ordered to return to Gevulot.
In response to Israeli aircraft downing 5 British aircraft trying to signal the I.D.F to stop fighting, the Americans excreted pressure to halt the operation and initiate cease fir negotiations. This was one of the largest operations of the War of Independence, during which the Egyptian army was driven out of the Negev and the I.D.F invaded the Sinai Peninsula. The successful operation resulted in the cease fire negotiations in Rhodes.
Operation 'Horev' is also known as operation 'Ayen' (from the Hebrew alphabet), the first letter in some of the names of the targets - Uja, Asluj, El-Arish and Abu-Agila.
Front Commander, Yigal Alon commanded the 'Golani; Brigade in the western sector; the 8th armored Brigade, 'Negev' and 'Harel' Brigades in Haluza, aided by 2 artillery Battalions, a mortar Battalion, an antitank battery and an engineering Battalion.
The objective of the operation was to destroy Egyptian army bases and banish the forces beyond the international border. The Air Force, the Navy and 'Golani' Brigade set up a diversion in the western branch, 24 hours later the 3 other Brigades initiated the main battle in the eastern branch and invaded Sinai along with the western branch.
Phase 1: The diversion
On the night of the 22nd of December, 1948, a tactical diversion was carried out in the western branch. The Air Force bombarded the El-Arish airfield, the Navy bombarded the coast of Gaza, 'Golani' Brigade occupied army post no. 86 at midnight, blocking the center of the Gaza- Rafiah axis. On the following day the enemy attacked army post no.86 and moved it's armored and tank companies to the western branch. , 'Golani' Brigade was forced to retreat from army post no.86. Because they were unable to transfer reinforcements through the rain flooded Negev Wadis, phase 2 was delayed for 48 hours due to the floods.
Phase 2: creating a wedge and purging the area of enemy forces
The 8th and the 'Negev' Brigades fought correspondingly in the section between the Tamila and Nizzana. On the 24th of December, 1948 the 8th Brigade, reinforced by the 'Harel' Brigade began moving towards Nizzana, flanking from the east on the difficult Ruheiba- Wadi- Aviad axis. On the noon of the 26th of December, the attack against Nizzana failed, but it was occupied the following day.
On the night of the 25th of December, a 'Negev' Brigade mobile patrol force captured the המשרפה and blocked the road leading from Be'er-Sheba to Nizzana; the 9th Battalion occupied Bir- Tamila and no. 14 army posts before occupying the Tamila itself. The Egyptians counterattacked the no. 14 army post, the 9th Battalion still hadn’t managed to occupy the Tamila and the reinforcements sent to the army post were forced to retreat passing the 9th Battalion on its way to the Tamila. The occupation of the Tamila on the morning of the 26th of December completed the creation of 2 wedges. Enemy forces entrapped between Nizzana and Be'er-Sheba scattered and fled to the Egyptian border. On the 27th of December, during a fight with the Egyptian armored Company the area was purged of enemy forces who ran leaving their weapons behind. The road leading from Nizzana to Be'er-Sheba was reopened. 'Harel' Brigade replaced the 8th Brigade in the occupancy of Nizzana and the 8th Brigade was stationed as a southern front reserve force in Bir-Asluj.
Phase 3: invading Sinai- raiding and occupying
On the after noon of the 28th of December the ' Negev' Brigade and the 8th Brigade 82nd Battalion invaded Sinai. The Brigade occupied Um-Qatef during the night, captured Abu-Agila the following day, raided the airfields in Bir-Hana and Bir-Lachfen and threatened El-Arish. 'Harel' Brigade 10th Battalion raided Qasima and Bir-Hasna, but the forces were ordered to retreat due to American pressure, which led to Phase 4.
Phase 4: an attempt to occupy Rafiah from the south
The 8th Brigade was held in Gevulot as a reserve force while the 'Negev' Brigade was preparing to occupy Gaza. The 'Harel' Brigade and the 'Negev' Brigade 9th Battalion moved forward on the Nizzana- Rafiah axis in order to attack Rafiah from the south; 'Golani' Brigade attacked Rafiah from the north and the 8th Brigade did not participate in the battle because it was ordered to return to Gevulot.
In response to Israeli aircraft downing 5 British aircraft trying to signal the I.D.F to stop fighting, the Americans excreted pressure to halt the operation and initiate cease fir negotiations. This was one of the largest operations of the War of Independence, during which the Egyptian army was driven out of the Negev and the I.D.F invaded the Sinai Peninsula. The successful operation resulted in the cease fire negotiations in Rhodes.
Operation 'Horev' is also known as operation 'Ayen' (from the Hebrew alphabet), the first letter in some of the names of the targets - Uja, Asluj, El-Arish and Abu-Agila.