The Negev Brigade- Eliminating resistance and reopening the road leading from Be'er-Sheba to Nizzana
Egyptian forces trapped in Bir-Asluj and Camp-A-Sharf, managed to evacuate the area via the "Oil Axis" during the night, were intercepted near the Sinai border and forced to abandon its vehicles and escape across the border on foot. The forces that were trapped between the Tamila and 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) were also forced to cross the border on foot and many surrendered.
On the morning of the 26th of December, towards the end of the battle, tactical H.Q. Brigade Commander arrived at post no.17 in order to discuss the elimination of the three resistance pockets between Tamila and Be'er-Sheba, Tamila and the 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) and between 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) and Uja-El-Hafir. The 9th Battalion was to arrive at the 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) the following day (27.12) and attack army post no.10. The 7th Battalion was to occupy the Tamila during the night and leave a Company to block the road against the forces trapped in Bir-ASluj and Camp-A-Sharf, while the rest of the Battalion occupied army post no.11.
A 9th Battalion force, the occupiers of army post no.13, reported during the afternoon that Egyptian armored vehicles carrying a 37 mm. cannon were advancing from army post no.10 to the Tamila. The 9th Battalion Commander responded by placing an antitank cannon that was confiscated after the Tamila battle, facing the road. Captain Aryeh Wisberg led the 9th Battalion armored Company south, beyond army post no.13, where they lay in wait for the enemy. As the enemy's armored vehicles approached, the Company opened fire using 6 pound antitank cannon, forcing the enemy to retreat. The 7th Battalion replaced the 9th Battalion in the Tamila towards sundown, which continued to flank the 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) from the east. The Battalion traveled during the night and was led by a jeep Company. They parked by 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) before the break of dawn and the Jeep Company was sent to secure the area. On the morning of the 27th of December, the platoon Commander reported to the Battalion Commander about a convoy 4 km. from their position. Platoon Commander, Haim Bar Lev ordered the Company Commander to detain the convoy while the Battalion deployed in several avenues.
The Egyptian convoy was made up of 20 trucks, 8 armored vehicles and 4 cannons. After a mobile battle, the Egyptians withdrew from Shivta towards the Egyptian border, with the 9th Battalion close on their tail. The medical assistant in the Battalion Commander's half-track was wounded during the gunfire. After reaching a dead end crater, the Egyptians abandoned their vehicles crossing the Egyptian border on foot, leaving behind 20 trucks full of oil, munitions, weapons and cigarettes. The convoy evacuated the Bir-Asluj and Camp-A-Sharf pockets via the "Oil Axis". While the 9th Battalion chased after the convoy vacating the pocket north of the Tamila, the 7th Battalion occupied the army posts between the Tamila and 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator), only to find them deserted. The 7th Battalion joined 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) once the posts were purified, and plenty of loot and prisoners were taken. The posts between Uja and the 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) were abandoned as well and on the 28th of December at noon, the Negev Brigade reached Nizzana.
A 9th Battalion force, the occupiers of army post no.13, reported during the afternoon that Egyptian armored vehicles carrying a 37 mm. cannon were advancing from army post no.10 to the Tamila. The 9th Battalion Commander responded by placing an antitank cannon that was confiscated after the Tamila battle, facing the road. Captain Aryeh Wisberg led the 9th Battalion armored Company south, beyond army post no.13, where they lay in wait for the enemy. As the enemy's armored vehicles approached, the Company opened fire using 6 pound antitank cannon, forcing the enemy to retreat. The 7th Battalion replaced the 9th Battalion in the Tamila towards sundown, which continued to flank the 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) from the east. The Battalion traveled during the night and was led by a jeep Company. They parked by 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) before the break of dawn and the Jeep Company was sent to secure the area. On the morning of the 27th of December, the platoon Commander reported to the Battalion Commander about a convoy 4 km. from their position. Platoon Commander, Haim Bar Lev ordered the Company Commander to detain the convoy while the Battalion deployed in several avenues.
The Egyptian convoy was made up of 20 trucks, 8 armored vehicles and 4 cannons. After a mobile battle, the Egyptians withdrew from Shivta towards the Egyptian border, with the 9th Battalion close on their tail. The medical assistant in the Battalion Commander's half-track was wounded during the gunfire. After reaching a dead end crater, the Egyptians abandoned their vehicles crossing the Egyptian border on foot, leaving behind 20 trucks full of oil, munitions, weapons and cigarettes. The convoy evacuated the Bir-Asluj and Camp-A-Sharf pockets via the "Oil Axis". While the 9th Battalion chased after the convoy vacating the pocket north of the Tamila, the 7th Battalion occupied the army posts between the Tamila and 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator), only to find them deserted. The 7th Battalion joined 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) once the posts were purified, and plenty of loot and prisoners were taken. The posts between Uja and the 'Hamisrafa' (the incinerator) were abandoned as well and on the 28th of December at noon, the Negev Brigade reached Nizzana.