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Many Syrians said fleeing on foot

By Jerusalem Post Military Reporters
October 9, 1973

TEL AVIV — Routed Syrian armored units were last night pulling out of the Golan Heights hotly pursued by Israeli armored and mechanised infantry columns. Israeli units were reported to be harassing the retreating Syrian columns still more.

Reports from the Golan yesterday said the Syrian invasion units were completely shattered and that many soldiers had abandoned their vehicles and were fleeing on foot.

The Syrians broke after being subjected to over 48 hours of attack the IAF. This was followed by a head-on offensive of crack reserve units, supported by heavy artillery barrage. The reservists came to the relief of a relatively small regular force which had held the entire length of the Golan Heights since the beginning of the Syrian attack early Saturday afternoon.

In the other sectors, the Syrians left behind heavy casualties, and huge amounts of damaged vehicles and equipment.

The IAF, which suffered losses in order to establish supremacy, yesterday had almost complete freedom of the skies. In the morning, Israeli planes bombed five major Syrian airfields, causing heavy losses and damage. The airfields raided were: Dmeir, Saykal, Baleh, Hulhula and Nassariyehuk.

At one stage on Sunday, the Syrian thrust in the central sector had penetrated the Nafekh, almost as far as the ridge overlooking Lake Kinneret, threatening to cut the Heights in half. They were halted mainly by a supreme IAF effort.

The Syrian gains in the first two days of the war were achieved by sheer force of numbers. The 800 tanks they had at their disposal overran most of the thinly-spread Israeli defenders. Well over half of the Syrian tanks had been destroyed by last night.

JPost Features AMOTZ ASA-EL: The big one The Yom Kippur War: The epic confrontation that transformed the Middle East ABRAHAM RABINOVICH: The height of hutzpa MOTTI ASHKENAZI: Just a scared soldier MEIR RONNEN: 'Sic transit gloria' YEHEZKEL DROR: Re-engineering history MARTIN VAN CREVELD: The last conventional war YOSSI KLEIN HALEVI: War and atonement HAIM SABATO: Days of Awe PINCHAS LANDAU: The rise and fall of oil From JPost Archives 7.10.1973 - Egyptian-Syrian attacks held 10.10.1973 - Israel regroups along the Canal. Syrians halted 9.10.1973 - Israel takes offensive, bitter battles raging. Syrian armored units bid to counter-attack 9.10.1973 - Many Syrians said fleeing on foot 9.10.1973 - 13-tank Yuval tells his story 9.10.1973 - Wounded tell of battle in Sinai 9.10.1973 - Yariv: No rapid conquest; Bar-Lev line is evacuated 14.10.1973 - Thrust into Syria widens over 21-kilometer front 14.10.1973 - Last Israeli strongpoint surrenders 15.10.1973 - 656 Israelis killed in eight days of war 15.10.1973 - Egyptian forces lose 200 tanks; drive on Damascus continues. Israelis beat back Egyptians 15.10.1973 - Arabs won't accept cease-fire: Decisive battle ahead - Dayan 17.10.1973 - Israel task force crosses Canal. Syria loses 105 tanks, 10 planes 17.10.1973 - Anti-aircraft missile batteries destroyed 19.10.1973 - Heavy Egyptian tank and plane losses as counter-attack fails 21.10.1973 - Israel forces widen Canal Bridge-Head 22.10.1973 - Israel expands bridgehead, downs 32 enemy aircraft 23.10.1973 - Shooting continues at Canal despite Israel-Egypt cease-fire 26.10.1973 - Emerged from great danger, Golda says 28.10.1973 - Israel, Egypt agree to meet on supplies for 3rd army, truce Non-military convoy to be sent 4.11.1973 - Government to probe questions about war, Bar-Lev believes 13.11.1973 - Sharon tells how he crossed the Canal 25.09.1998 - Shattered Heights: Part 1 25.09.1998 - A sober look at how the war was won 25.09.1998 - A victory remembered as a defeat 27.09.1998 - History may repeat itself 29.09.1998 - EDITORIAL: The watershed war 29.09.1998 - Two wars in one, vividly relived 2.10.1998 - Shattered Heights: Part 2 7.10.1998 - Egypt marks anniversary of Yom Kippur War 9.10.1998 - A Diary from Hell 11.10.1989 - Memorial service marks 16 years since Yom Kippur War 14.09.1994 - Another fiasco like 1973? 17.09.1999 - War and Lack of Inner Peace 11.10. 2000 - Barak preaches unity sermon to families of fallen 28.09. 2001 Debunking a myth: Dayan never feared Israel's 1.10. 2001 - Security checks delay start of Yom Kippur War memorial ------------------------------------------------------ [ Click Here to Start the Photo Tour ] ------------------------------------------------------