« HOME

From JPost Archives on Yom Kippur War | MORE ARTICLES

Israel task force crosses Canal. Syria loses 105 tanks, 10 planes

By Jerusalem Post Military Reporters
October 17, 1973

TELAVIV — Israeli forces on the Syrian front yesterday morning destroyed 105 tanks and downed 10 aircraft as they repulsed three counter-attacks by enemy armor and commandos.

The enemy attacking forces included a number of Iraqi tanks, the remnants of the Iraqi division which was virtually wiped out on Monday.

The enemy left behind 40 knocked out tanks on the battlefield near Beit Jann, at the northern corner of the Israel-held bulge in Syrian territory, and some 65 tanks in the central sector of the enclave, near Tel Shams.

The Syrians also attacked Israeli forces from the air, and 10 enemy planes were shot down, mostly by small arms fire from the Israeli ground units.

The IAF provided close support for the ground forces and also bombed military and strategic targets deep inside Syria, including two bridges near Tartous, missile bases and radar installations.

Israeli forces in Syria are now concentrating on consolidating their positions in the area they now hold, an area which has a topographic advantage, making it relatively easy to defend.

The airlift of Soviet arms, and ammunition into Syria continues with some 12 to 15 Antonov transports landing there daily.

Some 800 Syrian and Iraqi tanks have been destroyed since the fighting began, according to a preliminary count. This is about 50 percent of the total armored strength used so far in combat by the enemy on the northern front.

An IDF spokesman said the northern front was quiet in the afternoon hours.

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 ] ------------------------------------------------------