Israeli forces captured the peak of Mt. Hermon today after an early morning battle with Syrian troops in frigid temperatures nearly 10.000 feet above sea level. According to an Israeli military spokesman the Syrians retreated leaving 12 dead behind.
Thirteen Israeli soldiers were wounded in the heavy fighting during which Israel Air Force Jets pounded Syrian positions on the mountain top and Syrian artillery batteries supporting their soldiers. Four more Israeli soldiers were wounded in heavy exchanges of artillery and rocket fire between Israeli and Syrian forces on Mt. Hermon and the southern Golan Heights later in the day.
Today’s battle for Mt. Hermon was the latest in a see-saw fight that has been going on intermittently since the Syrians attempted to seize the abandoned peak before the Passover holiday. They were driven off a week ago but yesterday Syrian commando units reached the peak again as Syrian army engineers attempted to drive a road over the mountainous terrain and up its slopes.
Israel Air Force Jets were called into action yesterday and rained bombs and rocket fire on the Syrians. But the latter took shelter in a large cave near the top. Early this morning Israeli forces reached to peak to find the Syrians still entrenched and an infantry battle ensued, beginning at 7 a.m. local time.
The fighting yesterday and today was the first since the Yom Kippur War in which the Israeli Air Force attacked Syrian positions across the cease-fire lines. The Syrians fired Russian-made SAM anti-aircraft missiles at the Israeli Jets. An Israeli spokesman said all planes returned safely to their bases. Syria claimed three Israeli aircraft were downed.
Mt. Hermon rises some 9200 feet above sea level. Its peak is snow covered throughout the year and the thin atmosphere makes prolonged stays there difficult. But the mountain top is considered of great strategic value by both Israel and Syria.
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