'73_3: The Key to the Southern Golan - MC 01 Middle East '67

El Al Ridge, Southern Golan, October 8th 1973: The most successful Syrian attack was that of Brig Gen Ali Aslan's powerful 5th Infantry Division. It had penetrated 20 miles westwards along the important Rafid-El Al road, the southern route across the Golan. Although there were a few Israeli units still holding at Tel Saki, Aslan decided to create a defence in depth at the constriction of the ridge line. He recognized this as the key to the southern Golan, holding this line would force any Israeli counter attack to be funnelled through a single approach. This worked, the Israelis were constrained by the cramped space, and could only advance on a narrow front. The Super Shermans were chosen to lead, backed by fire from the 9th Armoured Brigade. The Syrians were quite surprised to see the Shermans leading, in fact, they took this as a sign of weakness. They did not see any major threat to their conquest.... this was to change over the next few hours.