Clearing the Way (1967.Battle of Abu-Agheila-5) - The Arab-Israeli Wars

Ozgur Budak
06 JUNE 1967, CENTRAL ROUTE, NORTHERN APPROACHES OF THE UM-KATEF
RIDGE:\\The coordinated moves of Natke Nir's armor and Dani Matt's
paratroopers disrupted the Egyptian artillery and isolated the
main defensive line at Um-Katef by the midnight of 5 June. Still,
the task of capturing the ridge and opening the way for the tanks
of the 14th Armored Brigade was to be done. The important task
of capturing the Egyptian trenches fell to the infantry brigade
under Colonel Yekutiel Adam.\\According to the plan, the "Kuti"
Brigade was to attack the ridge from North under the cover of
darkness. The Northern approaches to the ridge was vulnerable
since Egyptians, believing that the sand dunes to the North preventing
any enemy movement, did not mine this sector. A grave mistake
Egyptian commanders admitted after the war.\\At 23:30, Adam's
infantry moved to the central route passing near the Um-Katef
Ridge. Sasson's tanks which were ordered to provide fire support,
deployed behind the infantry. Just after midnight Israeli assault
started by an artillery barrage.