Ambush at Mitla MTO (id:#61430)

(Genesis II ID: Genesis II #16)   [next]   [previous]

Prior Publication: Genesis 48

Mitla Pass, Sinai 1956-10-31 (6 others)

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Overview:

The Mitla Pass is a 480 meter-high, 32 km-long snaky pass in the Sinai of Egypt, wedged between mountain ranges to the north and south, located about 50 km east of Suez. During the Israeli invasion of Egypt in the Suez War of 1956 the pass was captured by the 202nd Brigade of the Israeli army, commanded by Ariel Sharon, without the approval of the Israeli leadership. Sharon faced elements of the Egyptian 2nd Brigade, which had prepared an ambush within the pass. Egyptians pinned down such famous Israelis as Mordechai Gur and Uri Dan under fire throughout the afternoon of October 31, 1956. Aharon Davidi and Rafael Eitan sent in two companies to clear Egyptians from both sides of the pass between 6:00pm and 9:00pm that evening. Israelis suffered 40 casualties and about 120 wounded, while Egyptians had 260 dead. Sharon was criticized for this.

Defender: Egyptian (Elements of the 5th and 6th Battalions, 2nd Infantry Brigade)  

Errata (source)