Mideastweb: Middle East

Mid East Maps
1973 October War (Yom Kippur War) - Syrian Front

Middle East news peacewatch top stories books documents culture dialog history Maps donations

1973 October War (Yom Kippur War) - Syrian Front

In October 1973, Egypt and Syria launched another war against Israel, after the Israeli government headed by Golda Meir rebuffed Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's offers to negotiate a settlement. Less than 200 Israeli tanks were left guarding the Golan heights against far superior numbers. Syrians made serious and at first unopposed inroads in the Golan before being repulsed by Israeli armor and the Israeli air force. Like the Egyptians, the Syrians enjoyed the advantage of surprise, and the fact that Israel did not initially have solutions for the hand-held Sager anti-tank missiles and the radar-guided SAM anti-aircraft missiles.

The map shows the Syrian attacks and Israeli counter attacks.

Map adapted from Benny Morris, Righteous Victims, 2000.

 Click here for more history.   Click for map of Egyptian front 

Middle East Gateway