Operation Volcano (Israeli raid)
Encyclopedia
Operation Volcano also known as Operation Sabcha, was a large-scale Israel Defense Force (IDF) military operation carried out on the night of November 2-3, 1955 against Egyptian military positions in and around the Nitzana
/Auja vicinity. The operation was successful and resulted in the permanent expulsion of Egyptian forces from the Demilitarized Zone. Eighty-one Egyptian soldiers were killed and fifty-five others were taken prisoner. There were five Israeli fatalities.
El-Auja, also known in Hebrew as Nitzana
, is a strategic location that sits along the border between Israel and Egypt. It contains a network of four major road arteries, one of which leads directly into Israel toward the vicinity of Be’er Sheva, and three of which lead into Sinai, Egypt. During the 1948 Israeli War of independence
, Egypt invaded Israel through this region. On December 22, 1948 Israeli forces launched a counter-offensive, code-named Operation Horev
, against the Egyptians and succeeded in ejecting them from Nitzana. On November 24, 1949 Israel and Egypt signed an armistice whereby the Nitzana region, situated in Israel, was declared a demilitarized zone. The armistice agreement also stipulated that on the Egyptian side of the border "no Egyptian defensive positions shall be closer to El Auja than El Qouseima and Abou Aoueigila
."
Different interpretations soon arose between Egypt and Israel concerning sovereignty rights in the demilitarized zone which invariably led to a number of border incidents, some of which resulted in fatalities. Egypt believed that the Nitzana demilitarized zone belonged to neither Israel nor Egypt. Israel contended that the zone’s demilitarized status did not affect Israel’s sovereignty over it and that Nitzana was an integral part of Israel.
In 1953 Israel established the Nahal
settlement of Givat Rachel in the zone. Though technically a violation of the armistice, it proved an effective counter-measure to Bedouin smuggling and Egyptian sponsored fedayeen
infiltrations and sabotage operations. A smaller Israeli post just south of Givat Rachel was established in Be’erotaim. These were the only two Israeli positions in the Nitzana/Auja region. In early 1955, Israel, in coordination with Egyptian officials, began marking the border with Egypt in the Nitzana/Auja vicinity. The task was completed on August 5, 1955 and Israel regarded these borders as permanent. However, following the marking of the border, it became clear that two Egyptian positions were within Israeli territory, a claim corroborated by United Nations officials. Egypt nevertheless refused to recognize the newly placed markers and destroyed them in early September 1955. On September 21, Israel sent a force into the zone and evicted Egyptian military personnel stationed adjacent to the UN headquarters, injuring two. The IDF
vacated the zone after securing an agreement from the Egyptians not to interfere with the border marking endeavor. However, Egypt now demanded the expulsion of all Israeli presence, civilian as well as military, from the demilitarized zone in order to establish facts concerning sovereignty.
terrorist infiltrations into Israel. Against this backdrop, tensions rose significantly with an Egyptian raid on October 26 against the small Israeli post at Be’erotaim that resulted in the killing of one Israeli soldier and the capture of two others. In addition, a large force of Egyptian soldiers reinforced with artillery, armor and anti-aircraft cannon, took up positions on both sides of the demilitarized zone near Sabcha and Ras-Siram. Elements of the Egyptian force penetrated one kilometer into Israeli territory and entrenched themselves near a strategic hill, code-named “Lilly” by the Israelis. Israel’s response to the Egyptian provocation was swift but took place in an unexpected sector. On October 28-29, a force of some 200 IDF
soldiers under the command of Ariel Sharon
attacked an Egyptian military position at Kuntilla, one-hundred miles south of the Nitzana/Auja demilitarized zone, near the Israeli port of Eilat. The Egyptian post was destroyed. Twelve Egyptian soldiers were killed and another twenty-nine were taken prisoner for the loss of two Israelis. The Kuntilla raid, code-named Operation Egged
, merely served as a diversion for the main Israeli assault on Egyptian emplacements in and around Sabcha.
Operation Volcano began on November 2 at 20:00 hrs. A force of paratroops from the 890th Battalion augmented by a Nahal
company attacked the Egyptian emplacements at Sachba while units from the Golani Brigade
’s 12th Battalion attacked Egyptian emplacements at Ras-Siram. The attack was supported by mortar and artillery fire. The mission was completed in the early morning hours of November 3 and all the targeted Egyptian emplacements were destroyed. Eighty-one Egyptian soldiers were killed while another fifty-five were captured. The Israelis suffered five fatalities. Large quantities of Egyptian weaponry fell into Israeli hands including 22 military vehicles of various types, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, heavy machine guns, mortars, light arms and communications equipment.
. It also represented another humiliation for the Egyptian army in a string of military setbacks beginning with Operation Black Arrow
in February 1955. The defeat at Sabcha did not dissuade President Nasser of Egypt from declaring “victory” over the Israelis and paying tribute to "the heroes of the battle at el-Sabcha." Nasser flew correspondents to the battle site and attempted to convince them, without success, that the bodies of dead Egyptians strewn about the battlefield were actually Israelis. A skeptical press corps remained unconvinced by Egyptian propaganda claims. Operation Volcano put to an end, once and for all, Egyptian military encroachments into the Demilitarized Zone and established Israel’s sovereignty over the Nitzana/Auja region.
Nitzana
Nitzana may refer to:*Nitzana , a city of the ancient Nabataeans located in the Negev desert in Israel*Nitzana , a communal settlement near the ruins of the Nabataean city...
/Auja vicinity. The operation was successful and resulted in the permanent expulsion of Egyptian forces from the Demilitarized Zone. Eighty-one Egyptian soldiers were killed and fifty-five others were taken prisoner. There were five Israeli fatalities.
Background
Nitzana
Nitzana may refer to:*Nitzana , a city of the ancient Nabataeans located in the Negev desert in Israel*Nitzana , a communal settlement near the ruins of the Nabataean city...
, is a strategic location that sits along the border between Israel and Egypt. It contains a network of four major road arteries, one of which leads directly into Israel toward the vicinity of Be’er Sheva, and three of which lead into Sinai, Egypt. During the 1948 Israeli War of independence
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, Egypt invaded Israel through this region. On December 22, 1948 Israeli forces launched a counter-offensive, code-named Operation Horev
Operation Horev
At the end of Israel's War of Independence Operation Horev was a large scale attack against the Egyptian army in the Western Negev. Its objective was to trap the Egyptian Army in the Gaza Strip...
, against the Egyptians and succeeded in ejecting them from Nitzana. On November 24, 1949 Israel and Egypt signed an armistice whereby the Nitzana region, situated in Israel, was declared a demilitarized zone. The armistice agreement also stipulated that on the Egyptian side of the border "no Egyptian defensive positions shall be closer to El Auja than El Qouseima and Abou Aoueigila
Abu-Ageila
Abu-Ageila is a strategically important road junction and dam in the north of the Sinai peninsula, approximately 45 km southeast of El Arish. It was the site of major battles in the 1948, 1956 and 1967 wars between Israel and Egypt . The adjacent location Umm Katef was another key Egyptian...
."
Different interpretations soon arose between Egypt and Israel concerning sovereignty rights in the demilitarized zone which invariably led to a number of border incidents, some of which resulted in fatalities. Egypt believed that the Nitzana demilitarized zone belonged to neither Israel nor Egypt. Israel contended that the zone’s demilitarized status did not affect Israel’s sovereignty over it and that Nitzana was an integral part of Israel.
In 1953 Israel established the Nahal
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
settlement of Givat Rachel in the zone. Though technically a violation of the armistice, it proved an effective counter-measure to Bedouin smuggling and Egyptian sponsored fedayeen
Fedayeen
Fedayeen is a term used to describe several distinct militant groups and individuals in West Asia at different times in history. It is sometimes used colloquially to refer to suicide squads, especially those who are not bombers.-Overview:...
infiltrations and sabotage operations. A smaller Israeli post just south of Givat Rachel was established in Be’erotaim. These were the only two Israeli positions in the Nitzana/Auja region. In early 1955, Israel, in coordination with Egyptian officials, began marking the border with Egypt in the Nitzana/Auja vicinity. The task was completed on August 5, 1955 and Israel regarded these borders as permanent. However, following the marking of the border, it became clear that two Egyptian positions were within Israeli territory, a claim corroborated by United Nations officials. Egypt nevertheless refused to recognize the newly placed markers and destroyed them in early September 1955. On September 21, Israel sent a force into the zone and evicted Egyptian military personnel stationed adjacent to the UN headquarters, injuring two. The IDF
IDF
-Military:*Iceland Defense Force*Irish Defence Forces*Israel Defense Forces*AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, a light fighter aircraft created for the Republic of China Air Force under its Indigenous Defence Fighter program*Identify, Insured Deposit Fund-Non-military:...
vacated the zone after securing an agreement from the Egyptians not to interfere with the border marking endeavor. However, Egypt now demanded the expulsion of all Israeli presence, civilian as well as military, from the demilitarized zone in order to establish facts concerning sovereignty.
The Battle
By October 1955 tensions along the Egyptian-Israeli border were palpably high. Egypt had initiated a blockade of the Gulf of Eilat, preventing Israeli shipping from entering. She had also signed a military pact with Syria and announced a major arms deal with the Soviets that according to U.S. intelligence estimates, "substantially increased the risk of Egyptian-Israeli hostilities." In addition, Egypt continued to sponsor fedayeenFedayeen
Fedayeen is a term used to describe several distinct militant groups and individuals in West Asia at different times in history. It is sometimes used colloquially to refer to suicide squads, especially those who are not bombers.-Overview:...
terrorist infiltrations into Israel. Against this backdrop, tensions rose significantly with an Egyptian raid on October 26 against the small Israeli post at Be’erotaim that resulted in the killing of one Israeli soldier and the capture of two others. In addition, a large force of Egyptian soldiers reinforced with artillery, armor and anti-aircraft cannon, took up positions on both sides of the demilitarized zone near Sabcha and Ras-Siram. Elements of the Egyptian force penetrated one kilometer into Israeli territory and entrenched themselves near a strategic hill, code-named “Lilly” by the Israelis. Israel’s response to the Egyptian provocation was swift but took place in an unexpected sector. On October 28-29, a force of some 200 IDF
IDF
-Military:*Iceland Defense Force*Irish Defence Forces*Israel Defense Forces*AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, a light fighter aircraft created for the Republic of China Air Force under its Indigenous Defence Fighter program*Identify, Insured Deposit Fund-Non-military:...
soldiers under the command of Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
attacked an Egyptian military position at Kuntilla, one-hundred miles south of the Nitzana/Auja demilitarized zone, near the Israeli port of Eilat. The Egyptian post was destroyed. Twelve Egyptian soldiers were killed and another twenty-nine were taken prisoner for the loss of two Israelis. The Kuntilla raid, code-named Operation Egged
Operation Egged
Operation Egged also known as the Kuntilla operation was an Israeli military operation carried out on night of October 28-29, 1955 that targeted an Egyptian military post at Kuntilla, located in northeastern Sinai. The operation was a success and resulted in the destruction of the post. Twelve...
, merely served as a diversion for the main Israeli assault on Egyptian emplacements in and around Sabcha.
Operation Volcano began on November 2 at 20:00 hrs. A force of paratroops from the 890th Battalion augmented by a Nahal
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
company attacked the Egyptian emplacements at Sachba while units from the Golani Brigade
Golani Brigade
The Golani Brigade is an Israeli infantry brigade that is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. Its symbol is a green tree on a yellow background, and its soldiers wear a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the...
’s 12th Battalion attacked Egyptian emplacements at Ras-Siram. The attack was supported by mortar and artillery fire. The mission was completed in the early morning hours of November 3 and all the targeted Egyptian emplacements were destroyed. Eighty-one Egyptian soldiers were killed while another fifty-five were captured. The Israelis suffered five fatalities. Large quantities of Egyptian weaponry fell into Israeli hands including 22 military vehicles of various types, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, heavy machine guns, mortars, light arms and communications equipment.
Aftermath
Operation Volcano was an unmitigated military success and represented the largest Israeli military undertaking since its War of Independence1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
. It also represented another humiliation for the Egyptian army in a string of military setbacks beginning with Operation Black Arrow
Operation Black Arrow
Operation Black Arrow was an Israeli military operation carried out in Gaza on 28 February 1955. The operation targeted the Egyptian army. Thirty-eight Egyptian soldiers were killed during the operation as were eight Israelis....
in February 1955. The defeat at Sabcha did not dissuade President Nasser of Egypt from declaring “victory” over the Israelis and paying tribute to "the heroes of the battle at el-Sabcha." Nasser flew correspondents to the battle site and attempted to convince them, without success, that the bodies of dead Egyptians strewn about the battlefield were actually Israelis. A skeptical press corps remained unconvinced by Egyptian propaganda claims. Operation Volcano put to an end, once and for all, Egyptian military encroachments into the Demilitarized Zone and established Israel’s sovereignty over the Nitzana/Auja region.