Hi,
We have spent the weekend in the far North. I like running up there. This time I decided climbing the Golan heights. This time the destination was set to Tel Faher, a Syrian post that was conquered in the Six day war by Golani brigade in an intense battle. I pretty much run in the way the soldiers went up to the post. Instead of flanking the post, the battalion found itself in the kill zone of the post and managed to conquer it with the brave acts of the soldiers
running to tel faher
Golan heights in the morning, Tel Faher isn’t recognized here
The bridge over Dan stream
The bridge over the Hermon stream
The Hermon mountain in the morning haze
Givat Ha’em, that was on the Israeli side of the border. Behind it the troops climbed Golan heights
Givat Oz (Tel Azizat), which was a Syrian post and was conquered on the Six-Day war also by the Golani Brigade
The holy tomb of Nabi Judah
A cow stopper in place, and one that was took out
Givat HaEm
Givat Oz (Tel Azizat) And Omrit Archeological site
Half the way up, looking down on the Hula Valley
Cow Stopper and the Uri Ilan trail sign
Syrian Patrol road along the Golan heights
Bahirat Post, Syrian Post conquered by the Golani Brigade in Six-Day War
Tel Faher above Tel Oz
Syrian bonkers and minefields. The Golan Heights is one of the most land mined areas in the world.
Uri Ilan memorial were the team was caught
Golani trail sign, it has the colors of the Brigade
The steep ascend of Tel Faher from the West
Tel Faher covered with landmines from the North
Petroleum road above Tel Faher, from North (left) to South (right)
The running route from Hagoshrim to Tel Faher
Tel faher SITE and the fight in six-day war
The Six Day War broke out after the tension was built between Syria an Israel over the sources of the Jordan river flowing in this area. Because of the low ascent this area was chosen as the main breakthrough route for IDF attack. While 8th Brigade conquered the high line of posts and mover toward Kela, Golani Brigade took over the front line of posts and moved to Mas’ade, and Quneitra.
In 1967 Golani Brigade invaded the Golan heights in 9.6.1967, supported by air force, artillery, armor and engineering corps. She conquered the Syrian posts Tel Faher, Tel Azizat, Borj Babil, Bahriat, Naamush, Soda ruins, Banias posts, zeura and Ein Pit. And joined the armored corps taking over Mas’ade, Manchuria and Quneitra.
Tel Faher was Syrian post conquered in a bloody face to face battle in 9.6.1967 by the Barak (lightning) battalion, Golani commander from the brigade base, armor and artillery corps. The battle lasted for many hours and ended in the evening of the day. The post was the point for further operation and conquers of the brigade.
Barak Battalion was infantry battalion on APCs, and his mission was to conquer Tel Faher as the main path to conquer the Golan heights. The battalion started movin in 13:55 in 18 APCs and 6 tanks. After the armored vehicles were hit The battle plan to flank the post from East was changed. The Battiolion commander decided on frontal attack on the post, and the battalion was trapped in a kill zone: The armored vehicles was burning, and the soldiers were treated under fire. The commanders arranged small units to attack the post directly (from West) or to flank it from the North.
The post was protected bunkers and fighting trenches and surrounded with 3 fences of barber wire, The face to face battle in the trenches lasted for 3 hours. 34 soldiers were killed, among them the battalion commander Moshe Klain. 20 soldiers were decorated in the Medal of Distinguished Service, of Valor, of courage.
Private Moshe Drimer (Medal of Valor) – After his APC was hit, Moshe keep shooting from the machine gun on the APC to cover the rescue of his friends. He died burning while shooting the machine gun.
Captain Avraham Solovitz (Medal of Distinguished Service) – took the command over the company when her commander (Shlomo Segal was killed). He went up the post in a single APC, jumped first into the trenches and killed after he alone has cleared the first 50 meter.
Private David Shirazi (Medal of courage) – In order to cross the barber wire around the post, explosives charges were used. When one of those charges didn’t explode the fence was unhurt, the banch of warriors was left exposed to the fire and quick action was needed. David lay down on the fence and let his friends step on him to cross the fence and to enter the post. Later on, David took a machine gun from one of the wounds and kept fighting until shot and died.
In this post you can find a link to a video explaining (in Hebrew_ the battle.
The post was left as it was (you can see pics from 1967 here and first 9 pics here) and has no water or toilets (there are chemical toilets). There is a 250 long trail for kids and wheelchairs and another 650 long trail with steps.
Tel Faher – a memorial site for the Golani brigade fallen soldiers in the Six-Day war
The APC with the Hermon mount at the background
Golani lookout – Tel Faher
Bonkers and trenches
An explanation on a rock sign around the site
Minefields in the entrance to the site
Syrian Battalion soldiers barracks
The memorial wall
The torch for memorial days
Yizkor – a pray for the fallen soldiers
The names of Golani Brigade
The names of Golani Brigade
Golani fallen soldiers in Tel Faher fight
The fight tunnels and bunkers
A look outside from the bunker
Jannaeus and Atzva looking out
A burning sign saying “Golani forever”
Golani lookout
The view from the lookout
The northern part of Hula Valley
The sign to Golani lookout on the main road
Take Care
Gad