Operation Danny
(July 9-18, 1948)
The IDF's greatest offensive effort during the ten days of fighting [in between
the first and second
truce] was directed against the Arab Legion on the central front,
the area between Tel
Aviv and Jerusalem. The
aim of this operation was to relieve Jerusalem and remove the threat
to Tel Aviv. The first phase was to occupy the areas of Lod and Ramle;
while the second phase called for the capture of Latrun and Ramallah
with the intention of raising the siege on Jerusalem. The operation
was to be carried out under Palmach command, utilizing a task force comprised of the Yiftach Brigade, the
new 8th Armored Brigade ( made up of a tank battalion, a commando
battalion of jeeps and half-tracks), and two battalions from the
Kiryati and Alexandroni Brigades, as well as additional artillery and
engineering units.
Two forces struck in a pincer movement, one
advancing towards Lod and Ramle from the northwest, the other from
the southwest. During this advance, a small force detached itself to
capture al-Safiriyya and then pushed on to capture the Lod (Lydda)
airport. Thus, within a day and a half, the largest airport in the
Middle East and a dozen key villages had fallen to the IDF. On July
12, Kiryati units took Ramle, which surrendered after a brief
engagement. North of this sector, Rosh ha-Ayin, which had been seized
by the Iraqis in June, was recaptured.
Sources: Israel Defense
Forces |