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The Heroes
of Outpost 107
by Shlomo Horwitz
utpost 107, code-named and the lead truck exploded. The IDF other forces in a ferocious tank
‘Portugal,’ was the closest tanks joined the fray and wiped out battle elsewhere in the Golan. The
OIDF outpost to Syria in the Syrian convoy. remaining Golani soldiers were left
October of 1973. It was next to unprotected. Their ammunition and
Quneitra in the Golan Heights The next morning, October 7th, the food rations were dangerously low
and was manned by a platoon of platoon successfully repelled another and there was no help in sight.
Golani soldiers from Battalion 13. Syrian attack. But the tanks were very
The outpost consisted of a series of low on ammunition. The outpost And the very next day they watched
bunkers with observation points and was cut off and surrounded; no one Syrian tank rise on the hill.
gun positions. The platoon’s main ammunition or supplies could get in. And then another one.
job was to observe Syrian activities Meanwhile, at dawn on October 8th,
on the Syrian side of the Golan. six Syrian tanks launched an attack. And another.
There was a small tank company The soldiers managed to destroy five
nearby to aid the men in repelling but the sixth sneaked up so close to Three hours later there were 110
any ground attack from Syria. the eastern side of the outpost that tanks facing Outpost 107.
The war started with a powerful the IDF tanks could no longer safely The Golani platoon didn’t stand a
Syrian artillery barrage. Most of the fire on it. chance. “Zeh avud – all is lost!” some
outpost’s positions were destroyed, Yossi Zadok, a Golani corporal who yelled in despair. “Don’t give up!”
including their supply of drinking had arrived on Yom Kippur itself, said Amos.
water. Four tanks led by Shmuel had received some training in using
Yachin from Battalion 74 of the 188th a bazooka rocket launcher but hadn’t Elimelech radioed Northern
Brigade opened fire and destroyed been known as a good shot. There Command. “I need air support!”
eight Syrian tanks attempting to cross was no time to think or plan. Yossi “Negative,” came the reply. “No
the border. Syrian infantrymen racing had to act fast. He quickly jumped up planes are available.”
toward the outpost were killed by the and fired. A direct hit!
Golani platoon. “Then armored support!”
At 11:00 am, 15 Syrian T-62 tanks
That night, the men spotted a rushed at the outpost. Shmuel “Negative. All tanks are fighting
convoy of Syrian vehicles carrying Yachin and his tank platoon jumped southwest of your positions.”
anti-aircraft and anti-tank into the fray, destroying 13 of them.
guns. Avraham Elimelech, their Two managed to hide and tried “Artillery support!” he shouted,
commander, radioed a warning to escape at nightfall. The IDF desperate.
to the IDF tanks. Nissim Avidan destroyed one; the other got away. “None available.”
manned the heavy machine gun and
Amos fired an illumination round to Then came bad news: Shmuel’s One soldier took a shell casing and
light up the area. Nissim opened fire tank platoon needed to support etched the 19 names of the soldiers
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