Conflict: | Battle of Nukeib |
Partof: | Arab–Israeli conflict |
Date: | 16–17 March 1962 |
Place: | Al-Nuqayb Golan Heights, Syria |
Result: | Syrian victory |
Combatant2: | Israel |
Commander1: | Lieutenant Colonel Nasih al-Alwani[1] |
Commander2: | Mordechai Gur Zvi Ofer |
Units2: | Golani Brigade |
Casualties1: | 35 killed, including the site commander, 20 wounded and one prisoner |
Casualties2: | Seven dead and 45 wounded, one missing 100 killed and injured per Syria[2] Several armored vehicles lost Three artillery batteries lost |
Battle of Nukeib, called in Syria, Battle of Nairab Hill (Arabic: معركة تل النيرب) and in Israel Operation Swallow (Hebrew: מבצע סנונית) took place between the Syrian and Israeli forces at Tel al-Nairab in the village of Al-Nuqayb, located near the Sea of Galilee.
Abd al-Karim al-Nahlawi, who planned and orchestrated the coup that caused Syria to split from the United Arab Republic, claimed on this battle that "Israel was assaulting Syria and fights were taking place between the Israelis and the Syrian outposts. In Tell al-Nairab in the town of al-Naqeeb, there was a Palestinian-populated area near to Lake Tiberias, and at the same time, Israel diverted Jordan's waters to the Negev in the south, so Syria was blocking them."[1]