Battle of Fort Lahtzanit

Battle of Fort Lahtzanit
Part of Operation Badr
Date October 6, 1973 Location Sinai, Egypt 31°4′53″N 32°20′31″E / 31.08139°N 32.34194°E / 31.08139; 32.34194 Result Egyptian victory
Belligerents
Egypt	Israel
Commanders and leaders
Mustafa el-'Abassi	Muli Malhov
Strength
1 infantry battalion Supporting weapons	1 infantry company 1 tank platoon Reinforcing forces
Casualties and losses
23 killed 7 wounded	60 killed 26 captured 5 tanks destroyed

The Battle of Fort Lahtzanit took place on October 6, 1973, between the Egyptian Army and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Part of the Egyptian-initiated Operation Badr, the battle was one of the first of the Yom Kippur War, fought in and around Fort Lahtzanit, a fortification of the Bar Lev Line, located 19 kilometres (12 mi) south of Port Fouad in the Sinai Peninsula.

Commencing the battle with an artillery barrage against the fort, the Egyptians surrounded and isolated the fort prior to assaulting it. Firing ramps intended for Israeli tanks were occupied by Egyptian infantry, who defeated several Israeli attempts to reinforce the fort with armor. The Egyptians managed to breach the defenses and swiftly capture the fort, and proceeded to clear the bunkers, utilizing flamethrower teams. By nighttime, the fort was completely under Egyptian control.