Al-'Al (Arabic: الْعَال, romanizedal-ʿĀl, trans. "the high place"), is a former Syrian village in the southern Golan Heights,[1] on the southern tributary of Wadi es-Samekh.[2] Israel occupied the area during the Six-Day War. The village was abandoned and dismantled.[1][3]

Al-'Al
الْعَال
Village
Ruins of Al-'Al
Ruins of Al-'Al
Al-'Al is located in Syria
Al-'Al
Al-'Al
Al-'Al in Syria
Al-'Al is located in the Golan Heights
Al-'Al
Al-'Al
Al-'Al (the Golan Heights)
Coordinates: 32°48′11″N 35°44′43″E / 32.80306°N 35.74528°E / 32.80306; 35.74528
Country Syria
GovernorateQuneitra
DistrictQuneitra
RegionGolan Heights
DestroyedJune 10, 1967
Elevation
366 m (1,204 ft)

During the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, the name was spelt "El Al" on French maps.

History

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Archaeological remains of several Roman, Hellenistic, early Arab, Medieval, and Ottoman artifacts at the site give evidence of ancient settlement.[2][4] The town was inhabited by Pagans and had a history of being a military position.[5]

In 1812, the place was described as a "ruined village."[2] A modern village was probably established during the second half of the 19th century. In 1884, it was reported that the village contained 65 dwellings, including 320 inhabitants and was a "large, well-built village on the point of reviving."[2]

The Israeli settlement of Eliad was built nearby.[1]

During the Yom Kippur War, the Syrian 5th Infantry Division set up a defence in depth strategy at the Al 'Al ridgeline.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c CIA map: Golan Heights and vicinity - showing Al-'Al as an abandoned/dismantled Syrian village.
  2. ^ a b c d Dan Urman, Paul V. M. Flesher (1998). Ancient synagogues: historical analysis and archaeological discovery. Brill Publishers. pp. 569–573. ISBN 90-04-11254-5.
  3. ^ Golan map Archived 2013-08-21 at the Wayback Machine showing Al ‘Al as a destroyed Arab village.
  4. ^ Gregg 2000, pp. 525
  5. ^ Gregg 2000, pp. 527
  6. ^ Kenneth M. Pollack (2004). Arabs at war: military effectiveness, 1948–1991. University of Nebraska Press. p. 493. ISBN 0-8032-8783-6.

Bibliography

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