Battles of Fort Budapest

First Battle of Fort Budapest
Part of the Yom Kippur War
Date October 6, 1973 Location Sinai, Egypt Result Israeli Victory
Belligerents
Egypt	Israel
Commanders and leaders
Salah 'Abd el-Halim Ali al-Mezahi	Motti Ashkenazi
Strength
1 infantry battalion 1 commando company	1 infantry company 2 tank platoons Reinforcements

Second Battle of Fort Budapest
Part of the Yom Kippur War
Date October 15, 1973 Location Sinai, Egypt Result Israeli victory
Belligerents
Egypt	Israel
Commanders and leaders
Salah 'Abd el-Halim Ali al-Mezahi (KIA)	Motti Ashkenazi
Strength
1 infantry battalion 2 Sa'iqa companies	1 infantry company 2 tank platoon Reinforcements: 2 tank companies

Coordinates: 31°11′15″N 32°22′09″E / 31.18750°N 32.36917°E / 31.18750; 32.36917

The Battles of Fort Budapest (Hebrew: מעוז בודפשט‎‎) refer to two attempts by the Egyptian Army to capture Fort Budapest, part of the Bar Lev Line during the Yom Kippur War. The first attempt took place at noon on October 6, 1973 with the start of Operation Badr, but failed due to Israeli Air Force intervention. The second attempt took place on October 15, at the onset of Operation Stouthearted Men, the Israeli military operation to cross the Suez Canal. Despite significant setbacks caused by poor sea conditions, the second attack was on the verge of success when the Israeli Air Force once again intervened, and this, coupled with Israeli reinforcements, repelled the Egyptian attack.

Fort Budapest was the northernmost fort of the Israeli Bar Lev Line. Unlike all other Bar Lev Line fortifications, Budapest was not located on or immediately east of the Suez Canal. Rather, it was located on the Mediterranean Sea, 16.5 kilometres (10.3 mi) south-east of Port Fouad. Fort Budapest was the strongest of all the Bar Lev positions due to its strategic location; the fort had control over the coastal road connecting Port Fouad to el-Arish to the east. The fort had exceptional engineering preparations and a considerable amount of weaponry. The fort incorporated nine bunkers, and was surrounded by barbed wire and minefields to a depth of 600 metres (660 yd). On October 6, the fort was garrisoned by an infantry company and two tank platoons, under the command of Captain Motti Ashkenazi.

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