Israeli Soldier vs Syrian Soldier Book Review

By David L. Veres

Review

Osprey drops readers amidst some of the Mid East’s most vicious fighting in Israeli Soldier vs Syrian Soldier: Golan Heights 1967-73 number 18 in the publisher’s “Combat” series.

This growing range clearly echoes Osprey’s successful “Duel” format. Contents commence with introduction and summary of “opposing sides” “ethos”, recruiting, morale, leadership, communications, training and tactics.

Coverage then segues to three fierce actions:

• Israel’s brutal assault of the Golan Heights during the Six-Day War.
• Israel’s dazzling defense of Outpost 107 during the Yom Kippur War.
• Syria’s 1973 capture and subsequent loss of Israel’s Mitzpe Shlagim (sic: Mitzpeh Shlagim) outpost on the southernmost peak of Mount Hermon.

Author David Campbell avers that Israel’s decisive 1967 victories lured the Jewish state into overconfidence and complacency. In 1973, Syria, by contrast, “showed just how seriously they had taken the redevelopment of their army” achieving surprise, displaying aggressiveness and fielding a “panoply” of new, capable weapons.

Human qualities, however, proved pivotal. And Israel’s superior leadership, training and initiative ultimately prevailed.

Color plates illustrate opposing combatants’ uniforms and equipment. Historic photographs, extended captions, sidebars, battle maps with timelines, and illuminating action artwork by Johnny Shumate supplement Campbell’s superb little study. It’s also annotated!

Roundly recommended!

My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!