1948 Arab.E2.80.93Israeli War Arab Legion

arab legion commander abdullah el tell (far right) captain hikmat mihyar (far left) pose jewish prisoners after fall of gush etzion



arab legion artillery shells illuminate jerusalem in 1948

the arab legion actively participated in 1948 arab–israeli war. total strength of on 6,000, arab legion s military contingent consisted of 4,500 men in 4 single battalion-sized regiments, each own armored car squadrons, , 7 independent companies plus support troops. regiments organized 2 brigades. 1st brigade contained 1st , 3rd regiments while 3rd brigade contained 2nd , 4th regiments. there 2 artillery batteries 4 25-pounders each. on 9 february 1948 transjordan frontier force disbanded members being absorbed arab legion. although headed glubb, lieutenant general, command in field brigadier norman lash.

the legion withdrawn palestine transjordanian territory, under instruction united nations, prior end of british mandate. commencement of hostilities legion re-entered palestine 1st brigade heading nablus , 2nd brigade heading ramallah. arab legion entered palestine other arab forces on may 15, 1948 using allenby, king hussein, bridge advancing cover approaches jenin, in north alaffoula , al-majame bridge on jordan river bissan alaffoula.

there considerable embarrassment uk government british officers employed in legion during conflict , of them, including brigade commander, ordered return transjordan. led bizarre spectacle of british officers leaving units return transjordan, sneak across border , rejoin arab legion. without exception of british officers returned units. 1 british mp called glubb pasha imprisoned serving in foreign army without king s permission.

units of arab legion engaged in several battles jewish forces, including following:

attacking ben shemen convoy @ beit nabala – 14 december 1947
battle of neve yaakov settlement – 18 april 1948
attacking kibutz gesher on 27–28 april 1948
occupation of latrun tegart fort on 17 may 1948, , later battles of latrun 20 may 18 july 1948.
battle jerusalem (1948) , siege of jerusalem 17 may 18 july 1948,
attacking , capturing (but later losing) gezer (kibbutz) on 10 june 1948,
tarqumiya on 24 october 1948.

by end of war in 1949, arab legion consisted of on 10,000 men manning 100-mile front, expanded 400-mile front following withdrawal of iraqi forces.