Middle East 679
MID#3427
Dispute Number: 3427
Date(s): March 26, 1951 to June 2, 1951
Participants: 652 Syria/666 Israel
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: There were a number of militarized incidents between Israel and Syria
related to the Lake Hullah drainage project. First, on March 26–27, 1951, specifically,
and in the two weeks leading up to April 1, there were exchanges of fire between
Israeli and Syrian forces at Lake Hullah. A one-day ceasefire was agreed upon on
April 1. Then, two sets of incidents occurred which were loosely related to the Lake
Hullah project. On April 4, Syrian forces killed seven Israeli policemen in the El Ham-
mah zone, in which construction was taking place as part of the Lake Hullah project.
In direct retaliation, the Israeli Air Force bombed Syrian Army fortifications in the
region southeast of the Sea of Galilee on April 5.
Another set of incidents occurred during the first week of May 1951 with the Syrian
occupation of Tel al Mutilla. On May 4, 1951, Syrian forces crossed into Israeli ter-
ritory at Tel al Mutilla in the central demilitarized zone. In all likelihood the respond
was necessary to quell Arab unrest following the Israeli air bombing at Al Hammah
with war. The Syrian military was relatively weak and could not launch a large-scale
invasion. To reduce the degree of Israeli response, Syrian forces were disguised as
villagers. Syria hoped that the occupation of such a strategic point for Israel along the
border would deter further Israeli aggression and be a sufficient response to appease
the domestic and Arab community. Clashes erupted for several days until a ceasefire
was agreed upon on May 13. Less than a month after the ceasefire, on June 2, Israel
protested another bout of Syrian shots fired on the northeast of Lake Hullah. On June
11, the United Nations officially allowed Israel to continue the drainage project.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from October 9, 1950. End Date changed from
July 13, 1952. Settlement changed from None.
MID#3401
Dispute Number: 3401
Date(s): December 28, 1951
Participants: 652 Syria/666 Israel
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: An Israeli patrol crossed the Syrian border and came under fire from a
Syrian army outpost. One Israeli was killed.
Coding changes: Fatalities changed from None.