Syrian invasion of Jordan

On 18 September 1970, a force from Syria with Palestine Liberation Army markings crossed the border into Jordan, reaching Irbid and declaring it a "liberated" city. The 40th Armored Brigade managed to block the Syrian advance after heavy fighting.^[4] A second and much larger Syrian incursion took place on the same day, consisting of two armored and one mechanized infantry brigade of the 5th Infantry Division, and around 300 tanks.^[4]

On 20 September 1970, Syria committed 16,000 troops and more than 170 T-55 tanks and other armoured vehicles to invade Jordan, but declined to commit its air force. Jordanian forces managed to repel two Syrian armored offensives and inflicted heavy losses on a Syrian armored brigade. Syrian tanks crossed near Ramtha, advancing 5 miles past it, and slowly moved toward Irbid.^[6]

By the morning of 21 September, Syria had the battleground advantage, with almost 300 tanks and 60 artillery tubes near Ramtha and Irbid, some of which had already entered Irbid. Syrian forces later captured two key crossroads that served as gateways to the Jordanian capital, Amman.^[6]

By 22 September, however, the Syrian forces had been largely defeated as they attempted to breach Jordanian lines north of the Ajloun mountains. Syrian forces suffered due to Jordanian airstrikes, logistic shortfalls, and mechanical breakdowns. By midday, approximately 50 of 200 Syrian tanks became inoperable. Syrian forces began withdrawing from Jordan on the night of 22–23 September 1970.^[6]

During the invasion, Syrian tanks inflicted heavy losses on the Jordanian army. In one case, a squadron of T-55s stopped the advance of a large Jordanian column, with 19 Centurions destroyed and up to 10 Syrian T-55s lost in the battle.^[7] According to Israeli intelligence, Jordan lost 75 to 90 tanks out of 200 involved;^[8] most of these were destroyed by Syrian T-55s at ar-Ramtha.^[9] Syrian tank losses amounted to 62 T-55s (mostly breakdowns) left in Jordanian territory.^[10] Syrian losses were 150 soldiers killed or wounded and 200 captured.^[11] Jordanian losses were 537 soldiers killed and 1500 wounded.^[12][7]