 On the night of 15 – 16 July , several companies of the Harel brigade laid on an assault against Latrun by the east , around the " artillery ridge " and the villages of Yalo and Bayt Nuba . They carried on to the hills by way of the villages of Bayt Thul and Nitaf transporting their armoury using pack mules . After several hours of fighting and counter @-@ attacks by armoured vehicles of the Arab Legion , they were finally pushed back but could keep control of several hills . In total , the Israelis lost 23 dead and numerous injured . 
