 Between 9 – 11 May , a battalion of the Harel brigade attacked and took the village of Bayt Mahsir , used by Palestinians as a base for the control of Bab al @-@ Wad . The " Sha 'ar HaGai " battalion of the Harel brigade also took up a position on the hills north and south of the road . It had to withstand the fire of the Arab Liberation Army artillery and the " unusual " fire of British armoured vehicles , but succeeded in holding the position and entrenched there . 
