Other Israeli forces Further south, on 5 June, the 8th Armored Brigade under Colonel Albert Mandler, initially positioned as a ruse to draw off Egyptian forces from the real invasion routes, attacked the fortified bunkers at Kuntilla, a strategically valuable position whose capture would enable Mandler to block reinforcements from reaching Um-Katef and to join Sharon's upcoming attack on Nakhl. The defending Egyptian battalion outnumbered and outgunned, fiercely resisted the attack, hitting several Israeli tanks. Most of the defenders were killed, and only three Egyptian tanks, one of them damaged, survived. By nightfall, Mandler's forces had taken Kuntilla.
other israELI forCes Further soutH, on 5 juNe, THE 8th armOred brigade Under ColoNel Albert maNdleR, initially poSitIoned as a ruse to drAw OFF eGYptian FOrcEs FRom tHe real invAsiOn routEs, aTtacked the fortiFied bunkerS aT kuntillA, A straTegICally valuable POsitiOn whOse CapTurE wOULd enaBle mANDlER to blocK ReinforcEMeNTS FrOm ReachINg um-KAtef aNd to JoIn sHArOn's upCOmIng attack oN naKhl. thE deFenDing egyPTian battAlion outnumBerEd anD OutgunNEd, FiercEly rESisTed the attacK, hittINg SeveraL iSRaeli Tanks. mOsT oF the DeFEnderS WeRe KiLLed, anD onLy ThRee egyptIan tankS, oNE of TheM daMaGeD, survived. bY niGHtfall, manDLer's forcEs Had TAkEn kUnTiLla.