Veterans: The October War is a heroic epic through which the Syrian Arab Army achieved the greatest meanings of bravery, sacrifice and devotion

It was a historical and pivotal turning point during which the enemy suffered heavy losses, shattered its false myths that it had built on the bodies of innocent, defenseless people, and forced it to flee and withdraw from some of the occupied territories.

A group of veterans of the Syrian Arab Army shed light during meetings with a SANA correspondent on some of the events and details they experienced in the liberation of October from various military formations and various fronts that witnessed the brilliance and bravery of the Syrian fighters in  defending  the sovereignty of their homeland and the dignity of its sons.

Retired Major Abdul Rahim Abdul Ali Al-Khatib, born in 1940, recalls memories of destroying Zionist tanks and armored vehicles on the battle lines, which were turned into a pile of scrap and black rubble, as part of the mission assigned to him and his group, as an anti-tank gunner “MD”.

Al-Khatib said  with pride and honor that he   was honored by the founding leader Hafez al-Assad in 1974 with the Republic Hero Medal, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant for his heroism during the war.

He later participated in the World Shooting Championship in the Emirates and won first place, and rose through the military ranks until he reached the rank of honorary major.

Retired First Lieutenant Jumaa Mahmoud Jumaa showed courage and bravery in striking enemy tanks and vehicles during his participation in the October Liberation battles on the front lines, as part of the mission assigned to him within his infantry unit.

He depicted amazing  skill in aiming and shooting, and destroyed several enemy tanks and vehicles that were trying to carry out breaches on the front lines, turning them into piles of scrap.

Retired First Lieutenant Abdul Qader Matar Al-Dawlatli, born in 1948, recalls the scenes of parachuting and airdropping on the Mount Hermon observatory, engaging with the Zionist occupation soldiers, storming the existing military points and inflicting losses on the enemy soldiers.