[2] In the ensuing battle, Allied troops successfully defended the pass leading back to Palestine, and recaptured the town early on 24 June.

Indian and British troops advanced in the area south and southeast of Damascus, but we succeeded in repulsing them in counterattacks by our armoured units and took 400 prisoners.

On 29 June, the Vichy French government announced in a communique: "The British Fleet has bombed our coastal positions in the Middle East.

We have evacuated several of our bases in the mountains of southern Lebanon under cover of artillery fire which inflicted heavy losses on our assailants.

An Australian squadron flying American-model aircraft, shot down a formation of six Vichy French Glenn Martin bombers in aerial combat.