The attack on Degania Alef was a failure, after which the Syrian forces attempted to capture Degania Bet.

On 18 May, Syria attacked the Israeli forward position in Samakh (Tzemah), and on 20 May attacked Degania Alef and occupied Masada and Sha'ar HaGolan.

This was the first military engagement between Israel and Syria. The battles took place approximately 24 hours after the Israeli declaration of independence, when Syria shelled Ein Gev on the night of 15–16 May. The engagements were part of the battles of the Jordan Valley, which also saw fighting against Transjordan in the area of Gesher. It includes two main sites: the Battle of Degania– Samakh (Tzemah), and battles near Masada– Sha'ar HaGolan. The Battles of the Kinarot Valley ( Hebrew: הַמַּעֲרָכָה בְּבִקְעַת כִּנָּרוֹת, HaMa'arakha BeBik'at Kinarot), is a collective name for a series of military engagements between the Haganah and the Syrian army during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, fought between 15– in the Kinarot Valley.

Israel vs syria tank battle