Latrun (, "Latrun"; , "al-Latrun") is located at a strategic hilltop in the Latrun salient in the Ayalon Valley. It overlooks the road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, 25 kilometers west of Jerusalem and 14 kilometers southeast of Ramla. It was the site of fierce fighting during the 1948 war. During the 1948–1967 period, it was occupied by Jordan at the edge of a no man's land between the armistice lines known as the Latrun salient. In the 1967 war, it was occupied by Israel along with the whole salient and the West Bank. Latrun was subsequently unilaterally annexed by Israel; an annexation not internationally recognised.