They are often spectacular, hidden in remote gorges or perched on strategic hilltops.

Trailers and prefabricated sheds, and then virtual cities sprouted atop the strategic, stony hilltops as Israel created "facts on the ground" in an attempt to keep the land forever.

And it was he, as a key member of the last Likud Government, who helped plant the settlements on strategic hilltops throughout the West Bank that now make the withdrawal so difficult.

Trailers and prefabricated sheds, then red-roofed cities, sprouted across the strategic, stony hilltops as the settlers created "facts on the ground" to hold onto the land forever.

The emerald mines were secured by the Army's 50th Airborne division by May 7, but the militants were still holding their positions in Mingora and on a strategic hilltop overlooking the town.

Army has control over the main roads and strategic hilltops while TTP militants have safe havens in the valleys.

More than 300 men had died, many of them from Liverpool, as the British army attempted to capture the strategic hilltop.

Georgian troops handed over the strategic hilltops in the conflict zone to the joint peacekeeping forces later that day.

The Crusaders built fortresses on strategic hilltops.

Israeli forces took strategic hilltops to better control areas.