Raid on Entebbe – The Miracle of Operation Thunderbolt
The Entebbe raid or Operation Entebbe, officially codenamed Operation Thunderbolt, was a 1976 Israeli counter-terrorist mission in Uganda. It was launched in response to the hijacking of an international civilian passenger flight operated by Air France between the cities of Tel Aviv and Paris. The airliner was hijacked on June 27, 1976, by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Red Army Faction (a West German radical leftist group) and flown to Entebbe, Uganda. At Entebbe, the hijackers freed those of the 258 passengers who did not appear to be Israeli or Jewish and held the rest hostage for the release of 53 militants imprisoned in Israel, Kenya, and West Germany. In response, Israel on July 3rd sent four Hercules C-130H cargo planes carrying 100–200 soldiers and escorted by Phantom jet fighters. After flying some 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from Israel to Uganda, the Israeli force rescued the hostages within an hour after landing. All seven of the militants were killed, and 11 MIG fighters supplied to Uganda by the erstwhile Soviet Union were destroyed; the Israelis lost one soldier and three hostages during the operation. On the return trip, the Israeli planes met an awaiting hospital plane and refuelled at Nairobi, Kenya. This unbelievable thrilling rescue operation was made into a film, titled, “7 Days in Entebbe”. Almost 48 years have passed, yet no other nation has been able to replicate this kind of daredevil operation.
Israel’s farewell to Ismail Haniyeh
On 31st July 2024, the world received the stunning news that Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of terror organization Hamas, was assassinated, in yet another unbelievable operation, executed with impeccable precision and style. According to a scoop by the New York Times, dated 01st August 2024, Ismail Haniyeh, the top leader of Hamas, was assassinated by an explosive device, that was covertly smuggled into the Tehran guesthouse where he was staying. The bomb had been hidden approximately two months ago in the guesthouse, which is run and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and is part of a large compound, known as Neshat, in an upscale neighbourhood of northern Tehran. Mr. Haniyeh was in Iran’s capital for the presidential inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. The blast also killed a bodyguard.
At around 2 a.m. local time, the device exploded, killing Mr. Haniyeh instantly. Almost one hour before Israel took him out, Ismail Haniyeh was part of “Death to Israel” chants in Iranian Parliament. He was the tough-talking face of the Palestinian group’s international diplomacy as war raged back in Gaza, where three of his sons were killed in an Israeli airstrike. He was living in hiding in Qatar and married Amal Haniyeh and the couple have 13 children. His elimination signals and portends, the likely worsening of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to avenge Haniyeh’s death, “You killed our dear guest in our house and now have paved the way for your harsh punishment,” he said. More fireworks can be expected in the coming days.
The Entebbe Raid of July 4, 1976, is remembered as a high point of counter-terror warfare in general, and of the Israeli maverick audacity in particular. The raid involved astonishing courage, precise and pinpoint intelligence, great presence of mind, and professional military skills of the highest order. It remains a subject of study at military institutes across the world. Now, the killing of Ismail Haniyeh will become another engrossing subject of study.
Israel has not expressed responsibility for the assassination, as opposed to the death of a senior Hezbollah commander, in Beirut hours earlier, or the airstrike last month that killed Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, which Tel Aviv confirmed. Anyway, it is generally accepted that only Israelis have that kind of calibre and zeal, to execute such high-precision manoeuvres.
As the world nervously awaits the threatened Iranian retaliation, expected any day, there is a climate of fear, as both, Israel and Iran have secret nuclear prowess. Israel is beleaguered and surrounded by hostile fundamentalist nations, threatening to wipe out this small nation. They have little support against a formidable phalanx of fundamentalist nations and realize that most nations, including the so-called superpowers, will simply watch the decimation of their tiny nation, as they watched helplessly, the destruction of the Bamiyan statues, in Afghanistan.
The happenings in Gaza, is a great lesson for Indian politicians and leaders, that fundamentalism needs to be crushed ruthlessly, legally or illegally. There are multiple challenges from across the borders and within the country. All institutions within the country are malfunctioning, compromised by corruption, opportunism, and succumbing to foreign fundamentalist pressures. India’s democracy is not able to withstand the pressure from organized, religious vote banks and NGOs controlled, monitored, and directed by foreign forces. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is beleaguered from within and forces from outside. This is what happens when a few generations get used to living comfortably and luxuriously, they always want to compromise, in order to protect their comfort zones, whereas, the opponents are rough and tough, mired in poverty, and entrenched in fundamentalism. The world is unfortunately fighting battles on behalf of unseen and unknown gods.
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It was 90 minutes operation at Entebbe airport. Yonatan Netanyahu (elder brother of Benjamin Netanyahu) also died during that operation. Total 102 hostages, 3 died, one in hospital.
Kenya which supported the israel operation suffered 245 deaths i.e. Idi Amin ordered all Kenyans to be shot dead, & many kenyans left Uganda then 3,000 nos.approx.
Note:No. of hostages is corrected in this post. as 102 instead of 72 reported earlier.
The film think is wrongly titled – correct is “Raid on Entebbe Airport” Then Idi Amin dictator was residing 11 kms from the airport. Israelis did internal rehearse of that airport for 3 days before they took on the mission. Then also Netayahu – Defence Minister lead from front in that suicide mission. The military cargo included few battle tanks also, the another highlight is after rescuing its citizens, before take off, counted the total to be 70 instead of 71 & they went back & searched the person & brought him back (he was in toilet / washroom) during the raid. After leaving Entebbe airport & reached safe distance, they called & woke up Idi Amin saying Good Morning !!
yes the world I fighting wars for unknown and unseen God’s. They must be crazy and crazy people need suitable treatment.