PFLP-GC Headquarters Raid (1988)

rdf:langString PFLP-GC Headquarters Raid (1988)

rdf:langString PFLP-GC Headquarters Raid (1988)

rdf:langString IDF mixed force from different Golani Brigade units and Shayetet 13 naval commandos

rdf:langString

rdf:langString Gen. Doron Rubin

rdf:langString PFLP-GC Headquarters Raid

rdf:langString the South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)

rdf:langString PFLP-GC Headquarters in Naameh

rdf:langString Israeli failure

rdf:langString The PFLP-GC Headquarters Raid was an Israeli commando operation against the Lebanese headquarters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC) in Naameh, 10 km South of Beirut, launched on 9 December 1988. The operation was named Operation Blue and Brown (Hebrew: מבצע כחול וחום - Mivtza Kachol ve-Chum) and consisted of a night-time coastal landing, a difficult three kilometres march across very rough terrain to the heavily fortified Palestinian base, located near the coastal Lebanese town of Naameh (الناعمة an-Na'imah), eight kilometres south of Beirut. It was to be the deepest Israeli incursion since the beginning of the withdrawal from Lebanon in 1983. The two main objectives of the operation were the assassination of PFLP-GC's Secretary-General Ahmad Jibril, who was reported to be present at the base, and the destruction of the system of bunkers, caves, and tunnels, which made the base invulnerable to air attack. The operation failed, mainly due to inaccurate intelligence and several mistakes made by the Israeli commanders. The Israeli soldiers never managed to break into or destroy the main bunker where Jibril was thought to be hiding. The attack on the caves similarly stalled because of loss of element of surprise and subsequent stiff resistance. The IDF commander Lt. Col. Amir Mei-Tal was killed and three of his men were wounded. Israeli military analyst Ronen Bergman described the operation as an "embarrassing flop".