Operation Entebbe

Operation Entebbe. It was a daring counter-terrorism hostage-rescue mission carried out by the Israel Defense Forces at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda on the night of 3–4 July 1976. The operation successfully liberated 102 of the 106 hostages who were being held by Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Revolutionary Cells hijackers, with the support of Uganda's President Idi Amin. The mission, officially codenamed Operation Thunderbolt and later renamed in memory of its fallen commander, demonstrated unprecedented long-range military reach and became a defining moment in modern counter-terrorism history.

Background

The operation occurred against the tense backdrop of the protracted Arab–Israeli conflict, with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine under Wadie Haddad being a particularly active militant faction. Uganda, under the rule of Idi Amin, had developed a complex relationship with Israel, having initially received military training and aid before Amin later expelled Israeli advisors and aligned more closely with Libya and the Palestine Liberation Organization. This political shift created an environment where anti-Israeli militants could potentially find a sympathetic regime. The geopolitical landscape was further complicated by the Cold War, with Amin receiving support from the Soviet Union and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, while Israel was a key ally of the United States.

The hijacking

On 27 June 1976, Air France Flight 139, an Airbus A300 flying from Tel Aviv to Paris via Athens, was hijacked after taking off from Greece. The hijackers, two from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and two from the German Revolutionary Cells led by Wilfried Böse, forced the plane to land first in Benghazi, Libya, for refueling. They then diverted it to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. Upon arrival, the hostages were held in the airport's old terminal building, where they were joined by additional Palestinian militants. The hijackers, with the overt support of Idi Amin and the Ugandan Army, separated Israeli and Jewish passengers from the others, releasing the non-Israeli captives and issuing demands for the release of 53 pro-Palestinian militants held primarily in Israel, West Germany, Kenya, France, and Switzerland.

Israeli response and planning

The Government of Israel, led by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, initially pursued negotiations while the Israel Defense Forces under Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur began contingency planning for a military option. A special task force was established, with overall command given to Brigadier-General Dan Shomron. The elite Sayeret Matkal unit, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu, was tasked with the direct assault. Planning was conducted under extreme secrecy at a base near Sharm el-Sheikh, using intelligence from the Mossad and information from released hostages. The audacious plan involved flying over 2,500 miles across hostile airspace, using Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft from the Israeli Air Force, refueling in-flight, and landing covertly at night at an airport defended by the Ugandan Army.

The raid

On the night of 3 July 1976, four Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft departed from Sharm el-Sheikh, flying low over the Red Sea and Ethiopia to avoid radar detection. The lead plane landed at Entebbe International Airport just past midnight on 4 July. A black Mercedes-Benz and accompanying Land Rovers, meant to mimic the motorcade of Idi Amin, were driven from the aircraft toward the old terminal. The assault team from Sayeret Matkal, led by Yonatan Netanyahu, stormed the building, killing all seven hijackers and dozens of Ugandan Army soldiers. Tragically, Netanyahu was fatally wounded by a sniper. Simultaneously, other teams secured the airfield, destroyed 11 Ugandan MiG fighter jets to prevent pursuit, and evacuated the hostages onto the waiting aircraft. The entire firefight lasted approximately 53 minutes. Three hostages were killed in the crossfire, and a fourth, Dora Bloch, had been murdered earlier by Ugandan authorities.

Aftermath and legacy

The successful rescue of 102 hostages was met with immense international acclaim, significantly boosting Israeli morale and global prestige following the traumas of the Yom Kippur War. The operation strained Israel's relations with African nations and led to a United Nations Security Council condemnation for the violation of Uganda's sovereignty. Militarily, it revolutionized special forces doctrine, demonstrating the feasibility of long-range, precision hostage-rescue missions and influencing future units like the United States' Delta Force and Operation Eagle Claw. The mission was renamed Operation Yonatan in honor of the fallen commander Yonatan Netanyahu, whose brother, Benjamin Netanyahu, would later become Prime Minister of Israel. The event has been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, cementing its place as a landmark in the history of counter-terrorism and special operations.

Category:1976 in Israel Category:History of Uganda Category:Counter-terrorism in Israel Category:Aviation hijackings Category:July 1976 events