19 juill. 1969 - Operation Bulmus 6

Description:

Sayeret Matkal: The General Staff Reconnaissance unit.
Shayetet 13: The Naval Commandos.
The operation was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Zeev Almog. The priorities for the raid were to destroy the 85 mm anti-aircraft guns first, followed by the northern building, and then to neutralize the radar and ELINT facilities.

The operation was split into two waves:

First Wave: Comprising naval commandos who would use Zodiac inflatable boats and then swim to the island.
Second Wave: Consisting of additional commandos, command and control teams, and medical personnel, who would arrive to support and extract the first wave.
Execution
First Wave: Departing from Ras Sudar at 20:30, the first wave approached the island by boat and then swam, carrying heavy equipment. They encountered challenging currents and arrived 8 minutes behind schedule at 01:38. They cut through the barbed wire and engaged Egyptian defenders. Despite some of their grenades becoming unusable, they successfully breached the island's defenses, with supporting fire from a diversionary team on a rock outcropping.

Second Wave: Upon receiving a signal flare from the first wave, the second wave arrived by Zodiac boats, quickly set up a command post, and took out the 85 mm gun emplacements. The fighting was intense and close-quarters, with Egyptian defenders initially disorganized but eventually mounting a fierce resistance, including self-destructive artillery fire.

The extraction was ordered at 02:15, with the teams boarding Zodiacs and heading back to the eastern shore. Despite some losses, including one Zodiac sunk by Egyptian artillery and delays due to additional artillery fire, the Israeli commandos successfully completed their mission.

Aftermath
Casualties: The raid resulted in the deaths of three Sayeret Matkal and three Shayetet 13 commandos, with eleven others wounded. The Egyptian casualties were substantial, with around 80 killed, including some from friendly fire caused by Egyptian artillery.

Impact: The successful destruction of the Green Island facility sent a strong message to Egypt. The Israeli Air Force used the opportunity to launch Operation Boxer, engaging in a series of dogfights and bombing raids. The IDF also conducted further raids along the Suez Canal until the 1970 cease-fire.

Medal of Valor: Ami Ayalon, one of the key figures in the operation, received Israel's highest military decoration, the Medal of Valor, for his exceptional bravery during the raid.

Operation Bulmus 6 exemplified the IDF's commitment to operational excellence and strategic messaging, solidifying Israel's reputation for conducting highly effective and precise military operations.

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