Operation Entebbe: The Untold Story of Thunderbolt Control
Description
The Entebbe raid, also known as "Operation Jonathan," remains to this day one of the most daring and brilliant commando operations in modern military history. It began on June 27, 1976, when Air France Flight 139, traveling from Munich to Paris with a stopover in Athens, was hijacked by German and Palestinian terrorists. The aircraft was forced to land at Entebbe Airport in Uganda under the patronage of dictator Idi Amin. There, the Jewish and Israeli passengers were separated from the other travelers, who were subsequently released—a chilling move that evoked dark memories from Jewish history. Faced with a terrorist ultimatum demanding the release of dozens of security prisoners and the threat of executing the hostages, the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Defense Minister Shimon Peres, decided to launch a nearly impossible rescue mission approximately 3,800 kilometers from Israel's borders. Elite units from Sayeret Matkal, the Paratroopers, and the Golani Brigade took off in "Karnaf" (Hercules) transport planes, flying at low altitudes to evade radar. They carried vehicles with them, including a black Mercedes intended to mimic Idi Amin’s official motorcade to deceive the Ugandan guards. On the night between July 3rd and 4th, the commandos stormed the Ugandan terminal within minutes. In a brief and intense firefight, the terrorists were eliminated and dozens of Ugandan soldiers were neutralized. The vast majority of the hostages were safely rescued and boarded the planes for the journey home to Israel. However, the operation claimed a heavy price: the commander of the assault force, Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan (Yoni) Netanyahu, was killed during the exchange of fire, and three hostages lost their lives during the drama at the airport. Another hostage, Dora Bloch, who had been taken to a local hospital, was later murdered on the orders of Idi Amin in an act of revenge. Operation Entebbe resonated across the globe, becoming a symbol of resolve, audacity, and extraordinary operational capability. It proved that the State of Israel would spare no effort to save its citizens, even in the most remote corners of the world. To this day, the mission is studied in military academies worldwide and continues to be a source of national pride and an inspiration for generations of soldiers.
Original title
מבצע אנטבה: הסיפור המלא של פשיטת הרעמים
מבצע אנטבה, הידוע גם בשם "מבצע יונתן", נחשב עד היום לאחת מפעולות הקומנדו הנועזות והמבריקות ביותר בהיסטוריה הצבאית המודרנית. הכל החל ב-27 ביוני 1976, כאשר מטוס "אייר פרנס" בטיסה 139 ממינכן לפריז, שעצר לחניית ביניים באתונה, נחטף על ידי מחבלים גרמנים ופלסטינים. המטוס אולץ לנחות בשדה התעופה באנטבה שבאוגנדה, תחת חסותו של הדיקטטור אידי אמין, שם הופרדו הנוסעים היהודים והישראלים משאר הנוסעים ששוחררו – צעד שעורר זיכרונות קשים מההיסטוריה היהודית. אל מול אולטימטום של המחבלים לשחרור עשרות אסירים ביטחוניים ואיום בהוצאה להורג של בני הערובה, החליטה ממשלת ישראל, בראשות יצחק רבין ושר הביטחון שמעון פרס, לצאת למבצע חילוץ כמעט בלתי אפשרי במרחק של כ-3,800 קילומטרים מגבולות המדינה. כוחות סיירת מטכ"ל, צנחנים וגולני המריאו במטוסי קרנף (הרקולס) שטסו בגובה נמוך כדי לחמוק ממכ"ם, כשהם נושאים עימם כלי רכב, ביניהם "מרצדס" שחורה שנועדה לדמות את שיירת השרד של אידי אמין ולהטעות את השומרים האוגנדים. בלילה שבין ה-3 ל-4 ביולי, פשטו הלוחמים על הטרמינל באוגנדה בתוך דקות ספורות. בקרב קצר ואינטנסיבי חוסלו המחבלים ונוטרלו עשרות חיילים אוגנדים. רובם המכריע של בני הערובה חולצו בשלום והועלו למטוסים בדרך הביתה לישראל. עם זאת, המבצע גבה מחיר כבד: מפקד כוח הפשיטה, סגן-אלוף יונתן (יוני) נתניהו, נהרג במהלך חילופי האש, ושלושה בני ערובה נהרגו במהלך הדרמה בשדה התעופה. בת ערובה נוספת, דורה בלוך, שהושארה בבית חולים בנפלה, נרצחה מאוחר יותר בהוראת אידי אמין כנקמה. מבצע אנטבה הכה גלים ברחבי העולם והפך לסמל של נחישות, תעוזה ויכולת מבצעית יוצאת דופן. הוא הוכיח כי מדינת ישראל לא תחסוך במאמצים כדי להציל את אזרחיה, גם במקומות המרוחקים ביותר. המבצע נלמד עד היום באקדמיות צבאיות ברחבי העולם וממשיך להוות מוקד של גאווה לאומית והשראה לדורות של לוחמים.
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