Operation Danny | |||||||
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Part of 1948 Arab–Israeli War | |||||||
The strategically important airport at Lydda following its capture by the IDF in July 1948 |
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Belligerents | |||||||
Israel (IDF) | Transjordan (Arab Legion) |
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Yigal Alon Yitzhak Rabin |
Glubb Pasha |
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Strength | |||||||
6,000 |
Operation Danny (Hebrew: מבצע דני, Mivtza Dani) was an Israeli military offensive launched at the end of the first truce of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The objectives were to capture territory east of Tel Aviv and then to push inland and relieve the Jewish population and forces in Jerusalem. The main forces fighting against the IDF were the Arab Legion and Palestinian irregulars [1]
It was launched at the end of the first truce, July 9–19, 1948. The operation was named after Danny Mass, the commander of the "Convoy of 35". The operation commander was Yigal Allon and his deputy was Yitzhak Rabin. The total force numbered around 6,000 men.[2]
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The first phase of Operation Danny was to capture the cities of Lydda and Ramle, located on the road to Jerusalem, southeast of Tel Aviv. Ramle was one of the main obstacles blocking Jewish transportation.[3] From the start of the war, Lydda and Ramle militiamen had attacked Jewish traffic on nearby roads.[4] Ramle became a focal point for blocking Jewish transportation, forcing traffic from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to a southern bypass.[5]
The second phase was to capture the fort at Latrun and break through Ramallah. The operation was carried out under Palmach command using the Yiftach Brigade, the Harel Brigade, the 8th Armored Brigade and two battalions from the Kiryati and Alexandroni brigades.
(see Exodus from Lydda)
On 9 July units from the Yiftach Brigade began approaching Ramle from the south. At the same time troops form the other brigades began attacking villages north of Lydda. Caught in a pincer movement and with only a token Arab Legion presence the two towns were captured the following day. This put Lydda airport and the strategic railway station at Ramle in Israeli hands. Two days after the capture of Lydda and Ramle only a few hundred of the 50,000 to 70,000 residents remained in the two towns.
(see Battles of Latrun)
The second phase of the operation failed after several costly attacks on Arab Legion positions at Latrun and the threat of a UN-imposed cease-fire.[6]
The Palmach record the names of ninety-one of its members killed during this Operation. Forty-four were killed at Khirbet Kurikur on 18 July 1948. Seven were killed in the capture of Lydda.[7]
(Most of the villages were systematically destroyed shortly after capture)
Name | Date | Defending forces | Brigade | Population |
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Dayr Tarif | 9 July 1948 | Arab Legion | Armoured Brigade Kiryati Brigade |
1,750 |
Al-Tira | 10 July 1948 | n/a | Alexandroni Brigade 8th Armoured Brigade |
1,290 |
Daniyal | 10 July 1948 | n/a | Yiftach Brigade | 410 |
Kharruba | 10 July 1948 | n/a | Yiftach Brigade | 170 |
al-Barriyya | 9–10 July 1948 | n/a | n/a | 510 |
'Innaba | 10 July 1948 | 200 villagers | Yiftach Brigade 8th Brigade |
1,420 |
Jimzu | 10 July 1948 | n/a | Yiftach Brigade | 1,150 |
Rantiya | 10 July 1948 | n/a | 8th Armoured Brigade 3rd Battalion, Alexandroni Brigade |
590 |
Lydda | 11 July 1948 | n/a | 3rd Battalion, Yiftah Brigade | see Ramle |
Al-Jura | 11 July 1948 | n/a | n/a | 420 |
Al-Muzayri'a | 12 July 1948 | n/a | n/a | 1,160 |
Ramle | 12 July 1948 | Arab Legion withdrew | Kiryati Brigade | 50-70,000 combined with Lydda including 15,000 refugees from Jaffa |
Majdal Yaba | 12 July 1948 | Iraqi army | 2nd Battalion, Alexandroni Brigade | 1,520 |
Al-Haditha | 12 July 1948 | n/a | n/a | 760 |
Abu al-Fadl | 12–13 July 1948 | n/a | n/a | 510 |
Suba, Jerusalem | 12–13 July 1948 | "bloodless" | Har'el Brigade | 620 |
Khirbat al-Lawz | 13–14 July 1948 | n/a | Har'el Brigade | 450 |
Sar'a | 13–14 July 1948 | Egyptian forces | 4th Battalion Har'el Brigade | 340 |
Sataf | 13–14 July 1948 | n/a | Har'el Brigade | 540 |
al-Maliha | 14–16 July 1948 | Egyptian irregulars Palestinian militia |
Irgun Palmach Youth |
1,940 |
al-Burj | 15 July 1948 | Arab Legion | n/a | 480 |
Kh al-Buwayra | mid July 1948 | n/a | n/a | 190 |
Salbit | 15–16 July 1948 | Arab Legion | 2nd Battalion, Kiryati Brigade | 510 |
Bayt Nabala | 15–16 July 1948 | Arab Legion 150-200 men |
n/a | 2,310 |
Bir Ma'in | 15–16 July 1948 | Arab Legion | Yiftach Brigade 1st & 2nd Battalions |
510 |
Barfiliya | 15–16 July 1948 | n/a | Givati and Kiryati Brigades 8th Armoured |
730 |
Kasla | 16 July 1948 | n/a | Har'el Brigade | 280 |
Dayr 'Amr Boys Farm | 16 July 1948 | none | 4th Battalion Har'el Brigade | 10 |
Ishwa' | 16 July 1948 | n/a | 4th Battalion Har'el Brigade | 620 |
Artuf | 17–18 July 1948 | Palestinian militia under Egyptian command |
4th Battalion Har'el Brigade | 350 |
Islin | 18 July 1948 | n/a | n/a | 260 |
Shilta | 18 July 1948 | Arab Legion | 1st Battalion, Yiftach Brigade lost 44 men withdrawing |
100 |
Sources:
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