None 150 targets destroyed | Result Israeli victory | |
Location Southern Lebanon, Lebanon, Maine | ||
Operation Beach Boys was an operation in Southern Lebanon by the Israeli special forces unit Sayeret Maglan during the 2006 Lebanon War.
Contents
Background
Throughout the 2006 Lebanon War, Hezbollah kept a steady barrage of rockets into northern Israel. Intelligence suggested that many of the rockets were being launched from coastal areas. Senior Maglan officers planned a clandestine operation behind Hezbollah lines to destroy rocket launchers in the western sector of South Lebanon along the coast, and the mission was cleared for action after personal approval from Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch.
The operation
Dozens of Maglan soldiers were airlifted into South Lebanon by helicopter. After hiding from a passing Hezbollah squad, the soldiers began calling in airstrikes against Hezbollah rocket launchers, as well as headquarters, trucks, ammunition dumps, and other military infrastructure. A total of 150 Hezbollah targets, including 40 rocket launchers, were destroyed. The operation lasted 11 days before the soldiers were withdrawn, as a ceasefire came into effect.
Aftermath
The operation was widely considered a success, and was estimated to have reduced Hezbollah rocket fire by 40%.