Operation Thunderbolt, also known as Operation Entebbe, was a daring and successful hostage rescue mission carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. The operation took place on July 4, 1976. It was prompted by the hijacking of an Air France plane, Flight 139, by two members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - External Operations (PFLP-EO) and two members of the German Revolutionary Cells.
Here is a brief overview of the critical events of Operation Thunderbolt:
1. Hijacking: On June 27, 1976, an Air France Airbus A300 with 248 passengers was hijacked by two Palestinians, Wilfried Böse and Brigitte Kuhlmann, and two members of the Revolutionary Cells, a German leftist group. The plane was en route from Tel Aviv to Paris, but the hijackers diverted it to Entebbe, Uganda.
2. Hostage Situation in Entebbe: The hijackers, with the support of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, took the hostages to the old terminal of Entebbe Airport. They separated Israeli and Jewish passengers from the others and made demands, including the release of 40 Palestinians held in Israel and 13 detainees incarcerated in Kenya and France.
3. Preparation: under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Israel decided to respond with force. The IDF, led by Defense Minister Shimon Peres and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mordechai Gur, began planning the rescue operation. Israeli intelligence gathered crucial information about the airport layout, building, and the number of hostages.
4. Operation Thunderbolt: On July 4, 1976, Israeli commandos from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit, led by Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu (brother of future Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu), carried out a surprise assault on the airport. The operation took place over 90 minutes.
5. Rescue: The commandos stormed the terminal, killed all the hijackers, and rescued 102 hostages. Unfortunately, three hostages were killed during the operation, and Yonatan Netanyahu lost his life. The Ugandan military suffered casualties as well.
6. Success and Impact: Operation Thunderbolt was a remarkable success, showcasing the capabilities of the Israeli military. The rescue mission bolstered Israel's reputation for being willing and able to act decisively to protect its citizens. The operation had significant political implications and demonstrated that Israel would go to great lengths to secure the release of its citizens.
Operation Thunderbolt remains one of the most famous hostage rescue missions in history, highlighting the strategic and tactical prowess of the Israeli military. That is why we are creating the game Operation Thunderbolt to immortalize the daring and historic rescue mission carried out by the Israel Defense Forces at Entebbe Airport. This video game aims to capture the intensity, strategy, and heroism displayed during the operation, allowing players to experience the challenges faced by the elite Sayeret Matkal unit as they executed the mission to free hostages from the grips of terrorists. By reliving this pivotal moment in history, the game pays homage to the bravery of those involved in Operation Thunderbolt and serves as a tribute to their unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives.