Operation Entebbe
Operation Entebbe was a landmark 1976 Israeli counter-terrorist hostage-rescue mission carried out by the IDF at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. It remains a foundational symbol of Israeli military ingenuity and national resolve.
Operation Entebbe, executed on July 4, 1976, stands as one of the most daring and successful hostage rescue missions in modern military history. The operation was launched following the hijacking of Air France Flight 139 by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the German Revolutionary Cells. The hijackers diverted the plane to Uganda, where they were supported by the regime of Idi Amin. After a week of intense deliberation, the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, authorized a long-range commando raid over 4,000 kilometers from Israel.
The mission was led by the elite Sayeret Matkal unit. During the rescue, the unit's commander, Lt. Col. Yonatan (Yoni) Netanyahu, was killed—the only IDF fatality during the operation. In his honor, the mission was later renamed 'Operation Yonatan.' The raid resulted in the successful rescue of 102 out of 106 remaining hostages. Beyond its tactical success, Entebbe fundamentally altered the global approach to state-sponsored terrorism, demonstrating that Israel would go to any length to protect its citizens.
In June 2026, as Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the operation, new archival documents were released, shedding light on the immense internal pressure faced by the cabinet. These records reveal that the government initially leaned toward a negotiated settlement and deeply feared the possibility of a failed mission that would result in the deaths of all hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a memorial for his brother Yoni, linked the legacy of Entebbe to modern security challenges, emphasizing that the spirit of independent military action remains central to Israeli defense doctrine, particularly regarding threats from the Iranian regime and its proxies.