Operation Dani | |||||||
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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) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Yigal Alon Yitzhak Rabin |
Glubb Pasha | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
6,000 |
Operation Danni (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
It was launched at the end of the first truce, July 9–19, 1948. On 10 July, Glubb Pasha ordered the defending Arab Legion troops to "make arrangements...for a phony war".
The operation commander was Yigal Allon and his deputy was Yitzhak Rabin. The total force numbered around 6,000 men.
Yitzhak Sadeh (left) and Yigal Allon (1948)
8th Armoured Brigade capture Lydda Airport (1948)
Yiftach Brigade before the attack on Lydda and Ramle, 1948
A female soldier from the brigade accepting a cigarette from an Arab resident in Lydda after the fall of the city
The operation was named after Palmach officer Daniel "Dani" Mass, who had fallen on January 16, 1948 while commanding a relief action known as "Convoy of 35".