Operation Highbrow
Operation Highbrow (German: Operation "Demanding") was the name of a large-scale military evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon due to the war between Israel and Lebanon in 2006. According to the Ministry of Defense, it was the largest British operation of its kind since the evacuation of Dunkirk 1940, a total of around 4500 people had been evacuated by July 22nd.
history
prehistory
On July 12, 2006, Israel launched a military offensive against Lebanon after Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. Israel moved into the south of the neighboring country with ground troops and bombed large parts of the country including the capital Beirut . Infrastructure, including the highways and Beirut airport, was deliberately destroyed in the bombing. This made evacuation from the air or by land considerably more difficult. In addition, the Israeli navy set up a sea blockade off the coast of Lebanon. According to British information, there were a total of around 22,000 British people in Lebanon, including around 10,000 with British and Lebanese citizenship.
Preparations
On July 15th, the British government decided to prepare for an evacuation of British citizens due to the increased risk. Because of the largely destroyed infrastructure in Lebanon, it was decided to carry out the operation by sea. The Royal Navy then dispatched the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious , the dock landing ship HMS Bulwark , the frigate HMS St. Albans and the supply ship RFA Fort Victoria from the western Mediterranean to the Middle East. The guided missile destroyers HMS York and HMS Gloucester , which are already in the region , have been placed on heightened alert. The Royal Air Force relocated the 27th Squadron with Chinook helicopters to Akrotiri Base in Cyprus. The Royal Navy also moved Sea King helicopters of the 845th and 846th Fleet Air Arm squadrons to Cyprus. In addition, a shuttle service with transport aircraft between Akrotiri and the bases in Brize Norton and Lyneham in England was set up to deliver the necessary equipment and supplies for the arriving evacuees. A Tristar was also stationed in Cyprus with MedEvac equipment in order to provide medical care to the sick and injured in an emergency.
surgery
On July 17, the Royal Air Force began evacuating the first British citizens. Two Chinook helicopters flew 63 people from the grounds of the British Embassy in Beirut to Cyprus. These were so-called priority cases , especially older people and children. The sea evacuation began the following day. The guided missile destroyer HMS Gloucester took a total of 172 people on board in the port of Beirut , the HMS York a few hours later another 344. A shuttle service between Beirut and Cyprus was set up with the two ships. On the evening of July 19, the HMS Illustrious aircraft carrier association finally arrived off the coast of Lebanon. The aircraft carrier, together with HMS Bulwark and RFA Fort Victoria, offered space for around 2500 refugees. By July 22, the units involved had evacuated around 4,500 people. The ships HMS Illustrious, HMS Gloucester and RFA Fort Victoria were withdrawn for England on July 27th. The HMS Bulwark and the HMS St. Albans, as well as the 845th and 846th Marine Squadrons were initially left as an intervention reserve in the region, while the HMS York turned back to its NATO-related tasks in the eastern Mediterranean. (As of August 3, 2006)
Units involved
- Aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious
- Landing dock ship HMS Bulwark
- Nuclear submarine HMS Superb
- Destroyer HMS Gloucester
- Destroyer HMS York
- Frigate HMS St. Albans
- Utilities RFA Fort Victoria
- 845th Fleet Air Arm Squadron ( S-61 Sea King )
- 846th Fleet Air Arm Squadron ( S-61 Sea King )
Royal Air Force
- 27th Squadron ( CH-47D Chinook )
- 99th Squadron ( C-17 Globemaster )
- 101st Squadron ( VC10 )
- 216th Squadron ( L-1011 TriStar )
