Operation Hiram

Operation Hiram was a military operation conducted by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War It was led by Moshe Carmel and aimed at capturing the entire Galilee region for Israel. The operation, which lasted just 60 hours (October 29-October 31) ended just before the ceasefire with the neighboring Arab countries went into effect. Its success ensured that the Upper Galilee, originally slated by the United Nations partition plan to be part of the Arab state of Palestine, would be controlled by the newly-formed state of Israel.

The operation was launched in response to an attack on the Jewish settlement of Manara by the Arab Liberation Army led by Fawzi el-Kaukji. Four IDF brigades (the Seventh, Carmeli, Givati, and Oded brigades) counterattacked. The Seventh and Oded brigades advanced in a pincer movement toward the village of Sasa, the former coming from the town of Safed and the latter from Nahariyya, passing by the village of Tarshiha. Simultaneously, the Golani Brigade engaged in diversionary tactics in the direction of the village of Illaboun. The Carmeli Brigade, which was assigned to counter a possible Syrian offensive, crossed the border into Lebanon, captured 41 villages, and reached the Litani River.

At the end of this lightning attack, Israeli forces reached the Hiram Junction, north of Safed. The siege of Manara was lifted, Kaukji's army was destroyed, and the roads crossing the Upper Galilee were secured. With the Galilee under Israeli control, the IDF established a defensive line along the Lebanese

In "Operation Hiram Revisisted: A Correction," historian Benny Morris argues that, contrary to popular belief, orders were given out to clear the Galilee of Arabs. In October 31 Major General Moshe Carmel wrote a telegram to all his division and district commanders under his command:

Do all you can to immediately and quickly purge the conquered territories of all hostile elements in accordance with the orders issued. The residents should be helped to leave the areas that have been conquered. (Benny Morris, The Deportations of the Hiram Operation: Correcting a Mistake)

On October 29, 1948 after Safsaf had been captured, brigades involved in Operation Hiram committed the Safsaf massacre, in which 70 blindfolded men were executed and 3 girls raped.

In October, 1948 after occupying the village of Hula in Lebanon and rounding up a number of villagers, Israeli forces executed the remaining children, young persons, older and disabled persons in a savage massacre. A total of 90 persons were assembled in one house which was then demolished with the occupants still inside. The remaining families were forced to flee.

The name is a reference to Hiram, the Biblical king of Tyre. He was instrumental in construction of the First Temple.

Contents

Palestinian communities captured in Operation Hiram

Palestinian communities captures in Operation Hiram
Name Date Resistance Brigade
Al-Nabi Rubin Early October 1948 none n/a
Suhmata October 30, 1948 none Golani Brigade
Dayr al-Qassi October 30, 1948 none n/a
Arab al-Samniyya October 30-31, 1948 none Sheva', Carmeli, Golani, Oded
Iqrit October 31, 1948 none Oded Brigade
Iribbin, Khirbat October 31, 1948 none Oded Brigade
Kafr 'Inan October 30, 1948 none Golani Brigade
Marus October 30, 1948 none Sheva' Brigade
Mirun October 29, 1948 none Sheva', Carmeli
Safsaf October 29, 1948 ALA 2nd Battalion ?
Sa'sa October 30, 1949 none Sheva', Druze unit
Suruh November 1948 none ?
Tarbikha November 1948 none Oded Brigade

Brigades participating in Operation Hiram


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