Operation Eland

Operation Eland
Part of the Rhodesian Bush War
Operation Eland is located in Mozambique
Nyadzonya
Nyadzonya
Operation Eland (Mozambique)
Date9 August 1976[2]
Location
Nyadzonya, People's Republic of Mozambique
18°31′57″S 33°23′18″E / 18.5326°S 33.3883°E / -18.5326; 33.3883 (ZANLA Base at Nyadzonya)
Result

Rhodesian victory

  • Over 1,000 African guerillas killed
Belligerents
 Rhodesia[1] ZANLA (ZANU)[1]
FRELIMO[1]
Commanders and leaders
Rhodesia Ron Reid-Daly[3]
Rhodesia Rob Warraker
Rhodesia Morrison Nyathi		 Josiah Tongogara
Robert Mugabe
Edgar Tekere
Units involved

Rhodesian Army

ZANU guerillas and refugees
Strength
84 scouts[1]
4 Ferret armoured cars		 5,000 people; combination of ZANU guerillas and refugees
Casualties and losses
None 1,000+ killed

Operation Eland, also known as the Nyadzonya[a] Raid, was a military operation carried out by the Rhodesian Selous Scouts at Nyadzonya in Mozambique on 9 August 1976.[2]

The raid had adverse political and diplomatic consequences for Rhodesia. In response to the attack, the South African government ended its covert military assistance for Rhodesia, reduced the supply of oil and munitions, and began to pressure the Rhodesian government to accept a transition to black majority rule. The Rhodesian Prime Minister, Ian Smith, agreed (in principle) to this, in September 1976.

  1. ^ a b c d Moorcraft, Paul L.; McLaughlin, Peter (April 2008) [1982]. The Rhodesian War: A Military History. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-84415-694-8.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Ian (1997). The Great Betrayal. London: Blake Publishing Ltd. pp. 195–196. ISBN 1-85782-176-9.
  3. ^ Peter J.H. Petter-Bowyer (13 August 2023). Winds of Destruction: The Autobiography of a Rhodesian Combat Pilot (2005 ed.). 30°. pp. 278–279. ISBN 978-0-9584890-3-4.


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