Operation Dani, also spelled Danny, was an Israeli military offensive launched on July 9–19, 1948 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 irregularsChaim Herzog, 'The Arab-Israeli Wars' (1982). page 80: 'A blow against the Arab Legion was the essence of Operation 'Danny' planned as the main Israeli offensive to be mounted on the resumption of hostilities.'

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 soldiers.

Name 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".

Objectives The first phase of Operation Dani was to capture the cities of Lydda and Ramle, located on the road to Jerusalem, southeast of Tel Aviv. Ramle was one of the main obstacles blocking Jewish transportation.Golan, Arnon. "Lydda and Ramle: from Palestinian-Arab to Israeli towns, 1948-67," Middle Eastern Studies, October 1, 2003 From the start of the war, Lydda and Ramle militiamen had attacked Jewish traffic on nearby roads.Morris 2004, p. 424 Ramle became a focal point for blocking Jewish transportation, forcing traffic from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to a southern bypass.

The second phase was to capture the fort at Latrun and break through Ramallah. The operation was carried out under Palmach command using the Yiftach Brigade, the Harel Brigade, the 8th Armored Brigade and two battalions from the Kiryati and Alexandroni brigades.

Lydda and Ramle

On 9 July units from the Yiftach Brigade began approaching Ramle from the south. At the same time troops from the other brigades began attacking villages north of Lydda. Caught in a pincer movement and with only a token Arab Legion presence the two towns were captured the following day. This put Lydda airport and the strategic railway station at Ramle in Israeli hands.

As part of the 1948 Palestinian expulsions, Israeli forces violently expelled 50,000-70,000 people from Lydda and Ramle, killing hundreds.

Latrun

The second phase of the operation failed after several costly attacks on Arab Legion positions in the Battle of Latrun and the threat of a UN-imposed cease-fire.Herzog, page 82.

Casualties The Palmach record the names of ninety-one of its members killed during this Operation. Forty-four were killed at Khirbet Kurikur on 18 July 1948. Seven were killed in the capture of Lydda.

Palestinian Arab communities captured NameDateDefending forcesBrigadePopulation Dayr Tarif 9 July 1948 Arab Legion Armoured BrigadeKiryati Brigade 1,750 Al-Tira 10 July 1948 n/a Alexandroni Brigade8th Armoured Brigade 1,290 Daniyal 10 July 1948 n/a Yiftach Brigade 410 Kharruba 10 July 1948 n/a Yiftach Brigade 170 al-Barriyya 9–10 July 1948 n/a n/a 510 'Innaba 10 July 1948 200 villagers Yiftach Brigade8th Brigade 1,420 Jimzu 10 July 1948 n/a Yiftach Brigade 1,150 Rantiya 10 July 1948 n/a 8th Armoured Brigade3rd Battalion, Alexandroni Brigade 590 Lydda 11 July 1948 n/a 3rd Battalion, Yiftah Brigade see Ramle Al-Jura 11 July 1948 n/a n/a 420 Al-Muzayri'a 12 July 1948 n/a n/a 1,160 Ramle 12 July 1948 Arab Legion withdrew Kiryati Brigade 50–70,000 combined with Lyddaincluding 15,000 refugees from Jaffa Majdal Yaba 12 July 1948 Iraqi army 2nd Battalion, Alexandroni Brigade 1,520 Al-Haditha 12 July 1948 n/a n/a 760 Abu al-Fadl 12–13 July 1948 n/a n/a 510 Suba, Jerusalem 12–13 July 1948 "bloodless" Har'el Brigade 620 Khirbat al-Lawz 13–14 July 1948 n/a Har'el Brigade 450 Sar'a 13–14 July 1948 Egyptian forces 4th Battalion Har'el Brigade 340 Sataf 13–14 July 1948 n/a Har'el Brigade 540 al-Maliha 14–16 July 1948 Egyptian irregularsPalestinian militia IrgunPalmach Youth 1,940 al-Burj 15 July 1948 Arab Legion n/a 480 Kh al-Buwayra mid July 1948 n/a n/a 190 Salbit 15–16 July 1948 Arab Legion 2nd Battalion, Kiryati Brigade 510 Bayt Nabala 15–16 July 1948 Arab Legion150-200 men n/a 2,310 Bir Ma'in 15–16 July 1948 Arab Legion Yiftach Brigade1st & 2nd Battalions 510 Barfiliya 15–16 July 1948 n/a Givati and Kiryati Brigades8th Armoured 730 Kasla 16 July 1948 n/a Har'el Brigade 280 Dayr 'Amr Boys Farm 16 July 1948 none 4th Battalion Har'el Brigade 10 Ishwa' 16 July 1948 n/a 4th Battalion Har'el Brigade 620 Artuf 17–18 July 1948 Palestinian militia under Egyptian command 4th Battalion Har'el Brigade 350 Islin 18 July 1948 n/a n/a 260 Shilta 18 July 1948 Arab Legion 1st Battalion, Yiftach Brigadelost 44 men withdrawing 100

Units Overall Commander: Yigal Allon 8th Armored Brigade Commander Yitzhak SadehHerzog, page 80. Alexandroni Brigade Kiryati Brigade (two battalions) Yiftach Brigade Commander Mula CohenMoshe Dayan, 'My Life.' (1976). Page 103.

Gallery

See also Operation Ha-Har List of battles and operations in the 1948 Palestine war Depopulated Palestinian locations in Israel

References

Notes

External links