OPERATION HYPERION
1982 - 1984

General Service medal with Lebanon clasp awarded to participating personnel.

1st The Queens Dragoon Guards

16th/5th The Queens Royal Lancers

30 Signal Regiment

The conflict in the Middle East between the Arabs and Israelis had centered itself on Lebanon in the early 1980s. As a result the Israeli Army invaded and drove the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) out of the capital Beirut. Having achieved their goal the Israelis then also withdrew  leaving a power vacuum in  the war torn city.  The  UN  decided to deploy a peacekeeping force. The mission  was however doomed to failure, as the conditions did not exist for peace. 

A Company-sized British Contingent served with the Multi National Force (MNF) From February 1983 to February 1984. The original unit was C Squadron, QDG, replaced from August  to  December  by A Squadron, and  from then until  the withdrawal  by a Squadron of 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers. All were equipped with Ferret Armoured Cars.

Quartered in a building in South-East Beirut, the British were the only MNF contingent not to suffer casualties in Lebanon. Although in September 1983, the number of 'wild rounds' striking their exposed billets led the commander, a Paratrooper, to vigorously request a more active stance for his force. 

more information: britains-smallwars.com

© Reference pictures taken from the QDG and QRL Web sites.