BRITFORLEB
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OPERATION HYPERION
1982 - 1984
1st The Queens Dragoon Guards
16th/5th The Queens Royal Lancers
30 Signal Regiment
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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 MNF (Multi National Force) From February 1983 to February 1984. The original unit was C Sqn., QDG, replaced from August to December by A Sqn., 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.
