Skip to main content

November 1988: How Algeria Thwarted an Israeli Bombing Attempt against the PLO in Algiers

The events of November 1988 in Algiers, where the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was set to declare an independent Palestinian state, were not merely diplomatic proceedings. They were shrouded in geopolitical tension and potential military threats, particularly from Israel, aiming to disrupt the historic gathering. This article explores the little-known narrative of how Algeria, through strategic military preparations, averted a planned Israeli airstrike against the PLO leadership.

Context: Israeli Operations and the Tunisian Precedent

The backdrop to the November 1988 events was set by a previous Israeli operation in Tunis in October 1985. This attack targeted the headquarters of the PLO's Force 17, demonstrating Israel's long-range capabilities and its resolve to eliminate Palestinian leadership outside its borders. The strike, conducted with precision and surprise, underscored Israel's determination to counteract Palestinian resistance despite international ramifications (Kharief, 2018).

Planning and Deployment of Algerian Defenses

In anticipation of the PLO’s declaration in Algiers, Algeria implemented an extensive defensive strategy, mobilizing ground, naval, and air assets to safeguard the Palestinian leaders gathered at the Palais des nations. This proactive stance was influenced by the lessons learned from the Tunisian incident and the potential vulnerability of hosting high-profile Palestinian figures on Algerian soil (Kharief, 2018).

Algeria fortified its air defense systems, deploying radar stations and surface-to-air missile batteries across strategic locations. These measures were crucial in establishing a comprehensive air defense shield, covering a radius of 20 kilometers around the Palais des nations and extending control zones up to 200 kilometers, effectively creating no-fly zones to deter any hostile incursions (Kharief, 2018).

Operational Response to the Threat

On November 10, 1988, Algerian radar stations detected a suspicious formation approaching from the eastern Mediterranean. This radar contact, identified as potentially hostile, triggered an immediate response from Algerian interceptor aircraft. MiG-23 and MiG-25 jets were scrambled to intercept and deter any approaching aircraft, ensuring the safety of the Palestinian leaders convening in Algiers (Cooper, 2018).

The swift and decisive action by Algerian military forces, coupled with advanced radar surveillance and operational readiness, effectively neutralized the imminent threat. The interception mission demonstrated Algeria's capability to respond swiftly and effectively to protect its guests and uphold regional stability amidst heightened geopolitical tensions (Cooper, 2018).

Conclusion

The events of November 1988 in Algiers stand as a testament to Algeria's strategic foresight and operational competence in safeguarding diplomatic processes against external threats. The successful defense against the planned Israeli airstrike not only secured the safety of Palestinian leaders but also reaffirmed Algeria's role in regional security and its commitment to the Palestinian cause.

Belgacem Merbah

References

  • Kharief, A. (2018). Novembre 1988: comment l’Algérie a déjoué un bombardement israélien contre l’OLP à Alger. Middle East Eye. 
  • Cooper, T. (2018). Operation "Wooden Leg": The Planned Israeli Airstrike on the Palais des Nations in November 1988. Air Combat Information Group. 



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The CIA declassifies a document that reveals Morocco's true motives in the 1963 Sand War

The recent declassification of a CIA document dated August 23, 1957, sheds new light on French intentions regarding oil fields in Algeria and plans for post-independence Algeria. This document provides valuable details on French economic and political strategies, as well as the geopolitical dynamics of the era. French Intentions for the Algerian Sahara According to the document, France intended to retain the Algerian Sahara at all costs, planning to divide it into two separate departments. This decision reflects the strategic importance of this resource-rich region for France. The Sahara, with its vast oil and gas reserves, represented a major economic stake. Infrastructure Strategy and Cooperation with Spain France did not plan to build pipelines to the north of Algeria to avoid any energy dependence on an independent Algeria. Instead, discussions were underway with Spain to evacuate oil and gas via Western Sahara, then under Spanish control. The Spanish authorities, enthusiastic abou...
Post a Comment
Read more

Morocco persists in communicating imaginary projects to counter Algeria's concrete and operational initiatives in favor of its African depth

  After the imaginary Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project , Morocco recently embarked on a new pipe dream entitled: access for Sahelian countries to the Atlantic Ocean. The only thing serious about these projects, whose feasibility and financing are still unclear, are the Pharaonic means of communication used by Morocco to hammer home its fallacious and intellectually dishonest messages.  We should also note the diplomatic efforts made by the Moroccans to organize colloquia in Marrakech with African leaders of dubious morality and mediocre intellectual level, in order to present a project with vague outlines and objectives.  We can legitimately wonder why the foreign ministers of the Sahel countries decided to travel to Marrakech, as the project to give the Sahel countries access to the Atlantic is far from being an easily achievable project, as it faces a number of geopolitical, geostrategic and financial challenges: Was Mauritania consulted (it did not take part in the...
3 comments
Read more

Algerian-Moroccan relations through the media prism and Moroccan-led mediation attempts

On August 24, 2021, Algeria took the historic step of officially severing diplomatic relations with Morocco. This move, seen as a direct response to Morocco's hostile actions, highlights a series of political, historical and geopolitical tensions that have plagued relations between the two neighbors for decades. This summary explores the major reasons for this rupture, integrating media dynamics, unsuccessful attempts at mediation, and historical grievances accumulated against Morocco. Relations between Algeria and Morocco have historically been marked by geopolitical tensions, notably due to the Western Sahara conflict and deep-seated political rivalries. This climate of mistrust is exacerbated by media coverage on both sides, with Moroccan media playing a key role in maintaining an obsession with Algeria, while Moroccan attempts to seek international mediation to ease these tensions remain unsuccessful. 1. Historical and political background The rivalry between Algeria and Morocc...
Post a Comment
Read more