Operation "Markolet" ('Night of the Bridges') – the attacked bridges
23:30 on the night of the 16th to the 17th of June 1946 was set as the zero hour for bombing all the bridges.
23:30 on the night of the 16th to the 17th of June 1946 was set as the zero hour for bombing all the bridges.
The forces, varying in size between 13 to 45 warriors, raided the bridges:
1. Akhziv Bridges: Two bridges (road and railway), connecting Israel with Lebanon above Nahal Akhziv in the western Galilee, were attacked by the 1st Battalion forces headed by Nechemia Shine. The force left from kibbutz Mezzuva and retreated to Mezzuva and Hanita.
2. North-east Mettula Bridge: The road-bridge overlooking Nahal Ayun and connecting Israel with Lebanon was attacked by the Third Battalion force headed by David (Dudu) Cherkesky. The force left from Tel-Hai and retreated to kibbutz Dafna.
3. North-west Mettula Bridge: The road-bridge connecting Israel with Lebanon was attacked by the Third Battalion force headed by Danny Noyman (Naaman.) The force left from Tel-Hai and retreated to kibbutz Kfar Giladi.
4.. Benot Ya'aqov Bridge: The road-bridge overlooking the Jordan River in the Upper Galilee and connecting Israel with Syria was attacked by the Third Battalion force headed by Oded Messer. The force left from kibbutz Ayelet-Hashahar and retreated to a hiding place adjacent to the Hahula Lake.
5.. Yarmuk Bridge: The railway bridge overlooking the Yarmuk River near El-Hama and connecting Israel with Jordan was attacked by the Third Battalion force headed by Aharon Spector. The force left from kibbutz Afikim and retreated to kibbutz Ashdot Ya'aqov.
6.. Sheikh Hussein Bridge: The road-bridge overlooking the Jordan River in the Beisan Valley and connecting Israel with Jordan was attacked by the 1st Battalion force headed by Zalman Axelrod. The force left from kibbutz Ma'oz Hayyim and retreated to back there.
7.. Damiya Bridge (Adam): The road-bridge overlooking the Jordan River east of Jiptaliq Junction and connecting Israel with Jordan was attacked by the Fourth Battalion force headed by Yochanan Zariz. The force left from kibbutz Sarid and retreated to kibbutz Mesilot.
8.. Allenby Bridge: The road-bridge overlooking the Jordan River east of Jericho and connecting Israel with Jordan was attacked by the Second Battalion force headed by Chaim Bruslavsky (Bar-Lev.) The force left from kibbutz Beit-Haarava and retreated to kibbutz Ramat Rachel.
9. Gaza Bridges: Two bridges (road and railway) from Nachal Gaza (Nachal Habsor today) connecting Israel with Egypt were attacked by the Second Battalion forces headed by Itiel (Itay) Amichai. The force left from kibbutz Beerot-Yitzhak and retreated to kibbutz Dorot and kibbutz Ruchama.
The 'Squad' – the Palyam naval sabotage squad headed by Yochai Ben-Nun, planned to bomb the railroad tunnel on the Lebanese border, north of Ras En Naqura. The plan was cancelled shortly before the operation for political reasons: The tunnel was located outside Israel's territory and also because it was clear that restoring the tunnel would be difficult. It is worthy of mentioning that there was no intent to cause irreversible damage to the bridges, but one that would be easily noticed and eventually surmounted.
A few of the Palmach culture and information members joined some of the raids. Their job was to depict the atmosphere and spirit among the warriors during their preparation, while attacking the target and during retreat; the goal was to pass them on as values that would shape and foster the esprit de corps and its battle legacy.
The forces, varying in size between 13 to 45 warriors, raided the bridges:
1. Akhziv Bridges: Two bridges (road and railway), connecting Israel with Lebanon above Nahal Akhziv in the western Galilee, were attacked by the 1st Battalion forces headed by Nechemia Shine. The force left from kibbutz Mezzuva and retreated to Mezzuva and Hanita.
2. North-east Mettula Bridge: The road-bridge overlooking Nahal Ayun and connecting Israel with Lebanon was attacked by the Third Battalion force headed by David (Dudu) Cherkesky. The force left from Tel-Hai and retreated to kibbutz Dafna.
3. North-west Mettula Bridge: The road-bridge connecting Israel with Lebanon was attacked by the Third Battalion force headed by Danny Noyman (Naaman.) The force left from Tel-Hai and retreated to kibbutz Kfar Giladi.
4.. Benot Ya'aqov Bridge: The road-bridge overlooking the Jordan River in the Upper Galilee and connecting Israel with Syria was attacked by the Third Battalion force headed by Oded Messer. The force left from kibbutz Ayelet-Hashahar and retreated to a hiding place adjacent to the Hahula Lake.
5.. Yarmuk Bridge: The railway bridge overlooking the Yarmuk River near El-Hama and connecting Israel with Jordan was attacked by the Third Battalion force headed by Aharon Spector. The force left from kibbutz Afikim and retreated to kibbutz Ashdot Ya'aqov.
6.. Sheikh Hussein Bridge: The road-bridge overlooking the Jordan River in the Beisan Valley and connecting Israel with Jordan was attacked by the 1st Battalion force headed by Zalman Axelrod. The force left from kibbutz Ma'oz Hayyim and retreated to back there.
7.. Damiya Bridge (Adam): The road-bridge overlooking the Jordan River east of Jiptaliq Junction and connecting Israel with Jordan was attacked by the Fourth Battalion force headed by Yochanan Zariz. The force left from kibbutz Sarid and retreated to kibbutz Mesilot.
8.. Allenby Bridge: The road-bridge overlooking the Jordan River east of Jericho and connecting Israel with Jordan was attacked by the Second Battalion force headed by Chaim Bruslavsky (Bar-Lev.) The force left from kibbutz Beit-Haarava and retreated to kibbutz Ramat Rachel.
9. Gaza Bridges: Two bridges (road and railway) from Nachal Gaza (Nachal Habsor today) connecting Israel with Egypt were attacked by the Second Battalion forces headed by Itiel (Itay) Amichai. The force left from kibbutz Beerot-Yitzhak and retreated to kibbutz Dorot and kibbutz Ruchama.
The 'Squad' – the Palyam naval sabotage squad headed by Yochai Ben-Nun, planned to bomb the railroad tunnel on the Lebanese border, north of Ras En Naqura. The plan was cancelled shortly before the operation for political reasons: The tunnel was located outside Israel's territory and also because it was clear that restoring the tunnel would be difficult. It is worthy of mentioning that there was no intent to cause irreversible damage to the bridges, but one that would be easily noticed and eventually surmounted.
A few of the Palmach culture and information members joined some of the raids. Their job was to depict the atmosphere and spirit among the warriors during their preparation, while attacking the target and during retreat; the goal was to pass them on as values that would shape and foster the esprit de corps and its battle legacy.