# Operation Highbrow > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Operation_Highbrow > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Operation_Highbrow.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Highbrow > Source revision: 1345419355 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|United Kingdom 2006 military led evacuee operation}} {{Use British English|date=September 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox military operation |name = Operation Highbrow |partof = 2006 Lebanon War |subtitle = |image = HMS Bulwark MOD 45146734.jpg |alt = A large Royal Navy ship on the open sea, taken from a helicopter |caption = [HMS ''Bulwark''](/source/HMS_Bulwark) is seen after disembarking 1,000 passengers in [Cyprus](/source/Cyprus) |scope = Rescue/evacuation |type = |location = [Beirut](/source/Beirut), Lebanon |location2 = [Akrotiri](/source/Akrotiri_and_Dhekelia), Cyprus |coordinates = {{coords|33.9026|35.5119}} |coordinates2 = {{coords|34.5695|32.9364}}{{#tag:ref|Evacuees were offloaded at [Larnaca](/source/Larnaca), [Limassol](/source/Limassol) and at the military base of [Akrotiri and Dhekelia](/source/Akrotiri_and_Dhekelia). Coords given are for the hospital at [RAF Akrotiri](/source/RAF_Akrotiri) used to treat some of the evacuees, but also United States Armed Forces helicopters used the base on Cyprus.|name=Evac|group=note}} |map_type = Mediterranean east |map_size = |map_caption = |map_label = Beirut |map_label2 = Akrotiri |planned = |planned_by = |commanded_by = [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) |objective = Evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon |target = |date = {{start date|2006|7|15|df=y}} |time = |time-begin = |time-end = 22 July 2006 |timezone = [UTC+02:00](/source/UTC%2B02%3A00) |executed_by = Royal Navy, [British Army](/source/British_Army), [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force), UK Government |outcome = Successful evacuation of between 3,500 and 4,000 civilians |casualties = 0 |fatalities = |injuries = }} '''Operation Highbrow''' was a British [Ministry of Defence](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)) (MoD) operation to evacuate civilians from [Beirut](/source/Beirut) as a result of the escalating [2006 Lebanon War](/source/2006_Lebanon_War). Initially, helicopters started ferrying the most vulnerable to Cyprus with several [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) ships later transporting evacuees across the [Mediterranean Sea](/source/Mediterranean_Sea) to Cyprus. The operation involved Royal Navy surface ships and helicopters, with [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) helicopters also providing support and transit. The operation was described as being the largest evacuation that Britain was involved in since [Dunkirk](/source/Dunkirk_evacuation). The parallel [French](/source/France) operation is [Opération Baliste](/source/Op%C3%A9ration_Baliste), which involved [French Navy](/source/French_Navy) and [French Army](/source/French_Army) assets. They evacuated some 14,500 people had been evacuated (including 11,300 French citizens). ==Background== On 12 July 2006, in an effort to kill [Mohammed Deif](/source/Mohammed_Deif), leader of [Hamas](/source/Hamas)' Military Wing, Israeli jets bombed a house in [Gaza](/source/Gaza_Strip). In retaliation, [Hezbollah](/source/Hezbollah) entered into Israel from Lebanon and killed three Israeli soldiers, taking two hostage.{{cite news |last1=Farell |first1=Stephen |last2=Blandford |first2=Nicholas |title=It's war, says Israel as troops are kidnapped |work=The Times |issue=68751 |date=13 July 2006 |page=1|issn=0140-0460}} Later that same day, Israeli aircraft struck several targets inside Lebanon including many main roads in the north of the country, and the main runway at [Beirut Airport](/source/Beirut_Airport).{{cite news |last1=LaGuardia |first1=Anton |last2=Butcher |first2=Tim |title=Israeli forces bombard Lebanon Holidaymakers flee as jets blast Beirut airport Hezbollah militia responds with volley of rockets |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=14 July 2006 |page=2|issn=0307-1235}} The UK Government started to work on plans to use either an air or seabridge to evacuate British nationals.{{sfn|Ripley|2010|p=401}} Whilst both warring sides attacked each other, Britons were advised to lie-low until the navy ships arrived. People who had considered evacuating to Syria were told stories by those inside Lebanon about how people were killed on the road to the north by the bombings.{{cite news |last1=Blandford|first1=Nicholas|last2=Theodoulou|first2=Michael |title=Britons told to lie low and wait for Royal Navy rescue |work=The Times |issue=68754 |date=17 July 2006 |page=7|issn=0140-0460}} By 13 July, with the main runway at Beirut airport out of action, and a naval blockade of Lebanon by the [Israeli Navy](/source/Israeli_Navy),{{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=David E. |title=Hard fighting: Israel in Lebanon and Gaza |date=2011 |publisher=RAND |location=Santa Monica |isbn=978-0833058508 |page=61 |chapter=2: Israel in Lebanon and Gaza}} the UK Government turned its planning into a airbridge with careful co-ordination between the [Israeli Air Force](/source/Israeli_Air_Force) and Lebanese authorities. At the time of the conflict, the highest percentages of foreign nationals in Lebanon was 40,000 from Canada, 30,000 from the Philippines, 25,000 from Australia, 25,000 from the United States, 22,000 from Great Britain (of which 10,000 had dual nationality), and 20,000 from France.{{cite news |title=Lebanon evacuation gathers pace |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5189988.stm |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=BBC News |date=18 July 2006}} The [Foreign Office](/source/Foreign_Office) contacted the estimated 22,000 who were deemed to be allowed to evacuate, and established that around 5,000 people wanted to leave the country.{{cite news |title=Evacuation from Lebanon |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5190816.stm |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=BBC News |date=21 July 2006}} [HMS ''Illustrious''](/source/HMS_Illustrious_(R06)) and [HMS ''Gloucester''](/source/HMS_Gloucester_(D96)) were both on a security mission in the Indian Ocean in July 2006, when they were diverted to Operation Highbrow in the Mediterranean.{{cite news |title=Praise for UK Lebanon evacuation |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5241214.stm |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=BBC News |date=3 August 2006}} ==The evacuation== With the airport at Beirut closed and roads within the region blocked, the best route out was via sea transport, with a short term flight in a military helicopter from the [Port of Beirut](/source/Port_of_Beirut) to one of the awaiting ships, either, HMS ''Gloucester'', [HMS ''York''](/source/HMS_York_(D98)), [HMS ''St Albans''](/source/HMS_St_Albans_(F83)), HMS ''Illustrious'', [HMS ''Bulwark''](/source/HMS_Bulwark_(L15)), or [RFA ''Fort Victoria''](/source/RFA_Fort_Victoria). One civilian vessel was chartered for the operation (MV ''Alkioni'').{{cite web |title=Defence Transport and Movements Agency (DTMA) Annual Report and Accounts 2006/2007 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/250747/0749.pdf |website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk |access-date=4 September 2021 |page=9 }} The Ministry of Defence (MoD) mobilised 2,500 serving personnel across the navy, army and air force, including 800 army personnel who provided a "spearhead land element", flying into Beirut by helicopters on 17 July 2006.{{cite book |last1=Jureidini |first1=Ray |editor1-last=Khoser |editor1-first=Khalid |editor2-last=Martin |editor2-first=Susan |title=The Migration-displacement Nexus Patterns, Processes, and Policies |date=2011 |publisher=Berghahn Books |isbn=978-0-85745-191-0 |page=202 |chapter=12: State and non-state actors in evacuations during the conflict in Lebanon, July–August 2006}}{{sfn|NN|2006|p=16}} 22 hours after being activated on 15 July, Royal Air Force [Chinook](/source/Chinook_helicopter) helicopters from [No. 27 Squadron](/source/No._27_Squadron_RAF),{{cite news |last1=Kalinik |first1=Alex |title=Chinooks come home |url=https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/861187.chinooks-come-home/ |access-date=4 September 2021 |work=Basingstoke Gazette |date=2 August 2006}} flew into Beirut to ferry British nationals direct to Cyprus, and then later onto waiting Royal Navy ships, which ferried them across the [Mediterranean Sea](/source/Mediterranean_Sea) to Cyprus. Similarly, six [Sea King](/source/Sea_King_(helicopter)) helicopters from [No. 846 Naval Air Squadron](/source/No._846_Naval_Air_Squadron) based at [RNAS Yeovilton](/source/RNAS_Yeovilton), also deployed forward to Akrotiri to assist in the airbridge.{{sfn|Ripley|2010|p=401}} They left on 18 July, with four stopovers for refuelling, and arrived in Cyprus 24 hours later.{{cite news |title=Helicopters go to aid evacuation |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5191474.stm |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=BBC News |date=18 July 2006}} The helicopters were used primarily to get around the Israeli naval blockade. Some evacuees were processed at the military base on RAF Akrotiri,{{cite web |title=Collection: Ministry of Defence Official: Royal Air Force Akrotiri, Cyprus |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205015324 |website=iwm.org.uk |access-date=4 September 2021}} and had onward flights from there to [Gatwick Airport](/source/Gatwick_Airport) arranged by private charter.{{cite news |title=Banned cleric bids to flee Beirut |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5202018.stm |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=BBC News |date=21 July 2006}} When the number of evacuees involved became too great to be accommodated in the aircraft between the two ports at Beirut and Cyprus, shuttles were run from Beirut to Royal Navy ships outside the naval blockade area.{{sfn|Ripley|2010|p=402}} HMS ''Illustrious'' was due to leave Gibraltar with the families of serving personnel on board for the journey back to [Portsmouth](/source/HMNB_Portsmouth), however, this was cancelled at short notice and the helicopters from [No. 800 Naval Air Squadron](/source/No._800_Naval_Air_Squadron) were offloaded at [Gibraltar](/source/Gibraltar) and she left for the eastern Mediterranean.{{cite book |last1=Hobbs |first1=David |title=British aircraft carriers: design, development and service histories |date=2013 |publisher=Seaforth |location=Barnsley |isbn=978-1848321380 |page=328}} ''Illustrious'' covered the {{convert|2,200|mi|adj=on}} journey in four days.{{sfn|NN|2006|p=14}} The airbridge paths and patterns were overwatched by Sea King helicopters from HMS ''Illustrious'', and ''Illustrious'' acted as a floating HQ.{{cite book |title=Ministry of Defence annual report and accounts 2006–07: including the annual performance report and consolidated departmental resource accounts (for the year ended 31 March 2007) |date=2007 |publisher=Stationery Office |location=London |isbn=978-0-10-294636-9 |page=35}} The Sea Kings were equipped with Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASAC) and kept watch on what the Israeli Air Force and opposing forces were doing to ensure safe flight paths.{{sfn|Ripley|2010|p=402}} The first flights involved the Chinook helicopters ferrying the most vulnerable from Beirut straight to the military base of RAF Akrotiri. Initially, 60 people were evacuated, with some being treated at [The Princess Mary's Hospital, RAF Akrotiri](/source/The_Princess_Mary's_Hospital%2C_RAF_Akrotiri).{{cite news|last1=Theodoulou|first1=Michael | last2=Evans |first2=Michael |title=Exhausted Britons take air bridge to safety in Cyprus |work=The Times |issue=68755 |date=18 July 2006 |page=7|issn=0140-0460}} [Griffin helicopters](/source/Griffin_helicopters) from [No. 84 Squadron](/source/No._84_Squadron_RAF) based at RAF Akrotiri, were also used in the operation.{{cite web |title=Helicopters - Thursday 1 February 2007 - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2007-02-01/debates/07020159000077/Helicopters?highlight=operation%20highbrow#contribution-07020159001567 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |access-date=7 September 2021}} Subsequent evacuations were handled by Royal Navy ships transporting evacuees across the Mediterranean Sea to Cyprus. ''Illustrious'' anchored offshore, but HMS ''Gloucester'' was allowed into the port at Beirut.{{sfn|NN|2006|p=14}} Whilst RFA ''Fort Victoria'' was not directly involved in transporting evacuees, she aided the operation by supplying the other ships with fuel, bedding and other essentials.{{sfn|NN|2006|pp=14–15}} The first ship out, HMS ''Gloucester'', left on 18 July carrying 163 people.{{sfn|NN|2006|p=16}} HMS ''York'' conveyed 600 evacuees in three trips and HMS ''Bulwark'' took over 1,300, of which 300 were children. HMS ''St Albans'' took 243 people, and the MV ''Alkioni'', hired in from the Greece, carried 1,000 in two trips.{{sfn|NN|2006|p=15}} HMS ''Gloucester'' carried three trips in total, safely carrying 766 people to Cyprus. The operation came to an end on 22 July 2006, with between 3,500 and 4,400 UK personnel evacuated.{{cite news |title=At-a-glance: Lebanon evacuations |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5184134.stm |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=BBC News |date=25 July 2006}} The number of people evacuated led to the government describing the operation as the biggest rescue since Dunkirk.{{cite news|last1=Theodoulou|first1=Michael | last2=Evans |first2=Michael |title=Warships join rescue flotilla for biggest evacuation since Dunkirk |work=The Times |issue=68756 |date=19 July 2006 |page=7|issn=0140-0460}}{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=George |title='Biggest evacuation since Dunkirk' |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=18 July 2006 |page=2|issn=0307-1235}} The Royal Naval Sea Kings of 846 Squadron remained at Cyprus to ferry diplomats around the region.{{sfn|Ripley|2010|p=404}} == Military units == ===Royal Navy=== *HMS ''Illustrious'' *HMS ''Bulwark''{{cite news |title=HMS Bulwark develops her twin Chinook capability |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hms-bulwark-develops-her-twin-chinook-capability |access-date=9 September 2021 |work=gov.uk}} *HMS ''Gloucester'' *HMS ''York''{{cite news |title=Lebanon evacuees flown back to UK |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5197080.stm |access-date=15 September 2021 |work=BBC News |date=20 July 2006}} *HMS ''St. Albans'' *RFA ''Fort Victoria'' *845 Fleet Air Arm Squadron (S-61 Sea King){{cite web |editor-last=Eagles|editor-first=Sue|title=100 years of naval aviation |url=https://www.fleetairarmoa.org/Content/sites/FAAOA/pages/164/FN100_ISSUE_1.PDF |website=fleetairarmoa.org |access-date=15 September 2021 |page=7}} *846 Fleet Air Arm Squadron (S-61 Sea King){{cite news |editor-last=Gray|editor-first=Mike|title=May the force be with you |newspaper=Navy News |date=July 2015|volume=62 |issue=732 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |location=Portsmouth |issn=0028-1670|page=25 }} ===Royal Air Force === *No. 27 Squadron (CH-47D Chinook){{sfn|Ripley|2010|p=401}} ===Army=== *C Company, 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry (2 LI) ==Aftermath== On 18 August 2006, HMS ''St Albans'' returned to her home port of Portsmouth after evacuating 243 people from Beirut to Cyprus. The ship stayed out one-month longer than her original return date.{{cite news |title=HMS St Albans back in home port |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/5262310.stm |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=BBC News |date=18 August 2006}} The [hospital](/source/The_Princess_Mary's_Hospital%2C_RAF_Akrotiri) at RAF Akrotiri was awarded the [Wilkinson Sword of Peace](/source/Wilkinson_Sword_of_Peace) in recognition of their efforts during the operation.{{cite book |last1=Vassallo |first1=David |title=A History of The Princess Mary's Hospital: Royal Air Force Akrotiri 1963–2013 |date=2017 |publisher=Vassallo |isbn=9780992798017 |page=38}} ==Notes== {{reflist|group="note"}} ==References== {{reflist}} ===Sources=== *{{cite news |title=Your help will not be forgotten |newspaper=Navy News |date=September 2006 |volume=53 |issue=626 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |location=Portsmouth |issn=0028-1670|ref= {{harvid|NN|2006}} }} *{{cite book |last1=Ripley |first1=Tim |title=Middle East air forces in the 21st century |date=2010 |publisher=Pen & Sword |location=Barnsley |isbn=9781848840997}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Highbrow, Operation}} Category:21st-century Royal Air Force deployments Category:Airlifts Category:British Army deployments Category:Royal Air Force deployments Highbrow Category:Non-combatant evacuation operations Category:Military history of the Mediterranean --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Operation Highbrow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Highbrow) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Highbrow?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.