Operation Saffraan

{{Use South African English|date=May 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{operational plan | name = Operation Saffraan | partof = the South African Border War | image = | caption = | scope = | type = | location = Zambia | coordinates = {{Location map many | Zambia | width = 260 | float = right | label = Siabalengu | pos = top | marksize = 6 | lat_deg = -17.433333 | lon_deg = 25.633333 }}

| planned = | planned_by = | objective = | target = Various PLAN bases | date = March 1979 | time = duration 5 weeks | time-begin = | time-end = | timezone = | executed_by = | outcome = | casualties = | fatalities = | injuries = }}

'''Operation Saffraan''' ({{langx|en|Operation Safron}}) was a series of South African Defence Force raids from the Caprivi Strip area during the South African Border War. On 23 August 1978 PLAN and the Zambian army shelled the small South African garrison town Katimo Mulilo in eastern Caprivi (Namibia). In March 1979, South African forces entered south-western Zambia attacking PLAN bases in retaliation for the shelling of Katimo Mulilo.<ref name=Steenkamp>{{cite book|last=Steenkamp|first=Willem|title=South Africa's border war, 1966-1989|year=1989|publisher=Ashanti Pub.|location=Gibraltar|isbn=0620139676}}</ref>{{rp|86}} These bases were around Sinjembele and the Njinje forest,<ref name="Hamann">{{cite book|last=Hamann|first=Hilton|title=Days Of The Generals: The Untold Story of South Africas Apartheid-era Military Generals|year=2007|publisher=Struik Publishers|isbn=978-1868723409}}</ref>{{rp|Chpt4}} were found to have been vacated but the facilities were destroyed disrupting future border infiltrations.<ref name=Steenkamp/>{{rp|86}} The raid into Zambia resulted in SWAPO being asked to leave the country.<ref name=Hamann/>{{rp|Chpt4}} Conducted on 7 March 1979 concurrently with Operation Rekstok; it followed Operation Reindeer and preceded Operation Sceptic.

==See also== *Angolan Civil War

==References== <references />

==Further reading== * {{cite book|last=Steenkamp|first=Willem|title=South Africa's border war, 1966-1989|year=1989|publisher=Ashanti Pub.|location=Gibraltar|isbn=0620139676}} * {{cite book|last=Hamann|first=Hilton|title=Days of the generals|year=2001|publisher=Zebra|location=Cape Town|isbn=978-1868723409|edition=1st}} * Nothling, CD (Col.). ''Kort Kroniek van Militêre Operasies en Optredes in Suidwes-Afrika en Angola (1914-1988)''. Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 19, Nr 2, 1989.

{{S-start}} {{Succession box | before = Operation Reindeer | title = Battles and operations of the South African Border War | years = March 1979 | after = Operation Sceptic }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saffraan, Operation}} Category:Conflicts in 1979 Category:1979 in Angola Category:1979 in South West Africa Category:1979 in South Africa Category:Cross-border operations of South Africa Category:Battles and operations of the South African Border War