Israeli Special Forces' Operations in 2006

Operation Beach Boys
Part of the 2006 Lebanon War
Date August 3, 2006 - August 14, 2006 Location Coast of Southern Lebanon Result Israeli victory
Belligerents
Israel	Hezbollah
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Co. Eliezer Toledano Major Amos HaCohen	Unknown
Units involved
Sayeret Maglan	Unknown
Strength
Sayeret Maglan	Unknown
Casualties and losses
None	150 targets destroyed

Operation Beach Boys (Hebrew: מצבע נערי החוף) was an operation in Southern Lebanon by the Israeli special forces unit Sayeret Maglan during the 2006 Lebanon War.

Background

Throughout the 2006 Lebanon War, Hezbollah kept a steady barrage of rockets into northern Israel. Intelligence suggested that many of the rockets were being launched from coastal areas. Senior Maglan officers planned a clandestine operation behind Hezbollah lines to destroy rocket launchers in the western sector of South Lebanon along the coast, and the mission was cleared for action after personal approval from Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch.

The operation

Dozens of Maglan soldiers were airlifted into South Lebanon by helicopter. After hiding from a passing Hezbollah squad, the soldiers began calling in airstrikes against Hezbollah rocket launchers, as well as headquarters, trucks, ammunition dumps, and other military infrastructure. A total of 150 Hezbollah targets, including 40 rocket launchers, were destroyed. The operation lasted 11 days before the soldiers were withdrawn, as a ceasefire came into effect.

Aftermath

The operation was widely considered a success, and was estimated to have reduced Hezbollah rocket fire by 40%.