RAID ON THE REACTOR

The story of the IAF's attack on the Iraqi Nuclear reactor near Baghdad in June 1981.

This is long, but this is well worth taking the time to watch . . . S.L.







I remember learning of this event; it was a grey winter's day In Melbourne - down by Flinders Street they had just installed this huge screen that portrayed the news, streaming in black and white almost digital squares - I looked up and saw a map of the Middle East, some lines indicating the route of the Israeli aircraft, and an atomic symbol near Baghdad and I thought, "Oh my God! They've dropped The Bomb on Baghdad!"

That was a couple years before I joined the U.S. Army . . . never did I imagine that I would end up spending so much of my life in that part of the world . . .


- STORMBRINGER SENDS


.

OPERATION OPERA

The Israeli surprise attack against the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor took place this day in 1981.

The mission was a complete success; operationally, and politically on both domestic and international fronts.

In a "surgical strike" deep within hostile territory, a squadron of heavily fueled, and heavily armed F-16As, with a group of F-15As providing air cover and fighter support, eliminated the reactor site, and returned to friendly territory without having to refuel.

The Osirak reactor complex was put out of commission, and the Iraqi nuclear program set back considerably. It has been suggested that the Israeli attack on the reactor prevented Iraq from using radioactive weaponry during the Iran-Iraq war, and Operation Desert Storm (the first Gulf war).

The Osirak facility remained in its damaged state until the Gulf War, when a prolonged series of US air strikes finally destroyed the site completely.