June 16, 1946
The Night of the Bridges
Historical context
On the night of June 16, 1946, the Palmach attacked bridges linking Mandatory Palestine to neighboring countries. Fourteen fighters were killed at Akhziv.
Archive record
Read the event, then follow its documented sources and archive threads.
- Date
- June 16, 1946
- Verified sources
- 1
- Archive threads
- 6
On the night of June 16, 1946, the Palmach began Operation Markolet, the Night of the Bridges. The Palmach records that the raids struck bridges linking Mandatory Palestine with Lebanon, Syria, Transjordan, and Egypt. Ten of the eleven bridges attacked were destroyed or badly damaged. The raid on the bridges over Nahal Akhziv failed after the force was discovered and a charge exploded. Fourteen Palmach fighters were killed there and five were injured. The other raids caused no Palmach casualties.
British searches of nearby settlements followed. On June 29 the army began the wider searches known as Operation Agatha.
Research trail
Sources and further reading
- Night of the Bridges · Palmach Museum · Palmach View source
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