Operation Aztec

Operation Aztec
	Part of the Rhodesian Bush War (or Second Chimurenga)
	Mapai Mabalane Operation Aztec (Mozambique)
Date	28 May – 2 June 1977
Location	Mapai, Mabalane, People's Republic of Mozambique22°43′50″S 32°03′30″E / 22.73056°S 32.05833°E
Result	Rhodesian victory;
Belligerents
Rhodesia	ZANLA; Cuba
Commanders and leaders
Ian Smith; Lt. Gen Peter Walls; Lt. Col Ron Reid-Daly; Cap. John Murphy	Unknown 15 military advisors
Units involved
Rhodesian Army Rhodesian Light Infantry; Rhodesia Regiment; Selous Scouts; RhAF ; No.5 Squadron	ZANLA:; Unknown
Strength
24 Paratroopers; 110 Selous Scouts; 4 Hawker Hunters; 4 Canberras; 3 DC-3C (Paradak); 1 Reims Cessna (Lynx)	Unknown
Casualties and losses
2 killed; 1 DC-3C destroyed	ZANLA 60+ killed; 6 vehicles destroyed; 12 to 15 advisors killed

Operation Aztec was a military operation launched by the Republic of Rhodesia against the communist backed insurgent group ZANLA, in Mozambique from 28 May to 2 June 1977. The successful operation resulted in the destruction of Mozambique's railway in Gaza Province, limiting the movement of enemy soldiers, and equipment from Mozambique to the Rhodesian border.