Operation Eland

Operation Eland
Part of the Rhodesian Bush War
Nyadzonya
Operation Eland (Mozambique)
Date9 August 1976
Location18°31′57″S 33°23′18″E / 18.5326°S 33.3883°E / -18.5326; 33.3883 (ZANLA Base at Nyadzonya)
Result
  • Rhodesian victory
Belligerents
 Rhodesia ZANLA (ZANU)
FRELIMO
Commanders and leaders
Ron Reid-Daly
Rob Warraker
Morrison Nyathi
Josiah Tongogara
Robert Mugabe
Edgar Tekere
Units involved

Rhodesian Army

ZANU guerillas and refugees
Strength
84 scouts
4 Ferret armoured cars
5,000 people; combination of ZANU guerillas and refugees
Casualties and losses
None 1,028 killed

Operation Eland, also known as the Nyadzonya Raid, was a military operation carried out by the Rhodesian Selous Scouts at Nyadzonya in Mozambique on 9 August 1976.

The raid had adverse political and diplomatic consequences for Rhodesia. In response to the attack, the South African government ended its covert military assistance for Rhodesia, reduced the supply of oil and munitions, and began to pressure the Rhodesian government to accept a transition to black majority rule. The Rhodesian Prime Minister, Ian Smith, agreed (in principle) to this, in September 1976.