Logo: to the web site of the Swedish Defence University

On the night between 9 and 10th of April 1973 Israel conducted Operation Spring of Youth as a retaliation to the terrorist attack during the summer Olympics in Munich 1972 where eleven Israeli athletes and coaches were killed. The operation was part of the larger operation Wrath of God. The operation took place in Beirut and targeted three high ranking PLO and Fatah members, the PFLP headquarters and three ammunitions and weapons factories in the city. The operation was hugely successful and is described as one of the largest and most comprehensive operations of its kind that Israel has conducted.

The aim of this study is to explain why this operation could be carried out with such success despite being conducted in enemy territory against a vastly larger advisory in the capital of a state hostile to Israel. To answer this question the study uses William H. McRavens theory on relative superiority to explain how this operation could be carried out successfully.

In conclusion the success could be traced to the extensive gathering of intelligence, rigorous planning, and preparations of the operation. Innovation, unconventional methods, the element of surprise, and a speedy execution also played a great part in why this operation succeeded.