November 25: Operation Hang-Glide

Two or more members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a terrorist wing of the Palestinian movement headed by Ahmed Jibril, flew into Israel from Lebanon with motorized hang-gliders on this date in 1987. Their mission was to kill Israelis in the northern town of Kiryat Shimona. One of them reached his target and killed six soldiers and wounded eight in a military camp before being shot dead. The attack revealed niches in Israel’s military armor, made an icon of Jibril, and helped inspire the first intifadah, which broke out in early December.

“The attack demonstrated that there could be no barriers or obstacles to prevent a guerrilla who has decided to become a martyr.” —Yasser Arafat