Operation Wooden Leg: Israel's Strike on Tunis

In 1985, Israel faced an intensifying wave of terrorism orchestrated by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), then headquartered comfortably thousands of kilometers away in Tunis a city in Tunisia, far beyond Israel’s immediate reach.

Or so they thought.

Israeli intelligence knew exactly where the terrorists were and Israel’s leaders decided it was time to strike back.

On October 1, 1985, Israel launched Operation Wooden Leg, one of the most daring airstrikes in its history.

Eight Israeli F-15 Eagles and their escorts took off quietly, heading toward Tunis over 2,000 kilometers away.

Flying low over the Mediterranean, in near-total radio silence, the jets defied all international expectations and assessments of Israel’s operational range.

With precision and perfect timing, the Israeli planes reached their target: the heavily guarded PLO headquarters, hidden in plain sight on the outskirts of Tunis.

In just minutes, they delivered their payload, destroying the headquarters and sending a clear and unambiguous message to terrorists everywhere:

“No matter where you hide, no matter how far, Israel can reach you.”

The operation shocked the world. Israel had demonstrated a new standard of strategic reach and operational boldness. It permanently altered the region’s understanding of Israeli capabilities and resolve.

As one pilot later said:

“We showed them there’s no hiding place. Terror against Israel has a big cost.”