Operation Blue Bird

Operation Blue Bird was a mission carried out by France's foreign intelligence service, the SDECE, in 1956 during the second year of the Algerian War of Independence. Its aim was to turn several hundred Kabyle people against the Algerian resistance known as the National Liberation Front (FLN), with the hopes of creating a clandestine counter-resistance force. These Kabyle fighters were known as Force K.

For the Indian National Security Forces Operation, see Operation Bluebird.
Operation Blue Bird
Part of Algerian War
DateApril 1956 - 1 October 1956
Location
Kabylia, Algeria
Result

FLN victory

  • French operational failure
Belligerents

FLN

  • "Force K" defectors

 French Republic

  • "Force K"
Commanders and leaders
Krim Belkacem
Saïd Mohammedi
Zaidat Ahmed
Mehlal Said
Omar Toumi		 Robert Lacoste
General Lorillot
Captain Hentic
Strength
300 men Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown, at least 2 killed 12 killed
6 wounded
400 weapons seized

The operation backfired and resulted in supplying the FLN with money, weapons, and new soldiers. The operation remained secret for many years, and it is still largely unknown in France and Algeria. Yves Courrière claims to have been the first to make information about the operation available to the public.

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