Operation Khukri

Operation Khukri was a multinational operation launched in the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), involving India, Ghana, Britain and Nigeria. The aim of the operation was to break the two-month-long siege laid by armed cadres of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) around two companies of 5/8th Gorkha Rifles Infantry Battalion Group of the Indian Army at Kailahun by effecting a fighting breakout and redeploying them with the main battalion at Daru.

Operation Khukri
Part of Sierra Leone Civil War
Date13–16 July 2000
Location
Result

UN victory

  • Besieged UN Forces extracted.
  • Freetown successfully defended against RUF attack.
Belligerents

UNAMSIL

Revolutionary United Front
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Gen. V.K. Jetley
Col. Satish Kumar (Commander 5/8 Gurkha Rifles)
Grp. Capt. Bijender Singh Siwach
Unknown
Strength

2,000

  • Ground & Airborne units
    • 223 troops
      (5/8th Gorkha Rifles, besieged at Kailahun)
    • 6 riflemen companies
      (5/8th Gorkha Rifles & 14th Mechanised Infantry Battalion)
    • 1 rapid reaction company
      (Mechanised infantry & Para SF)
    • 18th Grenadiers
    • QRC of mechanised infantry
    • 1 company of engineers
    • 2 Para (SF)
    • several mortars
    • 1 light gun
  • Aircraft
  • Reserves
    • 2 Ghanaian companies
    • 2 Nigerian companies
5,000 (5 battalions)
Casualties and losses
1 killed
several wounded
33 suffering from illness
1 vehicle destroyed
hundreds killed & wounded
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