Operation Leopard (1980)

Operation Leopard
Part of the Mozambican Civil War
DateApril – July 1980
Location
Result

FRELIMO victory

  • Capture of RENAMO's Sitatonga 2 base
Belligerents
People's Republic of Mozambique
Zimbabwe
Cuba[1]
Supported by:
Soviet Union[1]
RENAMO
Supported by:
 South Africa[2]
Commanders and leaders
Samora Machel
Robert Mugabe
Afonso Dhlakama
Mário Franque
Languane Vareia Manje
Units involved

Mozambican Armed Forces

Zimbabwe Defence Force
Unknown
Strength
Unknown 800-1200 men[4]
Casualties and losses

Per RENAMO:
168 killed[5]

8 Cubans killed and 24 wounded[6]
Per FRELIMO:
272 killed
300 captured[7]
Per RENAMO:
4 killed

In the Mozambican Civil War, Operation Leopard (Portuguese: Operação Leopardo) was a military operation by the FPLM in southern Manica Province which culminated in the capture of RENAMO’s stronghold in the Sitatonga 2 Mountain. Following the offensive FPLM was unable to maintain their full control over the area captured and RENAMO continued to remain active around Sitatonga 2.

  1. ^ a b Cabrita (2000), p. 173.
  2. ^ "Mozambique Battles Mercenaries" (PDF). Mozambique Information Agency. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  3. ^ Emerson (2014), p. 81.
  4. ^ Emerson (2014), p. 77.
  5. ^ "Mozambique Dissidents' Military Communiqué" (PDF). Summary of World Broadcasts. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  6. ^ Cabrita (2000), p. 174.
  7. ^ "Machel Forces kill 272 rebels" (PDF). Cape Times. Retrieved 30 October 2022.

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