Italian bombing of Mandatory Palestine in World War II facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Italian bombing of Mandatory Palestine
Part of the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II
Haifa Refinery destroyed by airstrikes
Date June 1940 – June 1941 Location Mandatory Palestine Result Italian victory
Belligerents
Italy	United Kingdom  Palestine Yishuv
Casualties and losses
Unknown	150+ deaths at the Bombing of Tel Aviv 12+ at Haifa Haifa oil refinery damaged

Building severely damaged by the air raid

During World War II, the Italian bombing of Mandatory Palestine was a series of attacks. The Regia Aeronautica, which was Italy's Royal Air Force, carried out these bombings. Their goal was to hit the United Kingdom and its lands across the Middle East. This was part of the larger conflict during World War II.

Why Italy Bombed Palestine

On June 10, 1940, the country of Italy declared war on France and the United Kingdom. Italy's attack on France was quick. France signed a peace agreement with Italy on June 25. This happened just three days after France made a similar agreement with Germany. After this, Italy focused on fighting the British and their allies in the Middle East.

Before attacking Palestine, Italian bombers also hit other places. On October 19, 1940, four Italian SM.82 bombers attacked oil refineries in Bahrain. These refineries were operated by Americans but were in a British area. The attack damaged the refineries. The bombers also hit Dhahran in Saudi Arabia, but they caused little harm there.

Attacks on Coastal Cities

The Italian bombings in Mandatory Palestine began in July 1940. The main targets were the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. However, other towns along the coast, like Acre and Jaffa, were also attacked.

The last Italian bombing raids on Mandatory Palestine happened in June 1941. Haifa and Tel Aviv were hit again. These later attacks caused less damage and fewer injuries or deaths.

The Bombing of Haifa

Haifa was bombed many times by the Italians. This was because it had an important port and an oil refinery. The attacks on Haifa started in June 1940.

A magazine called Time reported on July 29, 1940, about a bombing in Haifa. Italian SM82 bombers carried out this attack. About a dozen people were hurt or killed.

Time magazine also said that the Italians claimed a big success. The British did not deny this claim. Ten large Italian bombers flew from the Dodecanese Islands. They flew very high to avoid British bases in Cyprus. They dropped 50 bombs on Haifa's oil terminal and refinery. This was where the British oil pipeline from Mosul reached the sea.

The bombing started fires that burned for many days. The refinery could not produce oil for almost a month. British fighter planes from a base on Mount Carmel tried to catch the Italian bombers. But they were too late, and the Italian planes returned to their base safely.

The Bombing of Tel Aviv

On September 9, 1940, a bombing raid on Tel Aviv caused many deaths. A total of 137 people died in this attack. Another raid on Tel Aviv happened on June 12, 1941. In this attack, 13 people died. It is believed these later bombs were dropped by either Italian or French planes based in Syria.

A historian named Alberto Rosselli explained the bombing that killed 137 people. He said the Italian bombers were flying to Haifa, which had a strategic port and refineries. But British planes stopped them. The Italian bombers had to turn back. They were ordered to drop their bombs on the port of Tel Aviv. However, while trying to avoid the attacking British planes, they accidentally dropped the bombs on a civilian area near the port.

Images for kids

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  Memorial in Tel Aviv to the 137 killed in the Italian Royal Air Force raid of the city on 9 September 1940.

Learn More

• Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica)
• Bombing of Bahrain in World War II