Operation Blue Bat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lebanon crisis of 1958
Marines of Battalion Landing Team 2/2 form a LVT and tank column on the beach road for the move into Beirut on 16 July 1958
Date 1958 Location Lebanon Result Stabilization of Lebanon
Belligerents
United States	Insurgency
Strength
8,509 U.S. Army soldiers 5,670 USMC marines U.S. Sixth Fleet
Casualties and losses
Four dead (Three by accident, one from hostile fire)

Operation Blue Bat was a special mission by the United States in 1958. The U.S. sent its military to Lebanon to help during a time of trouble called the Lebanon crisis. On July 15, 1958, U.S. Marines landed in Lebanon, and Army soldiers arrived a few days later. They quickly secured the capital city, Beirut, which allowed the Lebanese Army to focus on other important tasks. At the same time, American forces around the world were ready to help if needed.

Why the U.S. Stepped In

In 1958, there was a lot of tension in Lebanon. Many Muslim people in the country were unhappy because Lebanon was closely allied with Western countries. There was also a suspicion that President Camille Chamoun wanted to change the country's rules to stay in power longer. Even though the U.S. did not support this idea, the suspicion still caused problems.

Some people wanted Lebanon to join a new group called the United Arab Republic, which included Egypt and Syria. But President Camille Chamoun and his supporters wanted to stay allied with the West. When the pro-Western government in Iraq was overthrown in a sudden change of power (a coup), and Lebanon faced its own internal conflict, President Chamoun asked the United States for help.

How the Operation Worked

To help Lebanon, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a large military force on July 15, 1958. This force included over 14,000 soldiers from the Army and Marine Corps. They were supported by the Sixth Fleet of the United States Navy and the United States Air Force.

The plan was to first secure the Beirut International Airport. After that, they would take control of the city's port and all the main roads connecting these places to the city itself. Air support for the Marines landing on the beach in Beirut came from the aircraft carrier USS ESSEX and its escort ships. These ships were part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and had traveled very quickly from Athens, Greece, to be there for the mission.

What Happened Next

Operation Blue Bat was mostly a success. President Chamoun resigned, and Fuad Chehab became the new leader of Lebanon. This helped calm things down, and the government became stable again. The operation officially ended on October 25, 1958. Very few soldiers were hurt during the mission; three died in accidents, and one was killed by a sniper.