Operation Cactus
A coup stopped overnight, 1,200 miles away, by paratroopers who landed in the dark.
- Dates
- 3–4 November 1988
- Theatre
- Malé, Maldives
- Services
- IAF · Army · Navy
Summary
The 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt was an attempt by a group of Sri Lankans and Maldivians led by businessman Abdullah Luthufee and assisted by armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organization from Sri Lanka, the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to overthrow the government of the Republic of Maldives. The attempt was thwarted with Indian assistance in Operation Cactus.
Objective
Restore the government of the Maldives after mercenaries of the PLOTE seized Malé and besieged the President.
Outcome
Il-76s put paratroopers onto Hulhule airfield within hours of the request. Malé was secured overnight and the mercenaries fleeing by sea were intercepted by the Navy. The response time is still cited as the benchmark for Indian expeditionary action.
Equipment
What it was conducted with
2 catalogued platforms recorded as taking part. Not exhaustive — it lists what this catalogue holds, not everything that was fielded.
Indian Air Force
Ilyushin Il-76
Gajraj
Multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's.
- Role
- Strategic and tactical airlifter
- In service
- 1985 — present
Indian Air Force
Antonov An-32
Sutlej
Turboprop twin-engined military transport aircraft.
- Role
- Military transport aircraft
- In service
- 1984 — present