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Battle of Kolwezi | |||||||
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Part of Shaba II | |||||||
![]() Mortar of the 2 REP in action. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Philippe Erulin | Nathaniel Mbumba | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
~5,000 | 3,000-4,000 (estimated) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
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The Battle of Kolwezi was an airborne operation by French and Belgian airborne forces that took place in May 1978 in Zaire during the Shaba II invasion of Zaire by the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo (FLNC). It aimed at rescuing European and Zairean hostages held by FLNC rebels after they conquered the city of Kolwezi. The operation succeeded with the liberation of the hostages and light military casualties.