Operation South

Operation South
Part of the Simba rebellion during the Congo Crisis
Date 27 September 1965 – July 1966 (c. 10 months) Location Eastern Congo (mainly Kivu and Katanga) Result Democratic Republic of the Congo victory
Belligerents
Democratic Republic of the Congo  Belgium[1][2] United States[1][3][4] Banyamulenge militias	Simba rebels Kabila-Massengo faction Rwandan exile groups  Cuba
Commanders and leaders
Eustache Kakudji Roger Hardenne Louis Bobozo Mike Hoare Jordy McKay James M. Hawes	Laurent-Désiré Kabila Idelphonse Massengo Che Guevara Víctor Dreke
Units involved
Armée Nationale Congolaise (ANC) 5 Commando 6 Commando 9 Commando Codoki Commando 5 Infantry Battalion 8 Infantry Battalion 13 Infantry Battalion 14 Infantry Battalion Kongolo Battalion CIA "Makasi" pilots Movimiento Recuperación Revolucionaria	"Armée Populaire de Libération" Eastern Front Cuban advisors
Strength
c. 2,400	Thousands of rebels c. 123–200 Cubans

Operation South (French: Opération Sud) (September 1965 – July 1966) was a military offensive conducted by the forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Kivu against insurgents during the Simba rebellion. It was carried out by the DR Congo's regular military, the Armée Nationale Congolaise (ANC), mercenaries, and various foreign soldiers employed by Belgium and the United States. The operation aimed at destroying the remaining Simba strongholds and ending the rebellion. Though the insurgents were supported by allied Communist Cubans under Che Guevara and Rwandan exile groups, the operation resulted in the conquest of most rebel-held areas and effectively shattered the Simba insurgents.