User:HertsHistorian/sandbox

insurgency

On 31 January 1945 1st battalion landed at Haifa and underwent a period of refitting and training, a process that was still ongoing when the war in Europe concluded. Within Palestine the internal security situation began to deteriorate and the battalion became increasing involved in combating the insurgency campaign waged by several Zionist terrorist organisations. The battalion began patrolling the area around Tiberias to interrupt enemy movements and conducted operations to defend the rail network from sabotage at night. During November the battalion was transferred to the 6th Airborne Division and placed under the command of Lieutenant Colonel H.C.R. Hose DSO. The battalion continued to conduct internal security operations for much of 1946, and was involved in the rescue effort following the bombing of the King David Hotel. Shortly afterwards, the battalion was employed in Operation Shark, a large ‘cordon and search’ operation covering Tel Aviv, beginning on 30 September as a part of the 2nd Parachute Brigade Group. The entire population was screened and 787 persons detained for further questioning. Five arms dumps were discovered and 176 small-arms, 4 machine guns and 23 mortars were confiscated.