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{{short description|Battle of World War II}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict = Battle of Litani River
|partof = the [[Syria-Lebanon Campaign]] of [[World War II]]
|image = Australian forces cross the Litani River, 1941.jpg
|image_size = 250px
|caption = Australian forces bridging the Litani River near [[Marjayoun]]
|date = 9 June 1941
|place = [[Greater Lebanon|French Lebanon]]
|casus =
|territory =
|result = Allied victory
|combatant1 = {{flag|Australia}}<br>{{flag|United Kingdom}}
|combatant2 = {{flagicon|France|1830}} [[Vichy France]]
*{{flagicon image|Lebanese French flag.svg}} [[Greater Lebanon|French Lebanon]]
|commander1 = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[John Lavarack]]<br>{{flagicon|UK}} [[Paddy Mayne]]
|commander2 =
|strength1 =
|strength2 =
|casualties1 =
|casualties2 =
}}
{{Campaignbox Syria-Lebanon}}

The '''Battle of the Litani River''' (9 June 1941) was a battle of the [[Second World War]] that took place on the advance to [[Beirut]] during the [[Syria-Lebanon campaign]]. The [[Australian 7th Division]], commanded by Major-General [[John Lavarack]], crossed the [[Litani River]] and later clashed with [[Vichy France|Vichy French]] troops.

==Battle==
During the first hour of 8 June 1941, as part of Operation Exporter, Australian forces in [[Mandatory Palestine|northern Palestine]] crossed the border into [[French Mandate of Lebanon|southern Lebanon]]. Initial resistance from Vichy forces south of the Litani River was scattered and generally disorganised.{{sfn|Long|1953|p=346}}

The [[21st Brigade (Australia)|21st Australian Brigade]] advanced along the coast road heading for Beirut and attempted to cross the Litani River. A surprise night time landing by the British [[No. 11 (Scottish) Commando]], under the command of Lieutenant Colonel R.L. Pedder (Highland Light Infantry), was attempted in order to seize the bridge near the mouth of the river, but was delayed by rough seas on the proposed landing beach. This gave the Vichy French defenders enough time to destroy the bridge. When the commandos eventually landed in daylight, in three separate places, the initial landing was almost unopposed due to the defenders being in combat against the Australian troops,{{sfn|Macpherson|2012|pp=58–62}} subsequently in the fighting they took heavy casualties, among them Pedder, who was killed in an assault on the French barracks. He was succeeded in command by [[Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes|Geoffrey Keyes]], whose party was ultimately able to secure the crossing by getting over the river in canvas boats with the help of some of the Australian troops.{{sfn|Long|1953|pp=360–361}}

A Vichy counterattack using armoured cars was driven off. A pontoon bridge was quickly completed.{{sfn|Macpherson|2012|pp=58–62}} The Australians came under inaccurate fire from two Vichy French [[Guépard class destroyer|destroyers]], the ''[[French destroyer Guépard|Guépard]]'' and the ''[[French destroyer Valmy|Valmy]]''. Australian artillery had to drive off the warships which had come close inshore to shell the advancing troops.{{sfn|Long|1953|p=363}}

==Aftermath==
Following the fighting around the Litani, the 21st Brigade advanced north towards [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]], as part of the wider move towards Beirut. From Tyre, several minor actions were fought as part of the drive to [[Battle of Sidon (1941)|capture Sidon]], which fell on 13 June. Further inland, on the 21st Brigade's right flank, the 25th Brigade advanced towards [[Battle of Merdjayoun|Merdjayoun]], which was temporarily secured on 11 June. A small force from the 25th was subsequently left to hold Merdjayoun, while the remainder was sent north to capture [[Battle of Jezzine (1941)|Jezzine]], which also fell on 13 June. However, on 15 June, a heavy counterattack fell on Merdjayoun, and heavy fighting followed until 27 June.{{sfn|Coulthard-Clark|1998|pp=190–192}}{{sfn|Dennis et al|1995|p=578}}

==See also==
* [[Layforce]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
*{{cite book|last=Coulthard-Clark|first=Chris|title=Where Australians Fought: The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles|year=1998|edition=1st|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=St Leonards, New South Wales|isbn=1-86448-611-2}}
*{{cite book |last1=Dennis |first1=Peter |last2=Grey |first2=Jeffrey |authorlink2=Jeffrey Grey |last3=Morris |first3=Ewan |last4=Prior |first4=Robin |year=1995 |title=The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-19-553227-9|ref=CITEREFDennis_et_al1995 }}
*{{cite book| first=Gavin| last=Long| volume=II|title=Greece, Crete and Syria |edition=1st |year=1953| series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army| url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070201/| chapter=Chapters 16 to 26 | publisher=[[Australian War Memorial]]| location=Canberra}}
* {{cite book |last=Macpherson |first=Sir Tommy |year=2012 |title=Behind Enemy Lines |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1845967086 }}

{{coord missing|Lebanon}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Litani River, Battle of 1941}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1941]]
[[Category:1941 in France]]
[[Category:Military battles of Vichy France]]
[[Category:Syria–Lebanon campaign]]
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Australia]]
[[Category:World War II British Commando raids]]
[[Category:June 1941 events]]

Battle of the Litani River - Revision history

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