Operation South

Operation South
	Part of the Simba rebellion during the Congo Crisis and the Simba holdouts
	; Map of the Operation South, September – November 1965
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; United States; Banyamulenge militias	Simba rebels Kabila-Massengo faction; Soumialot faction; Inyenzi movement; Cuba
Commanders and leaders
Eustache Kakudji; Roger Hardenne; Louis Bobozo; Mike Hoare; Jordy McKay; James M. Hawes	Laurent-Désiré Kabila; Idelphonse Massengo; Louis Bidalira; Wasochi Abedi †; Joseph Mudandi; 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. 2,400–3,350	Thousands of rebels; c. 100–200 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 Inyenzi groups, the operation resulted in the conquest of most rebel-held areas and effectively shattered the Simba insurgents.