GUNT-controlled area in Chad until 1986/87 (light-green), "red line" on 15th and 16th latitude (1983 and 1984) and Libyan-occupied Aouzou-strip (dark-green)
Date
1983–1984
Location
Chad
Result
Creation of the "Red Line"
v
t
e
Chadian–Libyan conflict
Tacaud
Second Battle of N'Djamena
Manta
Épervier
El Dorado Canyon
Tibesti War
Toyota War
Operation Manta was a French military intervention in Chad between 1983 and 1984, during the Chadian–Libyan conflict. The operation was prompted by the invasion of Chad by a joint force of Libyan units and Chadian Transitional Government of National Unity (GUNT) rebels in June 1983. While France was at first reluctant to participate, the Libyan air-bombing of the strategic oasis of Faya-Largeau starting on July 31 led to the assembling in Chad of 3,500 French troops, the biggest French intervention since the end of the colonial era.
The French troops, instead of attempting to expel the Libyan forces from Chad, drew a "line in the sand".[1] They concentrated their forces on the 15th parallel, the so-called "Red Line," (later moved up to the 16th parallel) to block the Libyan and GUNT advance towards the N'Djamena, thus saving the Chadian President Hissène Habré. The Libyan and rebel forces also avoided attacking across the Red Line and provoking the French. The resulting impasse led to the de facto partition of Chad, with the Libyans and the GUNT in the north and Habré and the French in central and southern Chad.
To end this stalemate, French President François Mitterrand and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi negotiated a mutual withdrawal of their countries' troops from Chad in September 1984. The accord was respected by the French, thus signing the end of Operation Manta, but not by the Libyans, whose forces remained in Chad until 1987 (they did, however, continue to respect the Red Line). The violation of the 15th parallel caused a renewed French intervention in Chad under Operation Epervier and the expulsion of Libyan forces from all of Chad except for the Aouzou Strip the following year.
^Smith, William E. (1983-08-29). "France Draws the Line". Time. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008.
OperationManta was a French military intervention in Chad between 1983 and 1984, during the Chadian–Libyan conflict. The operation was prompted by the...
Look up manta in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Manta or mantas may refer to: Manta ray, large fish belonging to the genus Mobula Manta (platform),...
foiled by the intervention of France which, first with OperationManta and later with Operation Epervier, limited Libyan expansion to north of the 16th...
Manta Air is a Maldivian airline based in the Maldives, which began its operations on 24 February 2019. It will begin international operations in 2024...
known as the "Red Line", separating opposing combatants, above all in OperationManta. At this latitude the sun is visible for 13 hours, 1 minute during...
Previously the Red Line had been the 15th parallel north. (See also OperationManta.) Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel...
In support of the further military action in the region, known as OperationManta, Jaguars were deployed to Bangui, Central African Republic, in 1983...
The FAMAS first saw service in Chad during OperationManta and again in desert operations during Operation Desert Storm and in other various missions...
to be performed by French Air Force Mirage F1s was conducted during OperationManta, the French intervention in Chad to counteract the growing Libyan encroachment...
central and southern parts Red Line, the military line of defense in OperationManta, along the 15th and later 16th parallel north, of the Chadian-Libyan...
Colonel on 1 October 1982. He then participated to « OperationManta » (French: OpérationManta) in Tchad, as commandant in the inter-arm group from January...
Legion's AML squadrons continued to see action during OperationManta and the extended Opération Épervier, being organised into anti-tank support groups...
stationed in Beirut; in Tchad within the combat deployment cadre of OperationManta; and in Djibouti. The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment remained within...
Florida portal Caribbean Regional Maritime Agreement Manta Air Base Operation Coronet Nighthawk Operation Enduring Freedom - Caribbean and Central America...
105HM2 howitzers. From 1984 to 1985, the regiment was involved in OpérationManta. The regiment partook in various peacekeeping missions in Lebanon on...
one palm in 2012 following engagement of the regiment in Afghanistan (Operation Pamir). Valmy 1792 Jemmapes 1792 Castiglione 1796 Eylau 1807 Sebastopol...
Internationales» de l’État-major des Armées). He participated to OperationManta (1983-1984), as well as Operation Epervier in Tchad (1988-1989, 1996), He was in the...
from 2007 until his murder in 2020. Zambrano was born on 3 October 1981 in Manta, Ecuador. Zambrano became the leader of Los Choneros after the murder of...