Operation Lightning) was a Haganah offensive launched just before the end of the British Mandate in Palestine.
Operational orders defined the Giv'ati brigades objectives as: "To deny the enemy a base ... creating general panic and breaking his morale ... cause the flight of the inhabitants of the smaller settlements in the area."
Commander Avidan's instructions were: "You will determine alone, in consultation with your Arab affair advisers and Intelligence Service officer, the villages in your zone that should be occupied, cleaned up or destroyed."
[2] The offensive was launched on 9 May with Bayt Daras being subjected to mortar bombardment prior to being occupied.
[3] Two months later the Giv'ati brigade carried out a further operation in this area capturing at least 16 villages and creating 'more than 20,000' refugees.