Editing Falklands War (section)

== Argentine invasion ==
{{Main|1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands|Invasion of South Georgia|Argentine air forces in the Falklands War|Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War|Argentine ground forces in the Falklands War}}
[[File:Kelpers y soldados argentinos, 1982.jpg|thumb|Argentine soldiers and Falklanders in 1982]]
On 2 April 1982, Argentine forces mounted amphibious landings, known as Operation Rosario,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Falklands War 1982 – Operation Rosario |url=https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/southamerica/falklands/falklandswarmaprosario2.htm |website=The British Empire |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-date=22 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922024918/https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/southamerica/falklands/falklandswarmaprosario2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> on the Falkland Islands.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1899334.stm|title=Falklands War: The first day, 2 April 1982|date=2 April 2002|access-date=21 September 2018|archive-date=23 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223193332/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1899334.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The invasion was met with a fierce but brief defence organised by the [[Governor of the Falkland Islands|Falkland Islands' Governor]] Sir [[Rex Hunt (governor)|Rex Hunt]], giving command to Major Mike Norman of the [[Royal Marines]]. The garrison consisted of 68 marines and eleven naval [[Hydrography|hydrographer]]s,<ref>{{harvnb|Middlebrook|2012|p=43}}</ref> assisted by 23 volunteers of the [[Falkland Islands Defence Force]] (FIDF), who had few weapons and were used as lookouts.<ref>{{harvnb|Middlebrook|2012|p=45}}</ref> The invasion started with the landing of [[Lieutenant Commander]] Guillermo Sanchez-Sabarots' [[Amphibious Commandos Group]], who attacked the empty Moody Brook barracks and then moved on [[Government House, Falkland Islands|Government House]] in [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]]. When the 2nd [[Argentina Marines|Marine Infantry]] Battalion with [[Assault Amphibious Vehicle]]s arrived, the governor ordered a [[ceasefire]] and surrendered.<ref>{{harvnb|Middlebrook|2012|pp=47–52}}</ref> The governor, his family and the British military personnel were flown to [[Montevideo]], [[Uruguay]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} Fight for the Falklands |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/uk/2002/falklands/my_story/hunt.stm |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> that afternoon and later repatriated to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{harvnb|Eddy|Gillman|Linklater|Sunday_Times_of_London_Insight_Team|1982|p=92}}</ref>

=== Initial British response ===
{{further|British naval forces in the Falklands War|British ground forces in the Falklands War|British air services in the Falklands War}}

[[File:The empire strikes back newsweek.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|The cover of ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine, 19 April 1982, depicting {{HMS|Hermes|R12|6}}, flagship of the British Task Force. The headline evokes the 1980 [[The Empire Strikes Back|''Star Wars'' sequel]].]]
The British had already taken action prior to the 2 April invasion. In response to events on South Georgia, on 29 March, Ministers decided to send the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] (RFA) ''[[RFA Fort Austin (A386)|Fort Austin]]'' south from the Mediterranean to support HMS ''Endurance'', and the nuclear-powered fleet submarine {{HMS|Spartan|S105|6}} from [[Gibraltar]], with {{HMS|Splendid|S106|6}} ordered south from [[HMNB Clyde|Scotland]] the following day.<ref name="Freedman, Gamba-Stonehouse 1991">{{cite book |last1=Freedman |first1=Lawrence |last2=Gamba-Stonehouse |first2=Virginia |title=Signals of War: The Falklands Conflict of 1982 |date=1991 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-6158-3}}</ref>{{rp|75}}<ref name="Freedman2007">{{harvnb|Freedman|2005a|pp=202–203}}</ref> Lord [[Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington|Carrington]] had wished to send a third submarine, but the decision was deferred due to concerns about the impact on operational commitments.<ref name="Freedman2007"/> Coincidentally, on 26 March, the submarine {{HMS|Superb|S109|6}} left Gibraltar and it was assumed in the press she was heading south. There has since been speculation that the effect of those reports was to panic the Argentine junta into invading the Falklands before submarines could be deployed;<ref name="Freedman2007"/> however, post-war research has established that the final decision to proceed was made at a junta meeting in [[Buenos Aires]] on 23 March.<ref>{{harvnb|Middlebrook|2012|p= 40}}</ref>

The following day, during a crisis meeting headed by Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]], the [[First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff]], Admiral Sir [[Henry Leach]], advised that "Britain could and should send a task force if the islands are invaded". On 1 April, Leach sent orders to a [[Royal Navy]] force carrying out [[Exercise Spring Train|exercises]] in the Mediterranean to prepare to sail south. Following the invasion on 2 April, after an emergency meeting of the cabinet, approval was given to form a task force to retake the islands. This was backed in an emergency sitting of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] the next day.<ref name=falkislands>{{cite web|access-date=24 December 2011|publisher=Falkland Islands Information|title=A Chronology of events during the Falklands Conflict of 1982|url=http://www.falklands.info/history/82timeline.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327150403/http://www.falklands.info/history/82timeline.html|archive-date=27 March 2010}}</ref>

[[File:HeadingSouth.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Some of the Advanced Group, [[pennant number#Post-1948|pennant numbers]] painted over, off [[Gibraltar]], March 1982]]
Word of the invasion first reached the UK from Argentine sources.<ref name=Margolis>{{cite news |last=Margolis |first=Laurie |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6514011.stm |title=UK &#124; How BBC man scooped invasion news |work=BBC News |date=2 April 2007 |access-date=7 February 2010 |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428135154/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6514011.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> A [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] operative in London had a short [[telex]] conversation with Governor Hunt's telex operator, who confirmed that Argentines were on the island and in control.<ref name=Margolis/><ref name = "Duncan">Duncan, Andrew, ''The Falklands War'', Marshall Cavendish Books Limited, {{ISBN|1-84415-429-7}}</ref> Later that day, [[BBC]] journalist [[Laurie Margolis]] spoke with an islander at [[Goose Green]] via [[amateur radio]], who confirmed the presence of a large Argentine fleet and that Argentine forces had taken control of the island.<ref name=Margolis/> British military operations in the Falklands War were given the codename ''Operation Corporate'', and the commander of the task force was Admiral Sir [[John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse|John Fieldhouse]]. Operations lasted from 1 April 1982 to 20 June 1982.<ref name="LG 13 December 1982">{{London Gazette |issue=49194 |date=13 December 1982 |page=16109 |supp=y }}</ref>

On 6 April, the British Government set up a [[War Cabinet#Falklands War, 1982|War Cabinet]] to provide day-to-day political oversight of the campaign.<ref name="Freedman2005">{{harvnb|Freedman|2005b|pp=21–22}}: "day-to-day oversight was to be provided by&nbsp;... which came to be known as the War Cabinet. This became the critical instrument of crisis management"</ref> This was the critical instrument of crisis management for the British with its remit being to "keep under review political and military developments relating to the South Atlantic, and to report as necessary to the Defence and Overseas Policy Committee". The War Cabinet met at least daily until it was dissolved on 12 August. Although Margaret Thatcher is described as dominating the War Cabinet, [[Lawrence Freedman]] notes in the ''Official History of the Falklands Campaign'' that she did not ignore opposition or fail to consult others. However, once a decision was reached, she "did not look back".<ref name="Freedman2005"/>

===United Nations Security Council Resolution 502===
On 31 March 1982, the Argentine ambassador to the UN, [[Eduardo A. Roca|Eduardo Roca]], began attempting to garner support against a British military build-up designed to thwart earlier UN resolutions calling for both countries to resolve the Falklands dispute through discussion.<ref name="Freedman, Gamba-Stonehouse 1991"/>{{rp|134}} On 2 April, the night of the invasion, a banquet was held at Roca's official residence for the US ambassador to the UN, [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]], and several high-ranking officials of the [[United States Department of State]] and the [[United States Department of Defense]]. This led British diplomats to view Kirkpatrick, who had earlier called for closer relationships with South American dictatorships, with considerable suspicion.<ref>{{harvnb|Eddy|Gillman|Linklater|Sunday_Times_of_London_Insight_Team|1982|pp=123–124}}</ref>

On 1 April, London told the UK ambassador to the UN, Sir [[Anthony Parsons]], that an invasion was imminent and he should call an urgent meeting of the [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]] to get a favourable [[United Nations resolution|resolution]] against Argentina.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Parsons |first1=Anthony |title=The Falklands Crisis in the United Nations, 31 March-14 June 1982 |journal=International Affairs |date=1983 |volume=59 |issue=2 |pages=169–178 |publisher=Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Institute of International Affairs|doi=10.2307/2619933 |jstor=2619933 | issn=0020-5850}}</ref> Parsons had to get nine affirmative votes from the 15 Council members (not a simple majority) and to avoid a blocking vote from any of the other four permanent members. The meeting took place at 11:00{{nbsp}}am on 3 April, New York time (4:00{{nbsp}}pm in London). [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 502]] was adopted by 10 to 1 (with Panama voting against) and 4 abstentions. Significantly, the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]] both abstained.<ref>{{harvnb|Gold|2005|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=u9YH_fLPu1MC&q=Falklands&pg=PA39 39]}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Gold|2005|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=u9YH_fLPu1MC&pg=PA37 37]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Voting System |url=https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/voting-system |website=UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL |publisher=United Nations |access-date=20 June 2020 |archive-date=19 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619090703/https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/voting-system |url-status=live }}</ref> The resolution stated:

{{poemquote|Deeply disturbed at reports of an invasion on 2 April 1982 by armed forces of Argentina; 
Determining that there exists a breach of the peace in the region of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), 
Demands an immediate cessation of hostilities; 
Demands an immediate withdrawal of all Argentine forces from the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas);
Calls on the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom to seek a diplomatic solution to their differences and to respect fully the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. }}
This was a significant win for the UK, giving it the upper hand diplomatically. The draft resolution Parsons submitted had avoided any reference to the sovereignty dispute (which might have worked against the UK): instead it focused on Argentina's breach of Chapter VII of the UN Charter which forbids the threat or use of force to settle disputes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter VII: Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace and Acts of Aggression |url=https://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-vii/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214154829/https://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-vii/index.html |archive-date=14 February 2021 |access-date=19 June 2020 |website=Charter of the United Nations |publisher=United Nations}}</ref> The resolution called for the removal only of Argentine forces: this freed Britain to retake the islands militarily, if Argentina did not leave, by exercising its right to self-defence allowed under the UN Charter.<ref name="Freedman, Gamba-Stonehouse 1991"/>{{rp|141}}

===Argentine occupation===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Murrell House Vandalism June 1982.jpeg|thumb|Vandalism of a Falkland Islander's home by Argentine soldiers, the message reads ''Ingleses putos'', an insult that translates as, "English bitches"]] -->
{{main|Occupation of the Falkland Islands}}
The [[Argentine Army]] unit earmarked for the occupation was the [[25th Infantry Regiment (Argentina)|25th Infantry Regiment]], a unit of about 681 men specially trained from all the [[regions of Argentina]]; it was flown into [[Port Stanley Airport]] as soon as the runway had been cleared.<ref>{{harvnb|Middlebrook|2012|p= 42}}</ref> Once it became clear that the British were sending an amphibious task force, there was a general recall of reservists and two [[brigade]]s of eight infantry regiments and their supporting units were dispatched to the islands. The total Argentine garrison numbered some 13,000 troops by the beginning of May. The conscripts born in 1963 had only recently been called-up, so they were supplemented by the recall of the previous year's intake. Brigadier General [[Mario Benjamín Menéndez]] was appointed Military Governor of the Malvinas.<ref>{{harvnb|Middlebrook|2012|pp=86–88}}</ref>

Argentine military police arrived with detailed files on many islanders,<ref name=Bound>{{harvnb | Bound | 2006 | pp= 81–88}}</ref> allowing intelligence officer Major Patricio Dowling to arrest and interrogate islanders who he suspected might lead opposition to the occupation.<ref name=Bound/> Initially, Islanders suspected of holding anti-Argentine views were expelled,<ref name=Bound/> including the Luxton family<ref name=Bound/> (who had lived in the islands since the 1840s) and David Colville,<ref>{{Cite news |title='We've been invaded' |language=en |work=Dorset Echo |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/5389880.weve-been-invaded/ |access-date=20 January 2022 |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120131007/https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/5389880.weve-been-invaded/ |url-status=live }}</ref> editor of the ''Falklands Times''. This proved to be counter-productive, as those expelled gave interviews to the press. Subsequently, fourteen other community leaders, including the senior medical officer, were interned at [[Fox Bay]] on West Falkland.<ref>{{harvnb | Bound | 2006 | p= 198}}</ref> Concerned by Dowling's actions, senior Argentine officers had him removed from the islands.<ref name=Bound/> For almost a month, the civilian population of [[Goose Green]] was detained in the [[village hall]] in "unpleasant conditions".<ref>''For most of May the population of Goose Green was confined to a meeting hall in unpleasant conditions''. The Official History of the Falklands Campaign: War and Diplomacy, Lawrence Freedman, p. 87, Routledge, 2004</ref> Less well known are similar detentions in other outlying settlements, including one islander who died after being denied access to his medication. As the war's end approached, some troops began to place booby traps in civilian homes,<ref>{{harvnb|Fursdon|1988|p=32}}</ref> defiled homes with excrement,<ref>{{harvnb | Bound | 2006 | p= 154}}</ref> destroyed civilian property and committed arson against civilian properties.<ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Bennett|2021|p=Appendix 1}}</ref>

Argentine officers and [[Non-commissioned officer|NCOs]] have been accused of handing out rough [[field punishment]] to their conscript soldiers. Ration packs from the Moody Brook depot were found to have foodstuff missing according to Private Alan Craig from the 7th Regiment,<ref>"The army did give us a plastic pack of food, one per person per week. These contained two packets of sweets, four water biscuits, one tin of cold stew, some fuel tablets and a box of matches. Most of us sat down and ate the food straight away, possibly keeping the tins for the second day, but after that another wait of five days before the next packet. Often the packets were broken open and things were missing. I heard there were containers of gift food for us down at Port Stanley but I never got any of it, except some chocolate that a soldier sold to me." Argentine Fight for the Falklands, Martin Middlebrook, pp.221-222, Pen & Sword, 2003</ref> and troops garrisoning Port Howard were starved,<ref>''"Asimismo, se denuncia que el soldado Remigio Fernández falleció de hambre en Puerto Howard debido a que los oficiales no le entregaban los alimentos."''[https://www.eldia.com/nota/2007-4-14-grave-denuncia-de-ex-combatientes-de-malvinas Grave denuncia de ex combatientes de Malvinas]</ref> and according to Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins in their book ''The Battle for the Falklands'' (Norton, 1984), "Attempts to go absent without leave were punished by beatings or forcing the offender to sit for hours with his naked feet in the freezing water on the mountainside."  Private Rito Portillo<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-Argentinian troops file Falklands lawsuit |date=2007-04-13 |website=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310133745/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/apr/13/falklands.argentina |archive-date=2023-03-10 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/apr/13/falklands.argentina}}</ref> from the 1st Marine Anti-Aircraft Battalion and Private Remigio Fernández<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 April 2007 |title=Grave denuncia de ex combatientes de Malvinas |url=https://www.eldia.com/nota/2007-4-14-grave-denuncia-de-ex-combatientes-de-malvinas |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=El Dia |language=es}}</ref> from the 5th Regiment were reported to have been executed or died because of mistreatment by their own officers. Soldiers were made to sign [[Non-disclosure agreement|non-disclosure documents]] on their return from the Islands.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Argentinian Falklands veterans mark 'day of sadness' over torture they endured |last=Goñi |first=Uki |location=Buenos Aires |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 April 2022 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/02/argentina-falklands-veterans-day-of-sadness |access-date=2 April 2022 |archive-date=2 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402143022/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/02/argentina-falklands-veterans-day-of-sadness |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Shuttle diplomacy===
[[File:Haig and Thatcher DF-SC-83-06152.jpg|thumb|right|Margaret Thatcher meets Alexander Haig in London]]
On 8 April, [[Alexander Haig]], the [[United States Secretary of State]], arrived in London on a [[shuttle diplomacy]] mission from [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] to broker a peace deal based on an interim authority taking control of the islands pending negotiations. After hearing from Thatcher that the task force would not be withdrawn unless the Argentines evacuated their troops, Haig headed for Buenos Aires.<ref>{{harvnb|Eddy|Gillman|Linklater|Sunday_Times_of_London_Insight_Team|1982|pp=129–132}}</ref> There he met the junta and [[Nicanor Costa Méndez]], the foreign minister. Haig was treated coolly and told that Argentine sovereignty must be a pre-condition of any talks. Returning to London on 11 April, he found the British cabinet in no mood for compromise. Haig flew back to Washington before returning to Buenos Aires for a final protracted round of talks. These made little progress, but just as Haig and his mission were leaving, they were told that Galtieri would meet them at the airport VIP lounge to make an important concession; however, this was cancelled at the last minute. On 30 April, the Reagan administration announced that they would be publicly supporting the United Kingdom.<ref>{{harvnb|Eddy|Gillman|Linklater|Sunday_Times_of_London_Insight_Team|1982|pp=132–137}}</ref>