Operation Avalanche and the Italian mainland. The Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, codenamed Operation Husky, was highly successful, although many of the Axis forces there were allowed to avoid capture and escape to the mainland. More importantly a "coup" deposed Benito Mussolini as head of the Italian government, which then began approaching the Allies to make peace. It was believed a quick invasion of Italy might hasten an Italian surrender and produce quick military victories over the German troops that would now be trapped fighting in a hostile country. However, Italian (and more so German) resistance proved relatively strong, and
Operation Avalanche (Afghanistan) Operation Avalanche (Afghanistan) Operation Avalanche was a four-week U.S.-led offensive in December 2003 designed to disrupt a resurgence in militant activity in the southeastern territory of Afghanistan and to establish conditions for the provision of humanitarian aid. Described by the U.S. government as the biggest ground operation in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, the offensive led to the capture of more than 100 suspects and the deaths of 10. Two soldiers from the Afghan National Army were killed. The operation was marred by the accidental killings of 15 children in raids on suspected militants. The