 The Rhodesian Bush War was the result , beginning in earnest on 21 December 1972 when ZANLA attacked Altena and Whistlefield Farms near Centenary in the country 's north @-@ east . The Rhodesian Security Forces launched Operation Hurricane in response and fought back strongly , reducing the number of guerrillas active within the country to under 300 by December 1974 . In the period October – November 1974 , they killed more nationalist fighters than in the previous two years combined . However , a South African @-@ brokered ceasefire , which the security forces respected and the insurgents ignored , helped the nationalists to win back ground . By 1977 there were 2 @,@ 500 guerrillas operating in Rhodesia , with several times that number in training abroad . 
 The Rhodesian Bush War was the result , beginning in earnest on 21 December 1972 when ZANLA attacked Altena and Whistlefield Farms near Centenary in the country <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>north @-@ east . The Rhodesian Security Forces launched Operation Hurricane in response and fought back strongly , reducing the number of guerrillas active within the country to under 300 by December 1974 . In the period October – November 1974 , they killed more nationalist fighters than in the previous two years combined . However , a South African @-@ brokered ceasefire , which the security forces respected and the insurgents ignored , helped the nationalists to win back ground . By 1977 <a href='dey_it' title='2'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> 2 @,@ 500 guerrillas operating in Rhodesia , with several times that number in training abroad . 
Da Rhodesian Bush War was the result , beginning in earnest on 21 December 1972 when ZANLA attacked Altena and Whistlefield Farms near Centenary in the country  north @-@ east . TdaRhodesian Security Forces launched Operation Hurricane in response and fought back strongly , reducing the number of guerrillas active within the country to under 300 by December 1974 . In thdaeriod October – November 1974 , they killed more nationalist fighters den in thedaevious 2 years combined . However , a South African @-@ brokered ceasefire , which the daurity forces respected and the idargents ignored , helped the nationalists to win back ground . By 1977 it was 2 @,@ 500 guerrillas operating in Rhodesia , with several times that number in training abroad .