Operation François was an attempt made by the German Army's Abwehr to use the dissident Qashqai people in Iran to sabotage British and American supplies bound for the Soviet Union. Operation François was led by Otto Skorzeny who sent 502nd SS Jäger Battalion to parachute into Iran, in their first mission during the summer of 1943. Skorzeny, who remained behind to train more recruits, characterized Operation François as "a failure" due mainly to inadequate reinforcements and supplies needed for the mission.