Background
The British 8th Army and the Axis armies were engaged in battles resulting from Operation Crusader, which had been fought between 18 November and 4 December. Its aim was to defeat the Afrika Korps and relieve the siege of Tobruk. This had been achieved, the Axis forces were conducting a fighting retreat; by 13 December, they were holding a defensive line at Gazala, east of Benghazi.
The Axis were desperate to re-supply their forces, intending to transport stores to Tripoli, their main port in Libya, and Benghazi, the port closest to the front line.
Meanwhile, the island garrison of Malta was under siege, the British were keen to run-in stores to resupply their forces there.
Read more about this topic: First Battle Of Sirte
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