Post by SAS P&P Admin on Jun 21, 2005 21:27:18 GMT -5
Iraq's western desert a 'special forces playground'
Tim Ripley; JDW Special Correspondent; US Central Command, Qatar
While the main UK and US ground forces have been fighting in the glare of the international media, in western and northern Iraq a more shadowy war is being waged by special forces units. Senior officers at the headquarters of US Central Command in Qatar say US and allied special forces now have freedom of action to operate anywhere inside Iraq, last night raiding two presidential palaces near Baghdad.
UK Special Air Service units, backed by Royal Marines of 45 Commando, are in the vanguard of a free-wheeling war in the Iraqi western desert - along with a squadron from Australia's Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and US special operations forces - to neutralise any 'Scud' missile batteries threatening Israel. One officer has called western Iraq a "special forces playground".
Since storming the strategic H2 and H3 airfields near the Jordanian border on 21 March, the allied special forces task force has pushed eastwards across the desert towards Baghdad backed by air support from UK Royal Air Force GR7 Harrier fighters flying from a forward airbase in Jordan.
While UK officers will disclose very little information about UK special forces in western Iraq, the Commander of USCENTCOM, Gen Tommy Franks, has publicly praised them, saying: "They have accomplished some wonderful things out there."
Military sources say that from the second day of Operation 'Iraqi Freedom' onwards the special forces began using the two captured airfields as bases for long-range reconnaissance patrols. US Air Force Predator unmanned aerial vehicles are flying ahead of the special forces patrols, scouting for targets to be attacked.
Over the past two weeks the special forces teams have been steadily moving towards the Euphrates valley, with members of the US Army's 75th Ranger Regiment capturing H1 airfield in a night-time parachute assault on 25 March. Apart from their small bases, which are being guarded by UK marines and US rangers, the special forces teams are not trying to occupy ground but instead keep the small Iraqi garrisons in the region off-guard. Travellers on the road from Baghdad to the Jordanian border report few signs of Western troops apart from occasional vehicle checkpoints, suggesting they are moving largely at night away from populated areas. Senior US officers talk about 'area denial operations' being underway.
USCENTCOM officers say they are very happy with the progress of the effort because so far there have been no 'Scuds' fired at Israel - a development that could massively complicate allied war plans. They say no 'Scuds' have been found.
The main opposition to the special forces is coming from Iraqi commando units that are attempting to keep the main roads to Jordan and Syria open to allow key members of the regime to potentially escape if Baghdad should fall.
The parading on Al Jazeera television of UK equipment in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on 31 March provided a brief glimpse into the SAS role in toppling Saddam Hussein's regime. Footage showed Iraqi civilians jubilantly driving a Land Rover through the streets of the city, then a quad-bike and a collection of weapons being displayed at an Iraqi military base. This included hand-held rocket launchers, 40mm grenades, machine guns and specialised radio equipment, suggesting this was not from an conventional British Army unit. Iraqi television said the equipment was captured after an attempted helicopter landing.
The location of the incident, far from the main UK operating area around Kuwait and Basra, immediately led to media speculation that the highly secretive 22nd SAS Regiment was in some way involved. UK military spokesmen at USCENTCOM refused to comment.
Tim Ripley; JDW Special Correspondent; US Central Command, Qatar
While the main UK and US ground forces have been fighting in the glare of the international media, in western and northern Iraq a more shadowy war is being waged by special forces units. Senior officers at the headquarters of US Central Command in Qatar say US and allied special forces now have freedom of action to operate anywhere inside Iraq, last night raiding two presidential palaces near Baghdad.
UK Special Air Service units, backed by Royal Marines of 45 Commando, are in the vanguard of a free-wheeling war in the Iraqi western desert - along with a squadron from Australia's Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and US special operations forces - to neutralise any 'Scud' missile batteries threatening Israel. One officer has called western Iraq a "special forces playground".
Since storming the strategic H2 and H3 airfields near the Jordanian border on 21 March, the allied special forces task force has pushed eastwards across the desert towards Baghdad backed by air support from UK Royal Air Force GR7 Harrier fighters flying from a forward airbase in Jordan.
While UK officers will disclose very little information about UK special forces in western Iraq, the Commander of USCENTCOM, Gen Tommy Franks, has publicly praised them, saying: "They have accomplished some wonderful things out there."
Military sources say that from the second day of Operation 'Iraqi Freedom' onwards the special forces began using the two captured airfields as bases for long-range reconnaissance patrols. US Air Force Predator unmanned aerial vehicles are flying ahead of the special forces patrols, scouting for targets to be attacked.
Over the past two weeks the special forces teams have been steadily moving towards the Euphrates valley, with members of the US Army's 75th Ranger Regiment capturing H1 airfield in a night-time parachute assault on 25 March. Apart from their small bases, which are being guarded by UK marines and US rangers, the special forces teams are not trying to occupy ground but instead keep the small Iraqi garrisons in the region off-guard. Travellers on the road from Baghdad to the Jordanian border report few signs of Western troops apart from occasional vehicle checkpoints, suggesting they are moving largely at night away from populated areas. Senior US officers talk about 'area denial operations' being underway.
USCENTCOM officers say they are very happy with the progress of the effort because so far there have been no 'Scuds' fired at Israel - a development that could massively complicate allied war plans. They say no 'Scuds' have been found.
The main opposition to the special forces is coming from Iraqi commando units that are attempting to keep the main roads to Jordan and Syria open to allow key members of the regime to potentially escape if Baghdad should fall.
The parading on Al Jazeera television of UK equipment in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on 31 March provided a brief glimpse into the SAS role in toppling Saddam Hussein's regime. Footage showed Iraqi civilians jubilantly driving a Land Rover through the streets of the city, then a quad-bike and a collection of weapons being displayed at an Iraqi military base. This included hand-held rocket launchers, 40mm grenades, machine guns and specialised radio equipment, suggesting this was not from an conventional British Army unit. Iraqi television said the equipment was captured after an attempted helicopter landing.
The location of the incident, far from the main UK operating area around Kuwait and Basra, immediately led to media speculation that the highly secretive 22nd SAS Regiment was in some way involved. UK military spokesmen at USCENTCOM refused to comment.