What are the SAS doing in Iraq?

news.bbc.co.uk...

[edit on 18-5-2008 by Danbot]

Not only a disturbing article, it also has insights into how joint special forces operate in Baghdad.

news.bbc.co.uk...
[edit on 18-5-2008 by Danbot]

[edit on 18-5-2008 by Danbot]

Why should they not be in Iraq ?

I am totally puzzled by this post.

Take care.

Regards
Lee

reply to post by Danbot

They never left. lol

Who told you they left. Or for that matter who told you they arrived?

Well, I will take a educated guess and say the SAS are on a topic secret mission which is denied by the British government.

Probably protecting supply lines and dealing with weapons coming in from Iran.

Originally posted by infinite
Well, I will take a educated guess and say the SAS are on a topic secret mission which is denied by the British government.

Probably protecting supply lines and dealing with weapons coming in from Iran.

The article said that they were part of a large operation in a dominantely Sunni area north of Baghdad. This particular mission was the assisination of a bomb maker (let's face it, detaining a bomb maker might be a BIT dangerous and the bomb maker MIGHT resist).

I really don't see anything strange about the article except the rules of engagement for special forces.

Clearly, there are none.










[edit on 18-5-2008 by amanbuthimself]

Originally posted by infinite
Well, I will take a educated guess and say the SAS are on a topic secret mission which is denied by the British government.

Probably protecting supply lines and dealing with weapons coming in from Iran.

Fair comment - they could also be specialist intel and counter-insurgency troops.

The SAS have different roles and different briefs depending on the situation, and they may be operating outside of the normal chain of command as infinite has hinted.

The problem I see is the same as ever - none of our troops should be there, regardless of which branch of the armed forces they belong to.

The SAS are obviously heavily involved in:

Nuniya

as in Nuniya Business.

CT

The SAS are doing what comes natural to them, bypass the militia and engage the regular population to find what needs to be done and who to take out from the said militia.

The SAS are probably the best ambassadors the UK could have in a unstable country.

Wolfie

reply to post by Danbot


Weird question. Thats like asking what are the Army Special Forces, Rangers, Delta, SEALs, etc. doing in Iraq. What is the purpose of special operations forces?

reply to post by deltaboy


Rangers?? What are they doing in the list?

Originally posted by dave420
reply to post by deltaboy

 

Rangers?? What are they doing in the list?

Rangers are part of the special forces.

Lets have a look at UK special forces in Iraq.

SAS, SBS, Special Forces Support Group, Special Reconnaisance Regiment, Brigade level Reconnaisance teams (i.e. Path Finders from the parachute Regiment ect.) 18th Special Forces sigint / elint Regiment...


As you can see thats alot of boots on the ground.

What are they doing ?

SRR is the eyes on the ground, the sniffers and feelers for any future operations. Specialise in close target reconnaisance for any fututre actions by the SAS / SBS who are seen as the 'doers'. So SRR are int. gatherers.

They would of had eyes on the targetted area for days / weeks in preperation.

SAS / SBS.

They take the SRR int and plan their operations on who and what to target, depending on what the squadron aims and area of operations is.

Special Forces Support Group.

Carry out diversionary raids and other activities to help and assist where possible the SAS / SBS. In operation Barras they carried out a raid to divert attention from the SAS raid to free the UK soldiers taken hostage.

Brigade Level Recon teams.

Not special forces as is recognised by many, but still highly skilled operators who are often used when brigade have a need for time critical int that cannot be gleaned from SRR operators. Used extensively in Iraq due to their above average training and operational skill sets.

Pathfinders from the Parachute Regiment have been used extensively on long range long endurance operations in Afghanistan even when the Paras as awhole have not been in theatre. Many go on to serve with the SAS.

Training described as 'P company on steroids'.

18th Special Forces Sig / elint teams.

Special forces communications and also a newer ability to use special unmanned aircraft in sig int role within the Iraq theatre. Mobile phones are used heavily by the insurgents and are targgeted as such.

So.......

Whats going on in Iraq ? a bloody hard and dangerous war of attrition against a highly skilled and motivated enemy.

Lots of training for the SAS, just to subjugate a population.

[edit on 20-5-2008 by earthman4]

I dont understand this thread. The SAS are in LOTS of countries not just Iraq. They are even here in the US, they are in the Far East, the Middle East and much of Europe and Russia. Not a big deal at all that they are in Iraq LOL.

reply to post by princeofpeace


In their dreams, maybe. They're about as special as a two-day-old waffle.

Originally posted by dave420
reply to post by princeofpeace

 

In their dreams, maybe. They're about as special as a two-day-old waffle.

No they arent SEALS but they are still under the special ops umbrella.

Originally posted by Danbot
news.bbc.co.uk...

[edit on 18-5-2008 by Danbot]

Killing enemies of the crown in the simplest way possible....with an 8 pence bullet between the eyes....