Frontline Blog

Saturday 26 February 2011

Libya: SAS return to land of its birth


12:31 |

Libya: SAS return to land of its birth |: "The places evoke past battles and names of celebrated commanders: Tobruk, Tripoli, Monty, Rommel, Wavell, Auchinleck.

In some of the most significant battles of the second world war, British-led troops in the western desert pushed the axis forces out of north Africa. Now the Libyan-Egyptian border area is witnessing another seismic development – opposition to a dictatorial colonel only recently considered virtually invulnerable.

Secret Operations of the SASIt is also the birthplace of the SAS, whose troops have been waiting in Malta primed to return, not this time to blow up enemy supply lines, but to rescue stranded British civilians who have been busy restoring the country's infrastructure. And, in contrast to 70 years ago, the British government is refusing to discuss the SAS's putative mission.

The idea this time is that they would fly in with an empty RAF Hercules, rather than in trucks laden with extra fuel tanks with no room for any escapees. The SAS was formed in 1941 and was praised for its derring-do even by the Desert Fox, Field Marshal Rommel. In one of their first successful missions, they attacked three airfields in Libya, destroying 60 aircraft. The group's battle honours include Tobruk in 1941 and a raid on Benghazi in 1942."


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