Posted on 11/30/2001 12:01:56 PM PST by Toidylop
90 SAS troops in firefight at Bin Laden cave
by MATTHEW HICKLEY, Daily Mail
femail.co.uk - 30th November 2001
The first dramatic accounts emerged yesterday of a daring largescale SAS assault on a Taliban cave complex which left 18 Afghans dead and four British soldiers wounded.
According to sources close to the elite regiment, the intense four-hour battle - aimed at cornering Osama Bin Laden - was one of the largest SAS operations ever mounted.
As many as 90 troops converged on the heavilyguarded mountain stronghold in southern Afghanistan, acting on intelligence that the terrorist chief was there.
They successfully stormed the complex in an ' astonishing and breathtaking operation', but Bin Laden is believed to have fled hours earlier.
It is understood the same units were yesterday involved in a similar assault on another hideout, as they raced to reach the world's most wanted man ahead of their American special forces rivals - who have yet to mount attacks on the same scale.
While large-formation assaults are unusual for the SAS - which prefers operating in small undercover teams - insiders claim the difficulty of cave fighting and the regiment's eagerness to seize the ultimate prize of capturing or killing Bin Laden have prompted a dramatic shift in tactics.
One Army source described last week's assault as 'a rerun of the Radfan raid' - a reference to the successful SAS operation during the 1960s Aden insurgency in which 60 or more troops joined in a daring attack on an enemy-held desert fort.
Around 100 SAS soldiers have been operating undercover in Afghanistan for weeks, gathering intelligence and mounting hit-and-run raids in a bid to make Bin Laden and his terrorist henchmen break cover.
The Battle of the Caves took place last week, days before U.S. Marines moved into an area south of Kandahar to help in the hunt.
The assault force is thought to have included some members of the Special Boat Section of the Royal Marines.
No details have been officially released and the Defence Ministry would not comment on the operation yesterday.
But one well-placed source said: 'It was by all accounts an astonishing and breathtaking assault on the most difficult of targets.
'The lads used techniques for tunnel fighting that they have honed over the years. They proved hugely successful. There was hand-to-hand fighting at some points.
'It takes cool courage and teamwork to take a complex like that, and word of this will spread. It will strike fear into the Taliban, and rightly so. Eighteen Taliban were killed and dozens wounded and taken prisoner.
'I imagine they will be given a fair but tough interrogation - what the lads call " interview without coffee".'
The source added: 'As I speak, they have moved on to to a second complex and another battle is being fought.
'The regimental sergeant major was wounded and is apparently furious that he is away from the action. He is a fantastic soldier. The word is
that Victoria Crosses will be awarded for this action. It was the biggest gathering of SAS men in living memory. Two squadrons were involved plus the headquarters group.
'Even in the Gulf, when the lads overran a Scud missile complex in the Iraqi desert, only half a squadron in desert Land Rovers was involved, and that was a hell of a battle.
'The Americans have not prosecuted the same sort of actions against Al- Qaeda, and the U.S. Delta Force have been largely directing artillery and air strikes and trying to organise the anti-Taliban forces into a cohesive fighting units. They have not yet launched direct actions in the same way.
'The inference is clear that the SAS wants to get Bin Laden. They don't like to be second best - because after all, Who Dares Wins.'
The source said the RSM was shot in the calf. Two others suffered 'in and out' bullet wounds.
The fourth and most serious casualty took three bullets from an AK-47 assault rifle - one in the arm, one in the abdomen and one in the top of his leg, which tore through the limb.
He is a married with children, and the son of an SAS soldier known as 'Lofty' who was among 19 of the elite troops who died in a helicopter crash during the Falklands War.
The source said: 'The main concern is the chap's leg and we are all praying it will be saved. Frankly, the fact that only four men were wounded is a testament to the skills of the regiment.'
The four casualties were evacuated back to Britain over the weekend, and are now being treated at a hospital in the Midlands.
And?
Over 16 million pounds, divided by 90 = about 200,000 pounds apiece. A good amount even in Britain after taxes.
Well said. Not too certain if too many here in the US picked up on your humor.
An Ozzie friend of mine worked with the SAS in the Persian Gulf war. Tough bastards, hard as nails.
Glad we Yanks have the Brits on our side.
Best regards.
LOL, gotta love it!
That's what I love about the SAS. I'll always have a special place in my heart for them.
"Free the Oppressed" TBM
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