By staff writers
March 25, 2003
AUSTRALIAN Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers have played an integral part in disrupting the Iraqi war effort, army chief Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy said this morning.
Gen Leahy said the SAS was performing "shoot and scoot" missions where troops deploy, observe and, if necessary, destroy targets before redeploying soon after.
"The operations they have been conducting have provided invaluable information on enemy movements, on bases and on likely intentions," Gen Leahy told reporters.
"Special forces have been active destroying enemy installations either using their own resources, or directing coalition air support for destruction mission.
"Our forces are denying freedom of movement to the Iraqi forces.
"They are generally creating havoc and uncertainty behind lines, and are constantly redeploying in their area of operations.
"My conclusion is that the special forces have been very successful in interrupting enemy operations."
Australian forces have suffered no casualties to date, said Brigadier Mike Hannan.
Bdr Hannan also said Australian navy clearance divers had "just arrived" in the port city of Umm Qasr where they would work with US personnel in removing ordnance and debris from the harbour.
He also said F/A-18 Hornet aircraft successfully completed a bombing mission overnight and had returned to base.
Hand-to-hand combat
The SAS troops helped capture two crucial Iraqi air bases in the biggest and most daring mission in the regiment's history, it has been revealed.
The Australians joined 100 British SAS soldiers in a raid on two bases on Iraq's western border.
When the dust had cleared the Allies had suffered no casualties.
But defence spokesman Brigadier Mike Hannan confirmed they had killed dozens of Iraqis troops.
The SAS was involved in hand-to-hand fighting at one of the bases' terminals as they removed Iraqi troops guarding missile launchers.
Specifics of the operation were kept secret but officials did confirm they had found electronic equipment used to direct bio-chemical weapons. It is also believed they captured several hundred Iraqis.
The bases, codenamed H2 and H3, are on either side of the desert town of ar-Rutba, near the Jordanian border, 380km west of Baghdad.
They had to be captured for two vital reasons.
First, satellite pictures showed the Iraqis were moving missile launchers to the bases. Military planners feared they would be fired towards Israel in a repeat of Saddam Hussein's Scud attacks in 1991.
Second, the airfields will be essential in the battle for Baghdad.
They are now being used as a base for American Black Hawk and Apache helicopters which will provide close air support to armour closing in on the Iraqi capital.
Pre-war deployment
The SAS operation began more than a week before the war officially started when a dozen SAS men were dropped close to ar Rutba by Chinook helicopters.
Their reconnaissance provided a detailed breakdown of the Republican Guards protecting the bases.
More than 100 SAS troops were flown in by RAF Chinooks. They had Land Rovers, armoured vehicles and even quad bikes so they could move as quickly as possible. The SAS are also understood to have been accompanied by Royal Marines reconnaissance and demolition experts from 45 Commando.
The force quickly began a series of devastating attacks on guard posts, communications equipment and the missile launchers.
Laser targeters were also used to call in air strikes by RAF Tornado GR4s. They hit command centres.
With contributions from News Ltd correspondents and AAP
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