Revealed: SAS quad bike squads kill up to eight jihadis a day and leave 200 dead in just four weeks after daring raids on ISIS in Iraq
SAS troops with sniper rifles, left, and heavy machine guns
have killed hundreds of Islamic State extremists in a series of deadly
quad-bike ambushes, bottom right, inside Iraq. Defence sources indicated
last night that soldiers from the elite fighting unit have eliminated
'up to eight terrorists per day' in the daring raids, carried out during
the past four weeks. Until now, it had been acknowledged only that the
SAS was operating in a reconnaissance role in Iraq and was not involved
in combat. But The Mail on Sunday has learned that small groups of
soldiers are being dropped into IS territory in RAF Chinook helicopters,
top right, - to take on the enemy.
SAS quad bike squads kill up to 8 jihadis each day... as allies prepare to wipe IS off the map: Daring raids by UK Special Forces leave 200 enemy dead in just four weeks
- Targets are identified by drones operated by SAS soldiers
- Who are then dropped into IS territory by helicopter to stage attacks
- The surprise ambushes are said to be 'putting the fear of God into IS'
- The raids are attacking IS's main supply routes across western Iraq
SAS
troops with sniper rifles and heavy machine guns have killed hundreds of
Islamic State extremists in a series of deadly quad-bike ambushes
inside Iraq, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Defence
sources indicated last night that soldiers from the elite fighting unit
have eliminated ‘up to eight terrorists per day’ in the daring raids,
carried out during the past four weeks.
Until
now, it had been acknowledged only that the SAS was operating in a
reconnaissance role in Iraq and was not involved in combat. But The Mail
on Sunday has learned that small groups of soldiers are being dropped
into IS territory in RAF Chinook helicopters – to take on the enemy.
Scroll down for video
DRONES PATROL IRAQ TO SEEK OUT
TARGETS: Drone operators study footage of the terrorists’ positions
which are then relayed to SAS commanders at their secret base so they
can plan missions
Targets
are identified by drones operated either from an SAS base or by the
soldiers themselves on the ground, who use smaller devices.
The
troops are also equipped with quad bikes – four-wheeled all-terrain
vehicles that can have machine guns bolted on to a frame. They then seek
out IS units and attack the terrorists using the element of surprise
and under the cover of darkness.
The
missions have taken place on a near daily basis in the past four weeks
and the SAS soldiers have expended so much ammunition that regimental
quartermasters have been forced to order a full replenishment of stocks
of machine-gun rounds and sniper bullets.
An
SAS source said: ‘Our tactics are putting the fear of God into IS as
they don’t know where we’re going to strike next and there’s frankly
nothing they can do to stop us.
SAS SNIPER UNITS SCRAMBLED IN
CHINOOKS: The heavily equipped troops are flown deep into IS territory
aboard RAF transport helicopters, their quad bikes stowed on board,
before touching down 50 miles from their target
‘We’re
degrading their morale. They can run and hide if they see planes in the
sky but they can’t see or hear us. Using so many snipers takes the fear
factor to another level too; the terrorists don’t know what’s
happening. They just see their colleagues lying dead in the sand.’
The
SAS’s guerrilla-style raids are targeting IS’s main supply routes
across western Iraq and vehicle checkpoints set up by the terrorists to
conduct kidnappings and extort money from local drivers.
The
operations start with SAS commanders studying hours of footage of
potential target sites recorded by drones – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAVs) – and listening to enemy communication intercepts in a bid to
identify IS leaders.
Once
the regiment’s senior officers have identified a target, the soldiers
gather to receive their operational orders. They then leave their secret
base and climb aboard a fleet of helicopters – with the quad bikes
already safely secured in the cargo hold.
As
the SAS soldiers strap themselves into their seats, the pilots tap in
the co-ordinates for the area of desert where the Chinook will land.
As
the helicopters’ engines are so loud, the Chinooks take the SAS
soldiers to a laying-up point as far as 50 miles from the target. The
troops disembark aboard the quad bikes and prepare their general-
purpose machine guns (GPMGs) and Barrett sniper rifles.
IS PICKED OFF IN GUERILLA-STYLE RAIDS:
Using precision sniper rifles, machine guns and surprise tactics, the
SAS take out their IS targets before disappearing back into the desert
The
SAS’s raids are intended to degrade Islamic State’s fighting capability
ahead of a spring offensive by 20,000 Iraqi and Kurdish troops next
year, with the UK providing additional training for these soldiers.
In
the next fortnight, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is expected to
receive a report from British military planners setting out what needs
to be done.
The
plans could see up to 300 UK trainers leading a programme of intensive
training for the Kurds and Iraqis, with an emphasis on infantry drills
and techniques to defuse enemy explosive devices.
When
the spring offensive starts, British trainers may remain with the Iraqi
and Kurdish units but are not expected to get directly involved in the
fighting.
Earlier
this month, Mr Fallon held meetings with political leaders in the
region, assuring them that the UK was committed to defeating IS and
improving the training of their soldiers.
The
Defence Secretary also visited Kuwait, where it is expected that US and
British commanders will set up a spring offensive planning centre.
The
mission to defeat the 200,000-strong IS forces will be led by a senior
US officer, Lieutenant General James Terry. It is likely that his second
in command will be a senior British officer, Lieutenant General Tom
Beckett.
Next
month Lieut Gen Beckett will take over as Defence Senior Adviser for
the Middle East (DSAME), a post vacated by Lieutenant General Simon
Mayall, who is retiring after four years in the role.
Defence sources indicated last night
that soldiers from the elite fighting unit have eliminated ‘up to eight
terrorists per day’ in the daring raids, carried out during the past
four weeks
But
Middle East experts are questioning whether the UK’s strategy to defeat
IS stands any chance of success. Professor Gareth Stansfield from
Exeter University told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Not only is the Islamic
State stronger than previous organisations, it has also learned lessons
from them.
‘For
example, IS has few fixed operational centres and its chain of command
remains mobile. British policy options at this stage are burdened with
problems and complications and also bring with them a range of
unintended consequences that could draw Western powers into further
engagements in the region.
‘With
regard to the spring offensive, the Kurds would not be able to push
further south into Iraq without upsetting the Sunni tribesmen in these
areas and the Iraqi army is regarded as a Shia militia. So we are a long
way off a practical solution to the problem of IS.’
The
Mail on Sunday has learned that since IS began its campaign in Syria
and Iraq, more than 35 British jihadists have lost their lives. It is
believed the most recent UK citizens to die fighting for the extremists –
known as Abu Abdullah al-Habashi, 21, and Abu Dharda, 20 – were from
London. They are understood to have been killed in US air strikes on the
Syrian border town of Kobane.
Our tactics are putting the fear of God into IS
Al-Habashi
grew up in North London in a British-Eritrean family and converted to
Islam when he was 16. In August, al-Habashi told the BBC he had gone to
Syria nine months earlier and had been fighting both there and in Iraq.
Al-Habashi is thought to have appeared in at least two IS videos posted
online.
Dharda
comes from a British-Somali background and grew up in West London. He
travelled to Syria in December 2013, entering via Turkey. It is believed
that Dharda was questioned by counter-terrorism police at a British
airport as he left but was allowed on his journey because they were
satisfied with the explanation he gave for the purpose of his trip.
Intelligence
sources have indicated that more than 500 Britons are currently
fighting for IS, with the vast majority active in Syria.
Yesterday,
the widow of murdered British aid worker Alan Henning told a memorial
service he was killed ‘for being what we should be, selfless and
caring’.
A video showing the beheading of the 47-year-old taxi driver was released by IS last month.
A private memorial service at Eccles parish church in Greater Manchester was held yesterday, with audio relayed outside.
His
widow Barbara and daughter Lucy walked in with Bethany and Michael
Haines, the daughter and brother of David Haines from Scone, Scotland,
also murdered by IS.
Mrs
Henning told the memorial: ‘We must never forget the reason why he went
to Syria and the reason he was taken from us – for being what we all
should be, selfless and caring.’
Meanwhile,
IS militants have killed at least 25 members of a Sunni Muslim tribe in
a village on the eastern edge of Ramadi in Iraq, in apparent revenge
for tribal opposition to the radical Islamists.
Local
officials said the bodies of the men from the Albu Fahd tribe were
discovered by the Iraqi army when it launched a counter-offensive on
Saturday against IS near Ramadi, capital of Anbar province.
'Red Cap tragedy' General set to lead offensive
NEW MAN: Lieut General Tom Beckett
A
former Parachute Regiment officer who was in charge of six Red Caps
brutally killed by a mob of extremists in Iraq is in line to become the
second in command of coalition operations against IS.
Lieutenant
General Tom Beckett has been appointed Defence Senior Adviser for the
Middle East (DSAME) and will take up his position as the UK steps up its
efforts to train Iraqi and Kurdish forces to defeat Islamic State.
Softly
spoken Lieut Gen Beckett first deployed to Iraq in 2003, when the
tragedy of the Red Caps marked the beginning of an insurgency against
the British presence in the country’s southern provinces. At the time,
the Red Caps, or Royal Military Policemen, were attached to the
Parachute Regiment’s 1st Battalion led by Beckett. Eleven years on,
families of the Red Caps still blame senior officers for their deaths.
Lieut
Gen Beckett is taking over as DSAME following the retirement of
Lieutenant General Simon Mayall – an officer who was considered the
British Army’s leading expert on Arab affairs. Lieut Gen Mayall served
as DSAME for four years but his retirement comes only three months after
the Prime Minister also appointed him to serve as his special envoy to
Kurdistan – a key role during the IS crisis. Last night, Middle East
expert Professor Gareth Stansfield described Lieut Gen Mayall’s
retirement as a ‘blow’ because of his understanding of regional politics
and jihad philosophy.
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