SAS goes to Sudan to bring out British
More than 100 SAS and paratroopers are flown to the Middle East as Britain prepares to airlift British nationals from war-torn Sudan.
They will prepare for operations at a secret base ahead of a possible mission to rescue those trapped by the fighting.
At the request of the Ministry of Defence, no locations of British troops already involved in the Sudan crisis are being disclosed.
The conflict between Russian-backed rebels and government forces has left more than 400 dead in the past week.
In response to the crisis, the Foreign Office has advised British citizens in the Sudan to register. They must provide their place of residence, contact details and indicate whether they wish to leave the country or stay there.
The conflict between Russian-backed rebels and government forces in Sudan has left more than 400 dead in the past week.
The Foreign Office has advised British citizens in Sudan to register. They must provide their place of residence, contact details and indicate whether they wish to leave the country or stay there
This allows planners at the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) in Northwood, North West London, to calculate how many to save.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also cut short an official visit to New Zealand to deal with the crisis. The SAS is expected to be escorted by a company of soldiers from the Parachute Regiment. During Operation Pitting in 2021, the paratroopers led the effort to secure Kabul airport after the Taliban took over Afghanistan.
The RAF will play a central role in any evacuation. Last night, the service canceled scheduled flights to other destinations so that planes could participate in the airlift.
British soldiers currently on exercise in Kenya expected to fly back to the UK. But according to army sources, the Coldstream Guards have been told to stay in the country.
There could be as many as 16,000 Americans in Sudan. The Pentagon is preparing evacuation options for US diplomatic personnel in Khartoum
The SAS and Paras will join forces with US forces in any rescue mission complicated by heavy fighting around the airport in the capital Khartoum.
The US is moving soldiers and equipment to the country of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. Japan has also sent military aircraft there and the Netherlands has sent aircraft to Jordan.
Western countries are speeding up their response after the failure of a ceasefire. Sudan’s medical system is on the verge of collapse as hospital supplies run out and tens of thousands of people have fled in search of safer areas.
The fighting involves the so-called Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group, which has received military training and equipment from Russia’s paramilitary organization, the Wagner Group.
If the RSF defeats government forces, Sudan – which has strong ties to the UK – would be in a tight spot with the Kremlin. Sudan was under British control until the Suez Crisis of 1956. Khartoum is at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile and Sudan has significant gold reserves.
The prime minister’s spokesman said last night: “We remain deeply concerned about the escalating violence in Sudan. The UK and our allies are again urging Sudanese leaders to contain and de-escalate their forces to prevent further bloodshed.
“We are in contact with international partners and the British Embassy in Khartoum to help resolve this crisis and ensure the safety of diplomatic staff and British citizens.”
