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British SAS Wore American Uniforms in Daring Joint Raid to Kill IS Leader

SAS joins with, and dresses like, US Delta Force in operation that killed Abu Sayaff

AP
August 12, 2015

During the operation which killed a top Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIL) leader earlier this year, British SAS commandos dressed as American soldiers and carried American weapons to conceal their involvement.

The elite British units became involved in the operation to kill IS financier Abu Sayaff at his Syrian headquarters after a plot to assassinate the Queen of England was uncovered, the Daily Mail reports. The discovery of the plot lead to further SAS incursions in the war-torn region, despite that British Parliament has yet to officially approve sending British troops to Syria.

The disguised SAS unit conducted the reconnaissance which identified Sayaff's compound. The intelligence they gathered was used to direct airstrikes against the compound. After the airstrikes ended, 50 members of the United States Army's Delta Force raided the area and engaged the remaining IS militants. Sayaff and about a dozen IS fighters were killed in the raid while a young Yazidi girl was rescued from captivity, the Telegraph reported in May.

"The operation represents another significant blow to ISIL," US Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the Telegraph at the time. "It is another reminder that the United States will never waver in denying safe haven to terrorists who threaten our citizens and those of our friends and allies."

Published under: Army , Military , Syria