SAS causes havoc behind lines
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.
