An SAS veteran has disclosed the harrowing details of the failed Bravo Two Zero mission, which saw a patrol of eight soldiers dropped behind enemy lines during the 1991 Gulf War. The mission, intended to destroy Iraqi Scud missile launchers, went disastrously wrong due to poor planning and extreme weather conditions.
The patrol, led by Sergeant Andy McNab, was inserted by helicopter into northern Iraq but was soon compromised. The men were forced to evade Iraqi forces in freezing temperatures, with limited supplies and no support. Three of the eight soldiers died, and four were captured and tortured, while only one escaped to Syria.
The veteran criticised the lack of proper equipment and intelligence, stating that the patrol was given inadequate maps and no means of communication with command. The mission remains one of the most controversial in SAS history, with questions still asked about its planning and execution.
Despite the failure, the bravery of the men involved has been widely recognised, with McNab later writing a best-selling book about the ordeal. The SAS continues to operate as a premier special forces unit, learning from past mistakes to refine its tactics and training.
