When a little-known SAS intervention helped stop a coup in The Gambia

A little-known SAS intervention helped defeat a coup attempt in The Gambia.

Here is all you need to know about Operation Storm.

Operation Storm

Operation Storm was the codename for an SAS intervention during a 1981 coup attempt in The Gambia.

Left-wing rebels tried to overthrow President Sir Dawda Jawara’s government while he was in Britain attending the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

The rebels seized key sites in Banjul and took members of the president’s family hostage.

Why the SAS were sent

Margaret Thatcher’s government chose a discreet response instead of deploying a large British military force.

A small SAS team, reportedly consisting of a major and two sergeants, was sent into the region.

Its role was to assess the situation, assist loyalist forces and help protect hostages and British nationals caught up in the unrest.

The hostage rescue

One of the team’s main objectives was rescuing members of President Jawara’s family.

Lady Jawara and several of her children were reportedly being held under guard in a hospital.

The SAS worked with hospital staff and local allies to secure their safe extraction while avoiding a major firefight.

The rescue became one of the most notable aspects of the mission.

Working with Senegalese forces

The SAS coordinated with Senegalese paratroopers, who entered The Gambia under a defence agreement between the two countries.

The British special forces operators helped gather intelligence, identify rebel positions and support the counter-offensive.

The operation eventually helped regain control of key installations, including the airport and radio station.

The outcome

The coup was crushed within days and President Jawara returned to power.

The failed uprising ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Senegambia Confederation between Senegal and The Gambia the following year.

Despite the small SAS contingent, Operation Storm demonstrated how a handful of special forces personnel could have a significant strategic impact during a crisis.

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Why few people have heard of it

Operation Storm has been overshadowed by better-known SAS missions, including the Iranian Embassy siege, Falklands War raids and Bravo Two Zero.

It involved only a handful of operators, received little publicity and took place during a relatively obscure conflict.

Those factors meant it never entered the public consciousness in the same way as many other SAS operations.