News / Foreign Policy

Britain sends ‘elite’ commandos to the Persian Gulf

Wednesday, 26 June 2019 4:12 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 26 June 2019 4:18 PM ]

Britain's SBS in training.

As widely reported in the British press, the UK has dispatched two teams from the Special Boat Service to the Persian Gulf under instructions to “kill or capture” any Iranian forces approaching British vessels.

News of the deployment was first reported by the Daily Express on 19 May and the story has been developed further by the Sun on 23 May.

Regional observers warn that the latest dangerous move coupled with the British government’s broader intention to stir up tensions in the Persian Gulf significantly raise the risk of an unwanted military confrontation. This is despite the fact that Iran has not made any threats against British shipping or other assets in the region.

Experts in aquatic warfare, the SBS (nicknamed the Frogmen), are one of the three units comprising the British special services community. The others are the notorious Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR).

The SAS, the SBS and to a lesser extent the SRR are all believed to be active in the region and some have been deployed to fight in Yemen alongside Saudi and UAE-aligned forces.

For their part, high-ranking Iranian military commanders have warned US and British armed forces in the Persian Gulf region to pay additional attention to keeping their personnel under control.

Traditionally the British special services are surrounded with an air of mythology by way of vastly inflating their capabilities.

Iran has twice punctured this myth by capturing Royal Marines personnel who had violated Iranian territorial waters in 2004 and 2007 respectively. The Royal Marines is the core military organisation from which prospective candidates for the British special services are selected.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk