Notable Counter Terror Ops of the World

Op Darulaman Palace Raid On 26 Dec, 1979

The Soviet Spetsnaz raided the Darulaman Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan in an attempt to assassinate King Amin. The Palace was guarded by 8 Tanks and Afghan Presidential Guards and troops.

1. The Spetsnaz came in two transport aircrafts outfitted with afghan uniforms at Kabul airport.
2. The aircraft cargo hold carried vehicles bearing afghan name plates.
3. Meanwhile previous troops had secured the airport.
4. The Spetsnaz sped towards the palace.
5. 8 tanks guarding the palace were destroyed by antitank weapons.
6. Palace gates were rammed by a personnel carrier. It got stuck at the gate and CQB ensued with the Presidential Guards.
7. The Spetsnaz entered the palace with a classic room entry Op. They kicked doors, lobbed grenades & fired at those exiting out.
8. President Amin was shot dead in his bar.
9. CO, Col Bayernov accidently got shot by cutoffs as he exited the palace to call reinforcements! Cutoffs were ordered to shoot anyone leaving the palace.
10. The remaining Afghan troops were shot down by helicopter gun ships.

Op Magic Fire

On 17th Oct, 1977, Ten GSG-9 (Gren Schutz Gruppe) German Commandos were involved in the rescue of the hijacked West German Lufthansa 181 in Mogadishu, Somalia from 4 RAF terrorists who wanted the release of Baader & Meinhoff)

NOTE: The Spain to Germany flight, was instead taken to Mogadishu after many stopovers while in pursuit by Commando planes over a 5 day drama. Captain Walter Mahmood wanted 11 terrorists released from a W. Germany Jail, including Baader & his girlfriend Meinhoff (RAF, BMG). They held 82 passengers & 5 crew hostage.

Baader Meinhoff Gang was called RAF after 1972. When the hijack attempt failed, Meinhoff hanged herself in prison and Baader shot himself in a West German Jail.

TACTICAL: GSG-9 RESCUE; OP MAGIC FIRE
1. The hijackers gave the final deadline of 40 mins at 0150 hrs before blowing up the plane.
2. GSG-9 followed the hijack plane for 5 days from country to country armed with Pistols, MP5 and G3SG snipers with infrared sights.
3. They slowly approached the airplane at 0200hrs by crawling stealthily, faces camouflaged. One waited under the nose, one waited under wings and one under the tail.
4. Lightweight metal ladders were placed against right side front & rear doors of the aircraft slowly & explosives attached. Commandos climbed on the wings near the emergency doors.
5. A fire was lit on the runway and the German Secretary of State radioed hijackers & said there was a hitch in giving them their demands to create a diversion. All hijackers gathered together in the cockpit.
6. In the meanwhile, the two doors were ripped apart by frame charge explosives. (These are magnetic, adhesive explosive strips which were attached to the door frame & near hinges, and flexible detonating cord bent all around the frame).
7. Using special cables, the emergency windows of emergency wing doors were lifted up by the commandos and lobbed in two stun grenades which explode with blinding flash and deafening noise
8. At the same time the Commandos closed their eyes for a few seconds & entered in through the doors with tinted goggles, radio headsets (to prevent noise) & gas masks. They are trained to operate in such environments.
9. The commandos shouted to passengers “everybody down!”
10. Hijackers emerged from the cockpit. They were killed by burst fire from the MP5s.
11. The hijackers lobbed two grenades before dying which luckily exploded harmlessly under the seats in the forward lobby.
12. A female terrorist entered the toilet and fired, but only injured one trooper Commando, before she was shot.

Op Thunderbolt

On 27th June, 1976, Ten Israeli Commandos were involved in the rescue of 250 hostages from PLO hijackers and Ugandan Army in Entebbe Airport, Uganda. PLO Terrorists wanted 52 terrorists imprisoned in Israel, France, West Germany, Switzerland & Kenya to be freed. They hijacked Air France 139 & blamed France for supplying Israel with nuclear weapons & mirage aircraft.

Note: In a 6 day drama, the Air France 139 from Tel Aviv to Paris, was taken to Uganda after many stopovers. The hostages kept in Old terminal bldg were guarded by Ugandan soldiers under order of President Idi Amin who used to come in a black Mercedes to visit the hostages with a convoy of Presidential Guards (and PLO cars with supporters)

OP THUNDERBOLT ENTEBBE AIRPORT RESCUE
1. The hostages were moved to the Old Entebbe Airport Terminal & were watched by 20 Ugandan soldiers.
2. President Amin of Uganda hand in hand with the terrorists was actually on PLOs side and was credited for the release of 143 hostages out of 250.
3. Three planes carrying commandos along with diplomat planes took off from Israel towards Entebbe. The Commandos had few personnel who were familiar with Entebbe Airport.
4. From the aircraft, a black Mercedes resembling President Amin’s car was unloaded with an Israeli commando dressed up like the President followed by mock escort cars.
5. As the vehicles started towards the old terminal, the Ugandan soldiers even saluted!
6. Three hijackers were shot by Israelis using silenced Berettas outside the terminal.
7. The fourth hijacker rushed inside but was killed.
8. The CO, Col. Netanyahu who remained outside the building to supervise was killed by a Ugandan sniper.
9. The assault team in charge of VIP lounge found the door locked. They went inside the terminal, entered from the back door to the VIP lounge and killed the 2 remaining terrorists (total 6).
10. During the retreat, the Ugandan soldiers in the tower started firing and killed the CO.
11. Three Armored Personnel Cars arrived from another aircraft & fired at Ugandan soldiers from the control towers.
12. One APC destroyed 10 MIGs stationed at airport to prevent pursuit. 13. A “Golani” infantry unit alighted and set up a perimeter defense.
14. The hostages were quickly filled into waiting aircraft & airlifted after headcount.
15. 4 terrorists were killed in 45 secs + 2 terrorists killed in next 1 min
16. The whole op from landing of 3 C-130 aircraft took 53 mins only!
17. The Israeli air fleet consisted of :

a. 3 C-130 Hercules with Commandos & APCs infantry
b. 2 C-130 Hercules with fuel & reinforcements
c. 1 C-130 Hercules with Radio Station
d. 1 Boeing 707 – Flying Command – Air Force Gen Benny
e. 1 Boeing 707 – hospital with 33 Doctors
f. 8 Jet fighters
g. 3 Tankers with fuel for jets TOTAL= 19 planes