Page 567 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

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ActA
Geographical and Historical Background:
The Sultanate of Oman extends, from Yemen in the east, to UAE and Saudi Arabia
in the North.
Also it’s surrounded by Empty Quarter of Arabian great desert.
Between the coastal plain and the desert the ground rises to 10,000 feet in the Jebel
Akhdar, Green Mountain, a mountain region of some 200 square miles in extent.
The Omani Arabs are concentrated in the Mountain villages, and they have a very
strong tribal connection. Furthermore, they are an orthodox religious people believed
in Ibadism, which is a small sect of Islamic faith that drew its roots from early Islamic
Kharijate group. According to Ibadism, the leader of the state must be elected from those
wise and well learned subjects by the scholars and the tribal leaders. As a result they had
established themselves in the mountain area with their elected Imam since early Islamic
era. In 1955 Imam Abdullah al Kalili passed away, and the community had elected Imam
Ghalib from Green Mountain area as their new leader .
(1)
Omani rebels of the Green Mountain:
In December 1955, Sultan Sai’d bin Taimour ordered Muscat & Oman Field Forces to
occupy Nizwa, capital of the Imam.
The purpose of the attack was:
1. To control over the interior
2. To give oil concession to British Petroleum (BP).
3. To abolish Imamate from Oman for good.
Rebels with their white flag

1 . For Background on Oman see, L. G. Lorimer, (1915) Gazetteer of the Persian gulf, Oman, and Central
Arabia. Vol. I, Historical. Calcutta Superintendent Government Printing, India.