Page 574 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

574 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

The plan to carry an attack on the Mountain was possible during the full moon, so to
th
surprise the rebels. The assault was on 26 January 1959, mostly was carried by British
Special Air Service that they had climbed the Mountain at 2030 hours and went on to the
top of the mountain. They were a few resistant because RAF had destroyed the rebel’s
bases and villages.
There were though some minor administration problem that had created some delay
which was caused by hiring 100 donkeys to carry food, ammunition, blankets, water,
and signals. Donkeys were the most suitable animals to go through tiny roots of Green
Mountain, therefore the SAS were dependent on the cooperation of locals to carry their
weapons and food by their donkeys.

Typical donkeys of Oman

The rebel’s leaders went to Saudi Arabia in exile, mainly the Imam and his brother
Galib, Sheikh Suleiman bin Himyer, the two sons of Talib, and about sixty followers.
They left the Green Mountain by foot until the coast and from there they went to Dam-
(12)
mam of Saudi Arabia .

12 . British Residency, Bahrain. To the Arabian Department, Foreign Office. April 3, 1959. In Records of Oman.
Ob. Cit. P. 672.