Libya: British Special Forces Take Out ISIS Truck With Missile

26.05.2016

British Special Forces operating in Libya have engaged in combat operations, it has emerged. A vehicle carrying an ISIS bomb across a bridge on a road to the town of Misrata was destroyed by a missile fired by British Special Forces on May 12th. ^{[1] [2]}

The action was revealed by Commander Mohammed Durat, a Libyan military figure well-known in Misrata. The ISIS vehicle approached local militia at Shaddadah Bridge, causing them to flee as they feared it contained explosives. The vehicle was promptly taken out by a missile, most likely a Javelin, fired by either a member of 22 SAS or the Special Boat Service (SBS).

“My unit works just with the English. I have met with them personally and they have destroyed two suicide vehicles that were targeting my fighters,” said Commander Durat, speaking to the Times Newspaper.

The Javelin missile carries a tandem warhead consisting of an 8.4kg shaped high explosive charge designed to penetrate the armour on a main battle tank - more than enough firepower to obliterate an ISIS-driven pickup truck.

Image by Andrew Linnett / Crown Copyright 2012 used under open government licence

This is the first credible report of British Special Forces involved in a combat role in Libya since their presence in the country was rumoured earlier this year. It was earlier reported that British Special Forces were advising anti-ISIS militia in the west of the country and at Misrata in particular. French special operations forces are believed to be operating in the east.

more info / further reading

• 1. British special forces destroy suicide truck
  (The Times) [paywalled]
  
  
• 2. British special forces destroyed Islamic State trucks in Libya, say local troops
  (The Telegraph)
  
  

« news index