It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Planning for Mermaid Dawn - Mermaid is the Libyan nickname for Tripoli - began three months earlier when groups of young male volunteers left their homes in Tripoli and travelled to Benghazi to learn the art of insurgent warfare from an international force of covert units composed of the British SAS and MI6 agents and troops from the French, Qatar and United Arab Emirates special forces.
As well as training the rebels, the British government also covertly supplied 1,000 sets of body armour, advanced telecommunications equipment and night vision goggles.
For weeks on end the Libyan volunteers were taught weapon training, street fighting and sabotage in a series of disused compounds across the city. While the rebels trained, hundreds of weapons, tons of ammunition and communications equipment were smuggled into Tripoli and hidden in secret arms dumps.
The plan for capturing the city were drawn up by rebel commanders - they chose the targets and the date and time for the attack while the SAS and MI6 operatives were on hand to offer advice and finesse the operation.
British, French and Qatari Special Forces have been operating on the ground in Libya for some time and helped the rebels develop and coordinate the pincer strategy, officials said. At the same time, CIA operatives inside the country — along with intercepted communications between Libyan government officials — provided a deeper understanding of how badly Gaddafi’s command structure had crumbled, according to U.S. officials.
The United States and its allies have also been keeping “a close eye on Libya’s chemical weapons stockpiles” since the conflict began, another U.S. official said. “Especially during this tumultuous time, maintaining vigilance on this issue is a priority.”
Originally posted by alldaylong
I would guess.....SAS.
Originally posted by godWhisperer
the OP's link opens this very thread in a new tab for me.
anyone able to see the OP's pics?
Originally posted by Springheel Jack
Just to throw it out there,
Not all Middle Easterners are dark/olive skinned, kinda profiling a little bit here....Just saying...
Also the fact that other countries have an interest in getting rid of Gadahfi, like France, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the Foreign Legion on the ground there helping...and they are very bad a$$.