SAS members are saddling-up on a caravan of camels, as Britain's elite special forces echo Lawrence of Arabia during reconnaissance missions in Mali.
The UK's elite forces are preparing for reconnaissance missions in Mali have been operating in the region for almost 10 years, opting to ride camels rather than mechanical vehicles according to a senior military source.
'Vehicles need to be maintained and refueled every few days - the vehicle logistical support is a real hindrance,' said the source. 'Camels store fat in their humps and can go for up to 10 days without needing food and water.'
The idea was reportedly hatched when the special forces started employing local Bedouin guides, a nomadic Arab tribe who has inhabited the region and used camels for centuries.
Stock image: The photo depicts Belgian Special forces riding camels in Chad between 2008-2009, as no verifiable photos have emerged of the SAS. A senior military source has said the SAS is riding camels while on reconnaissance missions in Mali, fighting against ISIS
Vehicles used in missions have been stymied by mechanical issues, clogging up with sand, according to the Mirror. A senior military source said camels were more efficient.
The UK deployed a task group 300-strong to Mali in December 2020 to support the UN peacekeeping mission, which is made up of soldiers from 56 different countries.
The SAS have been deployed to the region, but the reports mark the first public acknowledgements that the forces have emulated the tactics of Thomas Edward Lawrence, the British officer made famous for his role during the Arab Revolt of 1916.
Lawrence of Arabia was the name given to a British Intelligence Officer, who fought alongside Arab guerrilla forces in the Middle East during the First World War.
British special forces soldiers are pictured with weapons during a rescue operation. The SAS have been deployed to the region, where vehicles used in missions have been stymied by mechanical issues
The UK deployed a task group 300-strong to Mali in December 2020 to support the UN peacekeeping mission, which is made up of soldiers from 56 different countries
The SAS has its origins in desert warfare, when elite British forces were dropped deep within the north African desert during World War II.
It was formed as 62 Commando in July 1941 to undertake small-scale raids behind enemy lines, drawing its men from No 7 Commando and also operating under the title L Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade.
The term 'brigade' was usually used to refer to a unit of 5,000 men — a title the SAS adopted to deceive the enemy into believing the force was larger than it was in reality.
The SAS was created during the Second World War, when small
