The Battle of Mirbat: SAS, Dhofar Rebels, and Oman's Turning Point

In 1972, nine British SAS soldiers and a small force of Omani askaris held off hundreds of communist-backed Dhofar rebels in a desperate dawn battle at Mirbat. This episode tells the story of how a tiny garrison, armed with a 25-pounder howitzer and sheer grit, repelled the assault that could have toppled Sultan Qaboos's fledgling regime. We explore the strategic importance of the Dhofar port, the motley coalition of Baluchi troops, local firqat fighters, and SAS men who defended it, and the battle's aftermath that cemented Oman's modernisation under Qaboos. Featuring the heroic actions of Corporal Labalaba, the arrival of a Strikemaster jet, and the political context of the Cold War in the Arabian Peninsula. #BattleOfMirbat #SAS #DhofarRebellion #Oman #SultanQaboos #CorporalLabalaba #MikeKealy #ColdWar #ArabianPeninsula #BritishMilitary #MilitaryHistory #1970s #PersianGulf #MiddleEast #Firqat #Strikemaster #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo