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In November 1979 extremist trying to overthrow the House of Saud took control of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The seize lasted nearly three weeks and a series of battles were fought in an attempt to regain control of the Holy Mosque. Pakistan's SSG Commandos were called upon to help fight, fifty commandos were sent by Pakistan alongside three GIGN commando advisers from France.
The militant's force was estimated to be around 600 heavily armed men who had taken hundreds of hostages. The Saudi-Pakistani-French alliance had an estimated force of around 10,000 heavily armed and well trained men. The seizure began on 05 November 1979 at 05:00 whilst 50,000 worshipers were getting ready to pray Fajr when several men dressed in robes produced weapons and ordered the gates of Mecca to be chained shut. To show the Saudi government that the militants were serious they killed two unarmed police officers. The Mosque was in the middle of being renovated, an employee belonging to the renovation company was able to call and report the indecent to the outside world before the telephone lines were cut by the militants.
The militants demanded to cut Saudi oil exports to the United States and to expel foreign military and civilians from the Arabian Peninsula alongside to overthrow the Saudi Royal Family. The demands were aired on loud speaker of the Mosque.
The entire city of Mecca was evacuated and by nightfall the insurgents let most of the hostages go and took defensive positions on the upper levels of the Mosque alongside taking sniper positions on the minarets. The Saudi government and the outside world had no idea of how many insurgents were inside the Mosque, what kind of weapons they had and how many hostages they were holding.
By first nightfall the Ministry of Interior sent 100 Saudi Special Forces commandos to retake control of the Mosque however the SSF were met with heavy fire and quickly had to retreat, a large number of casualties were reported by the Saudi Government. On special request by the Saudi Government Pakistan's Special Services Group commandos were rushed to Mecca to assist the Saudi Forces to regain control of the Holy Mosque. The Saudi Government also requested 3 advisers from France's GIGN, the GIGN commando advisers were stationed outside of Mecca as non-Muslims were not allowed to enter the holy city.
The following night the Saudi Forces again attempted to regain control however the defensive positions taken up by the insurgents seemed to be impenetrable by the Saudi Armed Forces. The Saudi Forces launched a duel attack from underground and the gates however the Saudi Forces were once again forced to retreat.
The French GIGN advisers had made a plan to attack the Mosque by drilling a series of holes in the floor of the Mosque and firing gas canisters armed with explosives. The French commandos did not take part in the action. Pakistan's SSG was going to lead the attack and carry out the operation.
After a joint operation conducted by the SSG and Saudi Forces the militants had to surrender after suffering heavy losses.
The militant's force was estimated to be around 600 heavily armed men who had taken hundreds of hostages. The Saudi-Pakistani-French alliance had an estimated force of around 10,000 heavily armed and well trained men. The seizure began on 05 November 1979 at 05:00 whilst 50,000 worshipers were getting ready to pray Fajr when several men dressed in robes produced weapons and ordered the gates of Mecca to be chained shut. To show the Saudi government that the militants were serious they killed two unarmed police officers. The Mosque was in the middle of being renovated, an employee belonging to the renovation company was able to call and report the indecent to the outside world before the telephone lines were cut by the militants.
The militants demanded to cut Saudi oil exports to the United States and to expel foreign military and civilians from the Arabian Peninsula alongside to overthrow the Saudi Royal Family. The demands were aired on loud speaker of the Mosque.
The entire city of Mecca was evacuated and by nightfall the insurgents let most of the hostages go and took defensive positions on the upper levels of the Mosque alongside taking sniper positions on the minarets. The Saudi government and the outside world had no idea of how many insurgents were inside the Mosque, what kind of weapons they had and how many hostages they were holding.
By first nightfall the Ministry of Interior sent 100 Saudi Special Forces commandos to retake control of the Mosque however the SSF were met with heavy fire and quickly had to retreat, a large number of casualties were reported by the Saudi Government. On special request by the Saudi Government Pakistan's Special Services Group commandos were rushed to Mecca to assist the Saudi Forces to regain control of the Holy Mosque. The Saudi Government also requested 3 advisers from France's GIGN, the GIGN commando advisers were stationed outside of Mecca as non-Muslims were not allowed to enter the holy city.
The following night the Saudi Forces again attempted to regain control however the defensive positions taken up by the insurgents seemed to be impenetrable by the Saudi Armed Forces. The Saudi Forces launched a duel attack from underground and the gates however the Saudi Forces were once again forced to retreat.
The French GIGN advisers had made a plan to attack the Mosque by drilling a series of holes in the floor of the Mosque and firing gas canisters armed with explosives. The French commandos did not take part in the action. Pakistan's SSG was going to lead the attack and carry out the operation.
After a joint operation conducted by the SSG and Saudi Forces the militants had to surrender after suffering heavy losses.
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