The Unknown War: Britain and the Dhofar Insurgency, 1963-76
Dr Geraint Hughes explores the British Army's involvement in the Dhofar Insurgency and the challenges of fighting an undeclared war.
In 1963, a rebellion against the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman erupted in the southern Dhofar region. The revolt was suppressed with significant covert military assistance from the UK. However, Britain’s intervention in the conflict remains relatively unknown, with existing accounts primarily focusing on the role of the Special Air Service, particularly during the Battle of Mirbat.
In fact, Britain’s military support for the Sultanate extended well beyond the SAS. British officers commanded the Sultan’s Armed Forces, and the UK also provided indirect support. This included military and security assistance, largely conducted without parliamentary or media scrutiny.
While often overlooked, the Dhofar Insurgency represents an important episode in the post-colonial history of the Middle East and a pivotal moment during the Cold War. Geraint Hughes will discuss the strategic reasons behind the UK’s involvement and the challenges it faced in fighting an undeclared war against the insurgents and their primary external backers, the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen.
Image credit: IWM (MH 30626)
About the speaker
Dr Geraint Hughes is a Reader in the Defence Studies Department at King’s College London and has taught at the Joint Services Command and Staff College for over 20 years. He is the author of ‘Britain and the Dhofar War in Oman, 1963-1976’, which was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2024.
