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== Background == |
== Background == |
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In the 17th century, the [[Ya'rubid]] [[Imamate of Oman|Imam]] [[Sultan bin Saif]] drove the [[Portuguese Oman|Portuguese]] out of the [[Persian Gulf]], inaugurating the [[Omani Empire]], which claimed authority over the [[Musandam Peninsula]]. Later, the [[Busaid dynasty|Busaid]] took over and became the dominant power in the western [[Indian Ocean]], extending their control to territories on both sides of the Gulf, and as far as [[Gwadur]] and [[Zanzibar]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Hoffman|first=Valerie J.|date=2016-01-11|pages=1–7|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Ltd|language=en|doi=10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe342|isbn=9781118455074|title=The Encyclopedia of Empire|chapter=Muscat and Zanzibar, Sultanate of}}</ref> |
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=== British policy === |
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Eventually, the British Empire was involved in their power assertion over the region. |
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In 1930, the Royal Navy bombarded Musandam “to compel the surrender” of a local Sheikh. |
In 1930, the Royal Navy bombarded Musandam “to compel the surrender” of a local Sheikh. |
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Upon entering office in June 1970, the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Edward Heath]] immediately set about trying to reverse [[Harold Wilson]]'s policy of diminishing the [[United Kingdom]]'s military presence [[East of Suez]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Army |year=1994 |edition=1 |page=362 |editor1-last=Chandler |editor1-first=David |editor2-last=Beckett |editor2-first=Ian |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0198691785}}</ref> Conversely, foreign policy was focused on maintaining control of global oil supply routes, causing the [[expulsion of the Chagossians]] simultaneously to Operation Intradon.<ref name="Declassified UK">{{cite web |url=https://declassifieduk.org/stealing-a-nation-musandam-intradon-sas-oman-oil/ |website=[[Declassified UK]] |last=Miller |first=Phil |title=Stealing a nation – the secret SAS mission to capture the Middle East's oil artery}}</ref> |
Upon entering office in June 1970, the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Edward Heath]] immediately set about trying to reverse [[Harold Wilson]]'s policy of diminishing the [[United Kingdom]]'s military presence [[East of Suez]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Army |year=1994 |edition=1 |page=362 |editor1-last=Chandler |editor1-first=David |editor2-last=Beckett |editor2-first=Ian |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0198691785}}</ref> Conversely, foreign policy was focused on maintaining control of global oil supply routes, causing the [[expulsion of the Chagossians]] simultaneously to Operation Intradon.<ref name="Declassified UK">{{cite web |url=https://declassifieduk.org/stealing-a-nation-musandam-intradon-sas-oman-oil/ |website=[[Declassified UK]] |last=Miller |first=Phil |title=Stealing a nation – the secret SAS mission to capture the Middle East's oil artery|date=22 October 2021}}</ref> |
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Officials were focused on maintaining control of global oil supply routes. This led to the displacement of the Chagossians and the handover of land to a pro-Western dictator. Operation Intradon was carried out in Musandam, a mountainous peninsula that overlooks the Strait of Hormuz. The Shihuh, Musandam's main tribe, resented outside interference and effectively regarded themselves as independent despite living at a crossroads of the global economy as important as the Suez or Panama canals. |
Officials were focused on maintaining control of global oil supply routes. This led to the displacement of the Chagossians and the handover of land to a pro-Western dictator. Operation Intradon was carried out in Musandam, a mountainous peninsula that overlooks the Strait of Hormuz. The Shihuh, Musandam's main tribe, resented outside interference and effectively regarded themselves as independent despite living at a crossroads of the global economy as important as the Suez or Panama canals. |
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Revision as of 06:52, 7 April 2023
Background
In the 17th century, the Ya'rubid Imam Sultan bin Saif drove the Portuguese out of the Persian Gulf, inaugurating the Omani Empire, which claimed authority over the Musandam Peninsula. Later, the Busaid took over and became the dominant power in the western Indian Ocean, extending their control to territories on both sides of the Gulf, and as far as Gwadur and Zanzibar.[1]
Eventually, the British Empire was involved in their power assertion over the region.
In 1930, the Royal Navy bombarded Musandam “to compel the surrender” of a local Sheikh.
Upon entering office in June 1970, the Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath immediately set about trying to reverse Harold Wilson's policy of diminishing the United Kingdom's military presence East of Suez.[2] Conversely, foreign policy was focused on maintaining control of global oil supply routes, causing the expulsion of the Chagossians simultaneously to Operation Intradon.[3]
Officials were focused on maintaining control of global oil supply routes. This led to the displacement of the Chagossians and the handover of land to a pro-Western dictator. Operation Intradon was carried out in Musandam, a mountainous peninsula that overlooks the Strait of Hormuz. The Shihuh, Musandam's main tribe, resented outside interference and effectively regarded themselves as independent despite living at a crossroads of the global economy as important as the Suez or Panama canals.
Any foreign authority over the peninsula had lapsed by November 1970, and Whitehall feared it may become the base for a “potential insurrection”. The then Conservative foreign secretary, Alec Douglas-Home, believed that some 70 communist guerrillas from elsewhere in the Gulf were hiding in Musandam and using its relative isolation to hatch plots against British interests in the region.
These dissidents were believed to be part of the National Democratic Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (NDFLOAG), a left-wing Arab nationalist movement run by Omanis with cells across the region. Their goal was to expel foreign powers from the Gulf. Files found at the UK National Archives show the chief of the defence staff fretted that these dissidents could unleash “an anti-British campaign of terror”.
- ^ Hoffman, Valerie J. (2016-01-11), "Muscat and Zanzibar, Sultanate of", The Encyclopedia of Empire, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 1–7, doi:10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe342, ISBN 9781118455074
- ^ Chandler, David; Beckett, Ian, eds. (1994). The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Army (1 ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 362. ISBN 0198691785.
- ^ Miller, Phil (22 October 2021). "Stealing a nation – the secret SAS mission to capture the Middle East's oil artery". Declassified UK.