Saif Sareea
Saif Sareea, or Swift Sword, was the first in a series of three joint military exercises held between Oman and the United Kingdom. The exercise was held between 15 November and 8 December 1986. Nearly 5,000 personnel from the UK were deployed for the exercise. Units that took part from the British Army included elements of 5 Airborne Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade. It also involved ships from the Royal Navy task group, and a detachment of Tornado GR1 and FR3 aircraft and air transport resources from the Royal Air Force. Exercise Saif Sareea was the largest deployment to the middle east in a single operation by the UK since the Suez Crisis.
The joint headquarters for the exercise was at RAFO Masirah airbase, on Masirah Island. The Exercise involved a demonstration parachute drop by 5 Airborne on a desert airstrip, with air support from the Tornado aircraft, and Omani Hunter aircraft forming the opposing force.
