Operation Claret

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Operation Claret was a long-running series of raids during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, conducted on the island of Borneo by the British Special Air Service and Australian Special Air Service, from June 1964.

[edit] Patrols

These patrols, which were highly classified at the time, involved SAS reconnaissance patrols crossing the border from the Malaysian state of Sarawak into the Indonesian state of Kalimantan. The patrols went up to 10 kilometres into Kalimantan, to detect Indonesian forces about to enter Sarawak. Conventional Commonwealth troops were then directed into position to ambush the invaders as they crossed the border.

[edit] Legality

These operations are often considered a violation of official and international treaties^{[citation needed]}, though they can be justified under the "Right of Hot Pursuit". This is an internationally recognised legal right; entitling any nation to pursue those doing her harm beyond her borders - if the nation whence the wrongdoers come are not doing something about them themselves. Although these incursions were initially denied, the Australian government admitted the attacks in 1996.