Mission Iran: Special Forces Berlin & Operation Eagle Claw, Jtf 1-79

The Iran hostage crisis was a watershed moment for the US, leading to the establishment of Det A and the complex plan for Operation Eagle Claw. Det A, the only US military dual-capability unit, played a unique and integral role in the operation, undertaking advanced recon and rescuing three Americans at the Foreign Ministry.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2024
Publisher: Casemate Publishers

On November 4, 1979, a group of student supporters of the Ayatollah seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding over 60 hostages. Despite the ongoing Cold War, the Iran hostage crisis had a profound impact on the United States. The crisis marked a significant turning point in the country's counterterrorism efforts, both politically and militarily. The learning curve for counterterrorism was steep and often deadly.

Detachment A, a Special unit established in Berlin during the early days of the Cold War, was tasked with harassing and delaying any Soviet military advance west. The unit underwent rigorous training in unconventional warfare and was later assigned a secondary mission of counterterrorism. Due to their diverse skillset, Det A was called upon to undertake additional missions, including providing protection to General Al Haig and General Frederick Kroesen following assassination attempts.

When American planners began to develop a plan to rescue hostages held at two sites in a hostile country, it became evident that Det A would play a crucial role. The unit, being the only US military dual-capability unit, was considered integral to the rescue effort.

The plan for Operation Eagle Claw, as it became known, was highly complex. The first stage involved intelligence gathering, as most of the CIA's capabilities in the country had been eliminated. Det A, with its operatives trained in intelligence work, fluent in multiple languages, and adept at blending in, took on the advanced reconnaissance of the targets. When Delta Force admitted that it could only manage the assault on the Embassy, Det A volunteered to rescue the three Americans at the Foreign Ministry.

To ensure security, all existing training and exercise commitments in Berlin would continue without interruption. This decision caused some consternation among the men, as they did not want to miss out on a mission reminiscent of the Son Tay incident.

Veteran and historian James Stejskal, det. (James Stejskal, "The Untold Story of the Delta Force Raid That Saved the U.S. Hostages in Iran", {URL})

Weight: 288g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781636243337