BATTLE OF MIRBAT a key event in the Dhofar war

In the far south of Oman is the location of one of Britain’s Special Air Service’s (SAS) more publicly known battles ‘The Battle of Mirbat’. On 25th October 2018, Prince Harry unveiled a memorial in Nadi, western Fiji, to one of the key participants, the Fijian Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, of SAS.

View from Jabal Ali - Mirbat - Oman Battle of Mirbat
View from Jabal Ali – Mirbat – Oman

The Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG) were fighting against the Oman Government in its southern province of Dhofar. The PFLOAG were supported by the communist government of South Yemen who in turn were supported by many of the world’s communist countries. The Oman government was supported by Britain, Iran & Jordan.

On 19 July 1972 PFLOAG moved down, before dawn, from the Jabal Samhan mountain behind the town of Mirbat and captured an Oman Army lookout location on a small hill, Jabal Ali overlooking the Tomb of Mohammed bin Ali, to the north of the town. They were taking advantage of the cloud and mist cover created by this region’s summer monsoon.

Modern Mirbat and Jabal Samhan mountain - Oman
Modern Mirbat and Jabal Samhan mountain – Oman

Following this capture, PFLOAG moved under the cover of mist towards the town and a house, 1,200meters from Jabal Ali, where 9 SAS soldiers and part of the 55 men support team were located.

Gendarmerie Fort - Battle of Mirbat - Oman
Gendarmerie Fort – Mirbat – Oman

The men inside the house were caught by surprise as they assumed the activity was part of their own forces returning after night patrol.

Talaiasi Labalaba
Talaiasi Labalaba

A gun battle ensued against up to 300 PFLOAG members. The SAS & team didn’t have access to suitable weapons and a decision was made that Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba would cross through open ground in front of the advancing PFLOAG members to a small ‘Gendarmerie Fort’, located on a low hill 450meters east of the house, that had an artillery gun.

25 pounder artillery pit - Gendarmerie Fort - Battle of Mirbat - Oman
25 pounder artillery pit – Gendarmerie Fort – Mirbat – Oman

On reaching the Gendarmerie Fort Sergeant Labalaba managed to manoeuvre a 25pound artillery gun, normally requiring 6 men to use it, and fire shells at the opposing men. Eventually, he was wounded and another Fijian, Trooper Sekonaia Takavesi, made the same run across to the Gendarmerie Fort to help him.

Battle of Mirbat 25lb gun credit Rocky Biggs
Mirbat 25lb gun credit Rocky Biggs

Here they managed to get support from the Omani soldiers in the Gendarmerie Fort (part of the 55 men support team) and they continued what was now an effective but desperate defence in which Sergeant Labalaba was killed. More help was clearly needed and the unit commander Captain Kealy and Trooper Tobin made the same 450meter run. Under heavy attack, Trooper Tobin was also wounded.

View from Gendarmerie Fort - Battle of Mirbat - Oman
View from Gendarmerie Fort – Mirbat – Oman

The day was turned by the arrival of BAC Strikemaster light-attack jets and additional soldiers helicoptered in from Salalah 65km away during a clearance of the low clouds.

Reviews of Bradt Guide to Oman
Amazon UK – Reviews of Bradt Guide to Oman

My updated edition of the Bradt Guide to Oman has more information about Mirbat and Dhofar in general -the guide is available here

Prince Harry unveils statue of SAS Battle of Mirbat hero Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba Credit Kensington Palace Twitter
Prince Harry unveils statue of Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba Credit Kensington Palace Twitter

Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba was “Mentioned in Despatches” though many feel that he should also be awarded Britain’s highest war medal, the Victoria Cross.


The memorial in Fiji is the second for Sergeant Labalaba, the other is in Hereford, Britain, where he is also buried.

Prince Harry unveiled a statue of Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba and the video gives some background.

The Land of Frankincense
The Land of Frankincense

You will get a more complete overview of Dhofar with my book The Land of Frankincense which is available as an eBook here, and paperback through Amazon worldwide.

Author: Tony Walsh

Book author including the current Bradt guide to Oman