SAS commandos wear burkas for raid on Isis HQ

Posing as the wives of Isis chiefs, the team travelled in a Toyota van driven by Syrian agents working for Our Boys.

The SAS hit squad hid assault weapons, grenades and ammo beneath the black, ankle-length gowns which have just a small hole for the eyes.

After the group found the house of the jihadi boss, its location and coordinates were relayed to a US Air Force AWAC mission control aircraft circling thousands of feet above.

It passed the location to a US Reaper drone, which seconds later fired a Hellfire missile into the building, killing the Isis commander and several of his henchmen.

Isis fighters went out on the streets hunting the attackers. The SAS team’s cover was blown and they were forced into a fierce battle with the terrorists as they withdrew.

One source said: "The SAS team were moving back to their vehicles after the missile had struck when the town went into lockdown. Gunmen were on the streets stopping everyone, lining people up against the walls and threatening to kill anyone who had helped the ‘spies’.

"The attack took place in the early evening, about an hour before curfew, so there were still quite a few people around.

"Just as the British soldiers were getting back into a minivan several gunmen ordered them to stop. The troopers ignored the warnings and were about to drive off when the jihadis opened fire.

"The SAS jumped out of the vehicle, lifted up their burkas and opened fire. It must have been a massive shock to the gunmen.

"One was killed instantly and two others ran off. The firefight gave the SAS just enough time to break contact with the Isis gunmen and escape.

"We later heard Isis fighters were putting rumours around the town saying the ‘infidels’ had sent women in burkas to fight instead of men.”

The mission was launched three weeks ago close to the city of Raqqa in Syria, where Isis has its headquarters. The high-ranking target’s death was described by intelligence sources as a "severe blow” to the terrorist group.

The SAS have conducted dozens of operations in Iraq and Syria in recent months. Sources said the elite force is likely to increase the tempo of operations after the disclosure that an extra 200 US special operations commandos arrived in Iraq last week.

The US troops will work closely with the SAS and SBS, the Royal Navy’s special forces regiment, to conduct missions against extremists inside both Syria and Iraq.

One source added: "The SAS will be sending more troops to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan now the Americans have increased their numbers.

"Their primary target is the individual who has been dubbed the new Jihadi John. He is at the top of the kill list.”

(The Daily Star)