In the Service of the Sultan: A First Hand Account of The Dhofar Insurgency

Gardiner, Ian

ISBN 10: 1036156133 / ISBN 13: 9781036156138

Published by Pen and Sword Military, 2026

About this Item

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Seller Inventory # 9781036156138

Bibliographic Details

• Title: In the Service of the Sultan: A First Hand Account of The Dhofar Insurgency
• Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1036156133
• ISBN 13: 9781036156138
• Binding: paperback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Oman’s strategic defense of the Gulf shapes global politics through a hard-fought anti-insurgency legacy.

While the Americans were fighting in Vietnam, a struggle of even greater strategic significance was taking place in the Middle East: the Sultanate of Oman guards the entrance to the Arabian Gulf, and thus controls the movement of oil from that region. In the 1960s and 70s, the Communists tried to seize this artery and, had they succeeded, the consequences for the West and for the Middle East would have been disastrous - and yet, few people have ever heard of this geo-political drama at the height of the Cold War. In the Service of the Sultan tells, first-hand, the largely unknown story of a small number of British officers who led Muslim soldiers in this hard-fought anti-insurgency war which has shaped today's Gulf. After outlining the historical, geographical and political background, the book describes military action in a stark and mountainous environment, including operations with irregular forces and the SAS as well as action in the air and at sea. The book gives a gripping, moving, funny account of all these and paints a powerful and illuminating picture of the realities of war. It will appeal to all who are interested in the Cold War and relationships between the Western and the Arab worlds. Politics, history, irregular warfare, religion, international affairs: all are ingredients in this absorbing, informative read. In the light of the current insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is also timely to be reminded how a rare victory was won over Communist guerrillas.

About the Author

Ian Gardiner is a historian and author.