As the British prepared to leave the Arabian Gulf prior to the formation of the United Arab Emirates, intelligence of dissidence and insurgents in the Omani enclave to the north of the country prompted a small, covert military operation into protecting British interests in the region.��

Operation Intradon was a British-led counter-insurgency operation in the Omani enclave of Musandam which ran from December 1970 to March 1971. A short skirmish and a long hearts-and-mind campaign, the operation sought to ensure Oman’s control over the region and handle a suspected strong dissident presence as Britain began to withdraw from the region.

Dr. Athol Yates, Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, has investigated this little-known operation to secure British interests in the Gulf for an article in. With Dr. Geraint Hughes, King’s College London, Dr. Yates presents an overview of the operation and offers insight to what the operation says about the way British military operations were crafted in the Gulf.

Since the early 1800s, Britain exercised considerable influence over the Arab Gulf States, including the now United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. In 1968, the British government announced it would withdraw all British troops from the region, leading to the formation of the UAE in 1971, an independent nation neighboring British-supported but independent Oman.

“Given the scale of this operation, it is surprising that little has been published on it,” Dr. Yates noted that the operation was driven by the political aim of forcing the Sultan of Oman to take administrative control of the ungoverned Musandam enclave. “This would then provide protection to the Strait of Hormuz oil route and remove a threat to the process of federating British protected states into what became the United Arab Emirates.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea line between Iran and Arabia, through which a third of the world’s oil supplies are shipped each day. The Musandam is a mountainous peninsula overlooking the Strait and an enclave of Oman, separated from Oman by the northern UAE. Omani sovereignty over this peninsula and British involvement in the articulation and retention of this control is a recurring theme, culminating in Operation Intradon in 1970. At this time, the majority of Musandam’s inhabitants were from the Shihuh tribe, with the political centre in Khasab.

“The Sultan appointed a wali, or governor, to oversee the Musandam, though his influence didn’t extend much further than Khasab due to very limited resources and power to enforce the Sultan’s wishes,” Dr. Yates explained. “The security environment along the west coast of Musandam was further complicated by an ongoing dispute between Shihuh groups and the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Given the numbers of Shihuh in both Musandam and Ras Al Khaimah, the ruler feared a Shihuh ‘invasion’ and rebellion, both of which could destabilize the other Emirates. As noted by British officials, unless the Sultan started exercising control to defuse the political issues, ‘this area will remain a constant source of trouble and embarrassment for us here.’”

Feeding into tensions in Musandam was the desire by some Shihuh sheikhs to gain independence or autonomy from the Sultan of Oman. In 1966, an intelligence report noted that one Shihuh sheikh tried to enlist the help of the rulers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to persuade the British to regard his territory as independent. The British, however, hoped that if the Omani Sultan established control over Musandam, separatist efforts by the Shihuh would end.

In 1971, the British government would fully withdraw from the then Trucial States, and the United Arab Emirates formed. Maintaining influence in the region remained important to the United Kingdom, for oil supply, trade and investment reasons. The Musandam peninsula had morphed from a point of strategic interest to a vital component of Gulf security for the transit of oil tankers.

“The British were particularly concerned to avoid a repeat of the withdrawal from Aden in 1967 and its aftermath,” Dr. Yates said. “The Aden withdrawal occurred under fire, and soon after Britain withdrew, the British-supported sheikhs were overthrown, with South Yemen becoming a Marxist-Leninist state. A similar outcome in the Trucial States would threaten British political and economic interests in the region – notably, the continued flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Operation Intradon targeted an estimated 10 to 30 ‘hardcore’ anti-British and leftist insurgents, who were reportedly subverting the local tribes, namely the Shihuh. The operation started on 17 December 1970 and ended on 29 December 1970, although its tail continued until 31 March 1971, as the British recognized that while it would be desirable for the Omani ruler to rapidly establish administrative control, he would need support to do so. At this time, the Sultan of Oman had no police, military or civil service representatives in Musandam, just the wali, meaning it was effectively self-governed by the Shihuh and some smaller in number tribes.

“The threat posed by dissidence could only be permanently addressed if the Sultan was able to establish a lasting presence in the region and effectively administer Musandam,” Dr. Yates said. “Musandam is an enclave with no land border with Oman itself.”

Any dissidence to any of the political decisions would pose an increasingly serious threat to security as far as the British were concerned. There had been news of threats posed to British interests by dissidents in Musandam, leading to British prime minister Edward Heath approving Operation Intradon.. It involved the deployment of a Special Air Service (SAS) squadron by both boat and parachute, and help from the Special Boat Service (SBS).

The plan for Intradon noted that ‘very little is known about their numbers, equipment, whereabouts and aims’ of the insurgents. In comparison to the 10 to 30 insurgents suspected in Musandam, Intradon involved hundreds of men drawn from all three British armed services and the Trucial Oman Scouts (TOS), a British-led but locally raised light infantry force based in the Trucial States that included several hundred Emiratis.

On 17 December, the operation was supposed to start with the covert insertion of SAS troops from the sea, but this was postponed by a day because of poor weather. Additionally, a cartographic error meant that the TOS squadron meant to secure one village actually landed in another two miles south. Despite this, over the course of a three-day search, the TOS captured ammunition, uniforms and documents that appeared to have been left by the suspected insurgents, with the Royal Navy intercepting dhows with arms and ammunition, although these discoveries were not deemed to be connected to any insurgent activity. At the end of this phase, the SAS and other British forces were withdrawn from Musandam, with no suspects captured and no combat casualties.

Intradon’s other objective was to establish the Sultan’s control over Musandam, with the chosen political representative flown in via helicopter on 17 December. The helicopter returned to Muscat with the local sheikh who was loyalty to the Sultan was suspect.

Between 18 and 29 December, the TOS patrolled on foot, visiting the majority of the villages in Musandam. No insurgent opposition was encountered.

“In addressing Intradon’s outcomes, it can be argued that Britain’s tactical goals and political aims were achieved,” Dr. Yates said. “Tactically, Intradon succeeded in disrupting the activities of the dissidents in the area, and politically, the operation resulted in the Sultan having an administrative and security presence in Musandam, which gave him the foundation from which to end separatism in the region. It also denied any hostile forces a base from which to launch subversive activities into the Trucial States, preventing them from potentially undermining the process of federation or harrying British troops during withdrawal. The operation also contributed to the key British political interest in the Gulf: ensuring the safe passage of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.”

In the article in, Dr. Yates offers some opinion into how events like Operation Intradon highlight Britain’s approach to military operations in the Arabian Gulf, particularly when its occupation was ending.��

“The assessment of Britain’s success in this operation rests on some questionable assumptions, the most obvious being that there was a serious insurgency threat in the first place,” Dr. Yates said. “The evidence indicates that this threat was a phantom: no insurgents were observed and no firefights occurred. Even had the intelligence on the dissident threat been accurate, post-operation history makes it questionable that such groups actually threatened the process of federation of the Emirates. How Operation Intradon came about shines a light into how British military operations were crafted in Britain’s informal empire in the Gulf.”

Jade Sterling
Science Writer
25 May 2022

The post Lessons from Operation Intradon in the Musandam appeared first on Khalifa University.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 24 November 2021

Two student teams from Khalifa University competed against more than 495 universities in the�� , investing non-fiat US$1 million in trade currency to buy and sell stocks and other commodities over the course of the 7-week competition.��

We are so proud of our KU students for participating in this challenge, which is based on a real-world investment environment using the popular Bloomberg Terminal platform.��Through their dedication and strong team cooperative spirit, and by leveraging the skills they’ve acquired from either business or math courses at KU, our teams performed extremely well and gained a strong understanding of real-world trading.

The team with Faculty Advisor Dr. Ricardo H. Archbold, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences, includes the following members:

• Team Captain: Zehara Ali, BSc in��Biomedical Engineering
• Cidrik Mulugheta, BSc in Chemical Engineering
• Hamad Alblooshi, BSc in Mechanical Engineering
• Khalid Adam, BSc in Chemical Engineering
• Tiemar Semere, BSc in Computer Engineering

The second team with Faculty Advisor Dr. Giorgio Consigli, Associate Professor of Mathematics, and supporting advisor Dr. Jorge Zubelli, Professor of Mathematics, includes the following members:

• Team Captain: Bruno Nunes Costa, PhD student
• Omar Forrest, PhD student
• Iman Chaabi, BSc in Mathematics
• Haya Mayoof, BSc in Mathematics
• Mohammed El Amin Azz, BSc in Mathematics

At the end of the competition, Team Captain Zehara placed 50th, while Team Captain Bruno placed 77th, out of 496 total competing universities. While in the Middle East/Africa Regional competition, Team Captain Zehara placed 6th and Team Captain Bruno placed 8th. This is particularly impressive considering that most of the team members do not have a strong knowledge of finance or trading.

The students used the same type of terminals and data information that is available to real investment banks and financial exchanges.�� They gained the knowledge of how to access financial information and determine the economic trends that affect stocks and other commodities and exchanges across the world.��Profits and losses were determined by the real-world performance of these financial instruments.�� The teams had to indicate the strategy they used to determine the trades.

Participating students became certified on the Bloomberg Terminal, which gives them a competitive advantage in the job market post-graduation.

Erica Solomon
Publication Senior Specialist
9 November 2021

The post KU Students Compete in Bloomberg Trading Challenge appeared first on Khalifa University.

Papers on the history of the UAE armed forces by a Khalifa University faculty member, Dr. Athol Yates, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences and Acting Head of the Institute of International and Civil Security, have been accepted by two of the world’s leading scholarly institutions focusing on military history.

The first conference is the, taking place in London from 16 – 17 September 2021. The conference will bring together academics and scholars to present air power research that challenges the accepted historical consensus. Dr. Yates will be presenting on the history of the UAE Air Force.��

The second conference is the , taking place in Annapolis, Maryland, US from 23-24 September 2021. This biennially held naval conference focuses on the latest research on naval and maritime history from academics and practitioners all over the globe. The symposium has been described as the “largest regular meeting of naval historians in the world” and as the US Navy’s “single most important interaction with [an] academic historical audience.” Dr. Yates will be presenting on the history of the UAE Navy.��

Dr. Yates recently authored the book “The Evolution of the Armed Forces of the UAE” and is a scholar focusing on the history of the UAE military and police forces.

He said: “The acceptance of papers on the history of the UAE Armed Forces reflects a growing interest world-wide on how the UAE has become a regional power within such a short time. Foreign countries, their militaries and academics are increasingly studying the UAE as an example of how a country can build regional stability and security far in excess of its small physical and demographic size.”��

Dr. Yates also pointed out that scholarly journals are increasingly interested in UAE military history. For example, this month the International Journal of Maritime History accepted a paper on the history of Abu Dhabi’s navy, co-written with Khalifa University’s Dr Ash Rossiter, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Erica Solomon
Senior Publication Specialist
8 June 2021

The post Rising Global Interest in the History of UAE Armed Forces appeared first on Khalifa University.

The new book contains 11 essays from leading experts in the field of energy system dynamics

Read Arabic story .

Dr. Li-Chen Sim, Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Khalifa University, and Robin Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy and Fellow at the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy, have edited detailing how the transition to low-carbon energy in the Middle East impacts the energy system dynamics of the region. Their new book is titled.

“The book explores the evolving roles of energy stakeholders and geopolitical considerations, leveraging on the dizzying array of planned and actual projects for solar, wind, hydropower, waste-to-energy, and nuclear power in the region,” explained Dr. Sim. “Over the next few decades, favorable economics for low carbon energy sources combined with stagnant oil demand growth will facilitate a shift away from today’s fossil fuel-based energy system. Will the countries of the Middle East and North Africa be losers or leaders in this energy transition? Will state-society relations undergo a change as a result?”

Compiled by editors Dr. Li-Chen Sim and Robin Mills, the new book contains 11 essays from leading experts in their fields, discussing topics ranging from the rise of renewables in the Gulf states to the development of clean electricity supply in Egypt.

“Our book will interest academics working in the fields of international relations and politics, energy economics, and business,” said Dr. Sim. “Consultants, practitioners, policy-makers, and risk analysts will also find the insights helpful. It suggests that ultimately, politics, more so than economics or environmental pressure, will determine the speed, scope, and effects of low-carbon energy uptake in the region.”

“This book compellingly illustrates how the transition to renewable and nuclear energy may fundamentally change the energy system dynamics of a region that has long been known for hydrocarbon-dependence and political strife,” added Dr. Steve Griffiths, Senior Vice President, Research and Development.��

Jade Sterling
Science Writer
30 March 2021

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The post New Book Released by Khalifa University Researcher on the Energy System Dynamics of the MENA Region appeared first on Khalifa University.

Dr. Ash Rossiter, Assistant Professor in the Institute of International and Civil Security (IICS) and the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, has published a third book in 2020, titled .����

Published by Routledge and featuring contributions from leading security studies scholars from across the globe, the edited volume looks at technological impact of advances in robotics and autonomous systems across a range of contemporary security issues and settings.

Robotics, Autonomous Systems, and International Security marks Dr. Rossiter’s third book for 2020. It follows his single-authored monograph Security in the Gulf: Local Militaries before British Withdrawal, published by Cambridge University Press, and Conflict and Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a co-edited volume published by Routledge and written with KU and IICS colleague Dr. Brendon J. Cannon.

The publication of three books in a single year is a rare feat, which, according to Dr. Rossiter, was “only made possible by the research and publication culture fostered by the KU leadership and the seemingly inexhaustible encouragement within the College of Arts and Sciences.”

Alongside authoring or editing these books, Ash has published over a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles or book chapters. “Rightly, publishing high-quality articles in top journals has been – and remains – my core research output aim,” says Dr. Rossiter. “However,” he adds, “books are often signature publications in the social sciences and are highly valued.”

With the publication of these three books, Dr. Rossiter’s attention now turns to his two new book projects under contract: one on intelligence history with Georgetown University Press, and co-authored with KU and IICS’s Dr. Athol Yates, the other titled Warfare in the Robotics Age with the highly regarded American independent press Lynne Rienner.

Staff Report
2 January 2021

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