Prior to May 5, 1980, the world was largely unaware that the UK’s SAS (Special Air Service), or any elite special operations units,  existed at all. Six days earlier, terrorists had stormed the Iranian Embassy in London and taken 21 hostages. As the situation was being covered on live TV around the world, the SAS attacked the embassy. HBH is honored to be joined by two members of that elite SAS team, Pete Winner and Sekonaia ‘Tak’ Takevisi.

The terrorists had not anticipated a violent response to their actions. However, what they received when UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher gave ‘Operation Nimrod’ the go ahead, was the full force of the most precise military instrument at her disposal: the SAS. 

The SAS made an example of the terrorists for all the world to see. As a result, overnight, the SAS, also known as ‘The Regiment’, became famous around the world - a world that did not know soldiers of this caliber existed.

We thank Pete and Tak for taking the time to join us and reliving their experience from the day that put special forces on the map, permanently.

Pete Winner is the author of his bestselling memoir ‘SOLDIER, I’, which he wrote with Michael Kennedy.