SAS (Special Air Service) is an elite special unit of the British Armed Forces, created in 1941 by Colonel David Stirling, which, with a short break, exists to the present day. The SAS was initially formed as a North African unit in the far rear of the Axis forces. Its tasks then included the broadly understood diversion and sabotage (e.g. destroying ammunition or fuel depots). Currently, the most important branch of SAS is 22 Professional Regiment of the Special Air Service, for which the 21st and 23rd Regiment SAS constitute a kind of reserve, and which performs operational tasks. Professional soldiers serve there. Recruitment to this unit is very rigorous, and individual and team training of already admitted people can take up to 6-7 years! The SAS is trained to operate in the enemy's distant rear, to counter-terrorist operations or to rescue hostages. Special Air Service is currently recognized as probably the best special unit in the world and was a model for the formation of such units as Delta Force, KSK or Polish GROM. After 1945, SAS soldiers took part in many conflicts, including: the Falklands War (1982), both the Gulf Wars (1990-1991 and 2003) and the war in Afghanistan (from 2001).
The operation code-named Nimrod was carried out on May 5, 1980 at the Iranian embassy in London. It happened as a result of the seizure of an Iranian diplomatic post by Arab terrorists on April 30, 1980, taking 26 hostages. In the course of the negotiations, 5 people were released, but as a result of the aggravation of the position of terrorists, the confrontational position of the government in Tehran and the murder of one of the hostages, the British government led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher decided to carry out a terrorist action. The action was carried out by a separate SAS sub-unit composed of three tactical groups. The entire operation lasted 16 minutes and started with a simultaneous SAS attack from the roof of the building, from the front door and from the balcony. In its course, it was possible to free almost all the hostages - the terrorists managed to kill one of the kidnapped. Five terrorists were also killed and one surrendered. It is assumed that the operation plan and its implementation were almost exemplary and strengthened the position of SAS as one of the most elite special units in the world.