SEND IN THE S.A.ASS!

THE SAS has a new weapon in the war on terror – donkeys.

Members of the elite unit used them to reach a Taliban mountain stronghold and cave complex.

Up to 20 donkeys were used to carry a team of British soldiers and their equipment through one of the most rugged parts of eastern Afghanistan.

An Army insider told us: “The team needed to take a lot of equipment including food, water, ammunition, cold-weather gear, medical supplies – enough for 10 days.

“Carrying that much equipment up and over mountain ranges would have caused some major issues.”

The donkeys carried 12 men and their equipment more than 30 miles on a four-day trek along goat tracks.

Once the troops reached the target area the animals were led away to a safe rendezvous point, where they could be properly fed and watered.

The SAS unit then watched the base for

10 days before calling in an airstrike which killed at least 10 Taliban. Other fighters fled into the caves.

Our source added: “The Army have often used mules and donkeys when confronted by difficult terrain.

“And the SAS have used animals in the past, so this wasn’t laughed at.

“The soldiers had to climb up and over a mountain range to get to the Taliban stronghold.

“All access roads were monitored or mined and the SAS team wanted to achieve complete surprise.

“The terrain meant a parachute drop or helicopter landing would have been impossible.

“The last thing they expected was a special forces team coming in through the mountains.”