From today's featured article
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Operation Barras was a British Army operation in Sierra Leone in 2000 that rescued five soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment and 21 Sierra Leonean civilians being held by the West Side Boys militia group. The soldiers were part of a patrol returning from a visit to Jordanian peacekeepers attached to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) at Masiaka. The ground operation was conducted by D Squadron, 22 Regiment Special Air Service, with a diversionary assault by elements of 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment. At least 25 West Side Boys and one soldier in the rescue party were killed, and 18 West Side Boys—including the gang's leader, Foday Kallay—were taken prisoner and later transferred to the custody of the Sierra Leone Police. Many West Side Boys fled the area during the assault, and over 300 surrendered to UNAMSIL forces within a fortnight. After the operation, the British government increased its support of UNAMSIL and its efforts to bring the Sierra Leone Civil War to an end, both politically, through the United Nations Security Council, and through the provision of staff officers to support UNAMSIL. ( Full article...)
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Did you know...
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Thomas Aldersey
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- ... that Quantum Break was described as a "transmedia action-shooter video game and television hybrid"?
- ... that the Irish footballer Jeff Chandler was "never the same player" after suffering a knee injury in Bolton Wanderers' fourth game of their 1987–88 season?
- ... that the Divisional Railway Hospital in Golden Rock, Tiruchirappalli, India, is the oldest in its zone?
- ... that Edward A. Geary was unanimously elected Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives by his Republican and Democrat peers?
- ... that the 1949 film Passport to Pimlico is dedicated to the memory of Second World War British food and clothing ration coupons?
- ... that Otto Bock technicians at the 2016 Paralympic Games carried out 3,361 repairs for 1,162 athletes, including 2,745 repairs to wheelchairs?
- ... that groups including the Beach Boys and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young playing at the Big Sur Folk Festival were never paid more than US$50 per performer?
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In the news
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Model of the Schiaparelli lander
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