Operation Khas

Operation Khas (lit. 'Operation Special') was a Commonwealth military operation carried out from September 1964 to July 1966 during the Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation. The operation took place in the Tawau Division and on the Malaysian side of Sebatik Island, both located in Sabah. It was part of the broader Operation Claret and served as a continuation of the Tebedu Incident, which marked Indonesia’s first attempt to launch cross-border attacks into East Malaysia by land.

Unlike conventional offensive campaigns, Operation Khas focused primarily on border security, screening, and blocking operations. Its main objective was to prevent Indonesian forces from infiltrating Sabah via land and sea routes through the Tawau district and to avoid a recurrence of incidents such as the Battle of Tawau.

Importantly, the mission was the first military operation involving the Gerak Khas, then known as the Malaysian Special Service Unit, just four months after its formation in May 1965.

The operation was further supported by naval assets from the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal New Zealand Navy, which patrolled Malaysian waters along the maritime border with Indonesia.