Over a hundred former-SAS troops are reportedly being dispatched to Spanish resorts over concerns that ISIS will target British holidaymakers this summer.
The elite soldiers will patrol beaches and hotels disguised as tourists after intelligence allegedly suggested that jihadists were planning a repeat of the 2015 Tunisia attack.
Holidaymakers in mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands are feared to be at risk.
The Tunisia attack at the tourist resort at Port El Kantaoui saw 30 British holidaymakers gunned down on the beach.
A security source told The Mail on Sunday: "Spain has been singled out as a target by the jihadis, it is wide open to an attack now that security in the UK has been tightened.
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"This is a very secretive mission because tour operators don't want to spread panic and reduce their business.
"You don't get a softer target than British tourists lying in the sun."
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It comes after Prime Minister Theresa May announced yesterday that the UK's terror threat level has been reduced from 'critical' to 'severe'.
The aftermath of the Manchester terror attack last Monday has seen the military deployed at key locations around the country. This will continue until Monday night, after which the soldiers will be told to stand down.
The changes means British intelligence believe an attack is no longer 'imminently expected' but is still 'highly likely'.
Who Are The SAS?
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The SAS (Special Air Service Regiment) consists of some of the best trained and well equipped soldiers in the world.
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The special forces unit traces its origins to the Second World War, and undertakes a number of roles including covert reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, direct action and hostage rescue.
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A crack-team of Britain's best soldiers, the regular elements of United Kingdom Special Forces never recruit directly from the general public and historically the majority of candidates have a Commando or Airborne forces background.
Selection lasts for five weeks and normally starts with about 200 potential candidates. In order to pass the unit's arduous recruitment test candidates. They must first complete a Personal Fitness Test (PFT) and an Annual Fitness Test (AFT), they then march cross country against the clock, increasing the distances covered each day, culminating in what is known as Endurance.
This is a march of 40 miles (64 km) with full equipment scaling and descending Pen y Fan in 20 hours.
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If candidates pass this part of the selection process, they are then shipped out to the Belize, Brunei or Malaysia jungle where they are taught navigation, patrol formation/movement and jungle survival skills.
Candidates return to England to finish training in battle plans, foreign weapons and take part in combat survival exercises, the final part of which is a week-long escape and evasion exercise.
Finally, they are put under the screw in a 36-hour Resistance to Interrogation (RTI) test, little is known about what recruits are subject to, but it is said to be the most gruelling part of the selection process.
Of the 200 that begin, usually only 30 remain by the end of the selection process, with the majority of candidates dropping out in the first week. Those who successfully complete all phases of selection are rewarded with a transfer to an operational squadron.
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: terrorism, terror, Spain