Argentina planned to massacre hundreds of British and American citizens living in the country on the eve of the Falklands War, according to newly discovered CIA documents.
The declassified papers dated from April 1982 reveal Argentine dictator General Leopoldo Galtieri had advanced plans to 'disappear' 500 British subjects and more than 100 US Embassy staff, using an Argentine terrorist group as a cover.
The astonishing documents, unearthed by respected Falklands historian Ricky D. Phillips, shed new light on the war which claimed the lives of 255 British military personnel, 649 Argentinians and three Falkland Islanders.
The CIA documents are dated April 12, 1982 – 10 days after Argentina invaded the British islands in the South Atlantic. They help explain why Alexander Haig, then US Secretary of State, 'stalled' plans to openly support Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, thus giving British and US citizens time to flee Argentina.
Mr Phillips, who has written four best-selling books on the Falklands War, unearthed the documents while researching a new book. They were declassified in 2018 but have never been made public until now.
