Operation Desert Siege

Lore & Background

Set in the aftermath of the original Ghost Recon campaign, Operation Desert Siege takes the elite special operations unit to the Middle East. A renegade Iraqi general, having seized control of a powerful military force, threatens to destabilize the region. The Ghosts are deployed to neutralize this threat through a series of covert operations across desert terrain, including oil fields, military bases, and urban areas.

The expansion introduces new weapons, vehicles, and environments that challenge players with long-range engagements and harsh visibility conditions. It builds on the tactical realism of the base game, emphasizing stealth, teamwork, and precision. The campaign's narrative ties into the broader Tom Clancy universe, focusing on geopolitical conflict and the Ghosts' role as a surgical strike force.

Operation Desert Siege was well-received for its punishing difficulty and expanded sandbox — missions like 'Sandstorm' forced players to navigate blinding grit while enemy snipers used the same cover you'd normally rely on. Though it didn't overhaul the engine, its tight, sun-scorched firefights remain a fan-favorite chapter in the early Ghost Recon legacy.

In Their Own Story

The sandstorm howled across the barren landscape as Captain Ramirez checked his optics. Intel said the general's convoy would pass through this canyon within the hour. The Ghosts had been inserted by HALO drop at 0200, and now they lay prone among the rocks, rifles trained on the winding road below. 'Alpha, this is Six. Target package is green. We take the shot on my mark.' The wind picked up, obscuring vision, but the team had trained for this. They were Ghosts. They didn't miss.

Reader's Guide

Operation Desert Siege adds a new campaign to Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, consisting of several missions set in a Middle Eastern desert. Players control the Ghosts as they combat a rogue Iraqi general who has amassed a significant military force. The story unfolds through mission briefings and in-game objectives, focusing on eliminating key targets, destroying strategic assets, and securing the region.

The expansion retains the core tactical gameplay of the original, with an emphasis on long-range engagements and use of cover. New weapons, such as the M82 sniper rifle — capable of punching through light armor at 1,500 meters — and vehicles like the M1 Abrams tank, are introduced. The campaign is notable for its difficulty, especially on Expert mode where a single stray patrol can trigger a base-wide alarm and turn a silent infiltration into a desperate last stand.

While it does not fundamentally alter the series' formula, Operation Desert Siege is significant as the first expansion for Ghost Recon, setting a precedent for future add-ons. It expanded the game's lore and provided fans with more of the tactical experience they enjoyed, reinforcing the franchise's reputation for realistic military simulation.

Did You Know?

• Desert Siege was released in 2002 for Microsoft Windows as a separate purchase.
• The expansion can be unlocked as a new campaign in the PlayStation 2 version of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon.
• Desert Siege is bundled with the Mac port of Ghost Recon.
• The expansion adds 2 new multiplayer game types: Domination and Siege.
• Desert Siege includes 5 new multiplayer maps and new weapons for use in multiplayer.