Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service
The Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) (Arabic: جهاز مكافحة الارهاب) is an Iraqi security and intelligence agency tasked with counterterrorism.[2] The Service’s operational arm is called the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) (Arabic: قوات العمليات الخاصة العراقية). They are an elite special operations force composed of three brigades and based in several governorates.
Counter Terrorism Service Iraqi Special Operations Forces (CTS - ISOF) | |
---|---|
Founded |
|
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Iraqi Armed Forces |
Type | Special Forces |
Role | Counter Terrorism |
Size | see below |
Part of | ![]() |
Garrison/HQ | Green Zone, Baghdad |
Nickname(s) | The Golden Division |
Motto(s) | "Raise The Black" |
Colors | Black |
Engagements | |
Website | https://www.isof-iq.com/ |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lt. Gen. Karim Abboud Muhammad[1] |
Notable commanders | Khalil Dabbagh Talib Shaghati Fadhil al-Barwari Abdel-Wahab al-Saadi |
Insignia | |
ICTB Flag | ![]() |
ISOF Flag | ![]() |
During the occupation of Iraq, all military, security, and intelligence entities of the country were dissolved by the United States following the issuance of CPA Order 2, and rebuilt from scratch. CTS was created in 2007 and is funded by the Ministry of Defence.[3] The Service played a crucial role in combatting terrorism during the war in Iraq (2013-2017). ISOF have conducted joint operations with the Green Berets.[4]
History
editSpecial operations troops of the Iraqi Army were first established when Colonel Khalil Dabbagh built the first royal special units in the name of "Queen Alia Forces" in the mid-1950s. It consisted of Sunni and Shia Arabs, as well as other components of the Iraqi population. They were mainly used on an emergency basis to carry out special missions inside of Iraq and outside when the country was at war.
The 65th Special Forces Brigade, 76th Special Forces Brigade, 78th Special Forces Brigade, and 450th Marine Brigade were active during the Persian Gulf War.[5]
After the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the Saddam Hussein-era Iraqi Army was disbanded by the occupation authorities. A new commando force was recruited from scratch, mostly from Shia, Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmen.[6] In November 2005, after training in Jordan with Jordanian Special Forces and U.S. Army Special Forces ("Green Berets"), the Iraqi Special Operations Force had 1,440 men trained, composed of two combat battalions, considered equal in training and combat effectiveness to an average U.S. Army infantry battalion, and two support battalions.[7] By March 2008, the force consisted of a single brigade which in turn was made up of an Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Force (ICTF) battalion, three Commando battalions, a support battalion and a special reconnaissance unit.[8]
On April 18, 2010, ISOF troops, supported by U.S. troops, carried out a night-time raid on a terrorist safe house near Tikrit. The ISOF surrounded the building and called on them to surrender, but instead the terrorists fired on them. The ISOF returned fire and assaulted the building. The ISOF killed Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leaders of the Islamic State of Iraq, 16 others were also arrested.[9][10][11]
After the U.S. left in 2011, the CTS struggled without American intelligence, air strikes, logistical capabilities, and medical care.[12] Journalist/researcher Michael R. Gordon was told that with the withdrawal of the U.S. Army and Air Force, and the fraying of Iraqi capabilities, Maliki had saddled the CTS "with a burgeoning array of missions that included manning checkpoints, escorting convoys, protecting voting centres, and doing battle with militants in densely populated Iraqi cities. A specialised force that had been designed to carry out lightning raids against terrorist cells (with considerable [U.S.] support) had become a jack-of-all-trades that was being tasked to deal with the upheaval in Iraq."[12] Well-respected U.S. Army special operations Major General Mike Nagata found Major General Fadhil Jamil al-Barwari (a Kurd from Dohuk), who led the 1st ISOF Brigade of the CTS, "no longer the confident commander" that he had been in years past.[13]
2016 Battle of Mosul
editIn the Battle of Mosul that began in October 2016, the special ops forces were the first division into the city of Mosul, which had been occupied by Islamic State since 2014.[14] After the fall of Mosul, the ISOF battalions increasingly took up an infantry role the Iraqi army and militias weren't able to provide during operations, a role the unit was unfamiliar with for most of the war against terror. This resulted in a greater number of casualties than in previous operations, which were smaller in scale and shorter in duration.
On 1 November 2016, the 1st Iraqi Special Forces Brigade fought its way into the Gogjali quarter of the city, becoming the first Iraqi unit to enter the city during the offensive.[15] On 10 July 2017, the Iraqi prime minister declared the liberation of Mosul from ISIS.[16] By the end of the battle, CTS forces suffered a 40 percent casualty rate.[17]
Command structure
editISOF
1st Special Operations Brigade (ISOF-1) - based in Baghdad often referred to as the Golden Division, previously the Golden Brigade.[18]
- 1st Battalion (Commando) - former 36th Battalion
- 2nd Battalion (ICTF)
- 3rd Battalion (Support)
- 5th Battalion (Recon)
2nd Special Operations Brigade (ISOF-2) with units in Mosul, Karbala, Diyala and Al Asad
- 6th Regional Commando Battalion
- 7th Regional Commando Battalion
- 8th Regional Commando Battalion
- 9th Regional Commando Battalion
3rd Special Operations Brigade (ISOF-3) was established in Basra by spring 2013, following an order by the prime minister in January 2012 that the forces expand by an additional brigade. It consisted of regional commando battalions in Basra, Babylon, Najaf, Maysan, Dhi Qar and Muthanna provinces, a recon battalion, and a support battalion.[19] A Special Tactics unit is also maintained.[20]
- 10th Regional Commando Battalion
- 20th Regional Commando Battalion
- 36th Regional Commando Battalion
- 45th Regional Commando Battalion
Academia (formerly 4th battalion, 1st ISOF brigade). It is responsible for screening and training of new recruits for Counter-Terrorism Command (CTC).[21]
Weapons
editAssault rifles and battle rifles
edit- M4A1 carbine
- M16A2/M16A4
- Remington R4[22]
- Rock River Arms LAR-15[23]
- SIG Sauer SIGM400[24]
- VHS-K2/D2 bullpup assault rifle[25]
- K2C carbine[26]
- OTs-14 Groza
Sniper rifles and anti material rifles
edit- HSR Cyclone sniper rifle[27]
- Steyr HS .50/AM50 anti-material rifle[28]
- M24 SWS
- ORSIS T-5000 sniper rifle[29]
- Barrett M82A1/M107 SASR
- K14 sniper rifle[30]
- Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle
Handguns
edit- Beretta 92FS pistol
- Tariq pistol
- S&W M&P9 pistol[31]
- Glock 17 & Glock 19
- HS2000 pistol
Machine guns
edit- PKM
- M249 light Machine gun
- M240 GPMG
- DShKM heavy machine gun
- Browning M2HB
Launchers and grenade launchers
edit- M203 grenade launcher
- RPG-7
- RPG-27
- M136 AT4
- Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon
- Milkor MGL
- Daewoo Precision Industries K4
- Mk 47 Striker
Vehicles
References
edit- ^ "Changes in Senior Military Positions in Iraq". Alsharqiya.
- ^ "Counter Terrorism Law (2016)". Iraqi Parliament Monitor.
- ^ Witty 2015, p. 10.
- ^ "Tip of The Spear" (PDF). SOCOM.
- ^ Eisenstadt, Jane's Intelligence Review.
- ^ Witty, David (2016). "The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service" (PDF). Brookings Institution.
The reporter conducting the interview with Barwari noted that the 1st ISOF Brigade was composed of Sunnis, Shi'as, Kurds, Christians, and Turkmen
- ^ "Special Operations: Iraqi Special Operations Forces". StrategyPage. StrategyWorld.com. 17 November 2005. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq - March 2008 Report to Congress.
- ^ Neville 2015, p. 226.
- ^ "2 Most Wanted Al Qaeda Leaders in Iraq Killed by U.S., Iraqi Forces" FoxNews, 19 April 2010.
- ^ Waleed Ibrahim. "Al Qaeda's top two leaders in Iraq have been killed, officials said Monday, in a strike the United States called a "potentially devastating blow" but whose impact analysts said may be limited". Thomson Reuters.
- ^ a b Gordon 2022, p. 10.
- ^ Gordon 2022, p. 11.
- ^ Ramsay, Stuart (20 October 2016). "Elite troops strengthen battle for Mosul". Sky News. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
- ^ "Iraqi Army enters Mosul: Live updates day 16".
- ^ "Iraqi PM declares victory over Islamic State in Mosul". Reuters. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2018/fy2018_CTEF_J-Book_Final_Embargoed.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Witty 2015, p. 12.
- ^ Witty 2015, p. 25.
- ^ "DVIDS - Images - Iraqi Special Operations Special Tactics Unit [Image 3 of 6]". dvidshub.net. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Golden Division / Iraqi National Counter-Terrorism Force (INCTF) Counter-Terrorism Service [CTS]".
- ^ "Remington R4s Reach Iraq". Silah Report. 18 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "ISOF Arms & Equipment Part 1 – Personal Equipment". Armament Research Services. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "ISOF Arms & Equipment Part 1 – Personal Equipment – Armament Research Services". 27 November 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "VHS K2 Bullpup in Iraq". www.thefirearmblog.com. 21 October 2016.
- ^ "Korean K2C in Iraq, on both sides". www.thefirearmblog.com. 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Iraq Loses Two Valued Snipers in the fight against IS". www.thefirearmblog.com. Archived from the original on 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ^ "Iraqi CT Sniper in Comfy Action". www.thefirearmblog.com. 13 October 2017.
- ^ "Iranian AM50 and Russian ORSIS T-5000 rifles in Iraq". www.thefirearmblog.com. 18 June 2014.
- ^ "Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) member armed with K14 sniper rifle and K2C Carbine". www.pinterest.com.
- ^ "Iraqi Military using S&W M&P9 Pistol". www.thefirearmblog.com. 31 October 2008.
- ^ "Iraq parades new South Korean-made armoured vehicles". Jan 15, 2021.
Further reading
edit- Gordon, Michael (R.) (2022). Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. ISBN 978-0374279899.
- Neville, Leigh (2015). Special Forces in the War on Terror. General Military. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-0790-8.
- Witty, David (2015). The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (PDF). Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution. p. 10. Retrieved 5 June 2016.