Salam Jassem Hussein al-Obeidi (aka Major Salam, b: 1979[1]) is an Iraqi officer who received media appraisal during the second Iraqi civil war and the Second battle of Mosul (2016–2017).[1] Salam Hussein is now Colonel.
Salam Jassem Hussein Colonel | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Salam Jassem Hussein |
| Nickname(s) | Major Salam |
| Born | 1979 |
| Service | Iraqi army |
| Years of service | 2003–current |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Iraqi Special Operations Forces |
| Battles / wars | Iraqi insurgency (2003–2006) |
Early life
editSalam Jassem Hussein studied linguistics at university, studying English and Hebrew when the 2003 Iraqi war began.[1] After the defeat of Saddam Hussein, Salam, against his father's wishes, entered the newly formed and Western-sponsored Iraqi army in late 2003.[1] He was assigned to the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Force (ICTF).[1]
In 2004 he joined the fighting during the battle of Najaf against Shia militants from the Mahdi army.[2]
Second Iraqi civil war
editWhen the second Iraqi Civil war erupted, Major Salam Hussein led the 2nd battalion of the 1st division (ISOF-1), part of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, known as the Golden Division.[1][3][4][5] Major Hussein is critical of Iraq's political establishment, especially former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom he regards as the main cause of his country's crisis.[1] He forbade the use of influential Shia cleric Hussein's flag, frequently seen flying over Iraqi army's vehicles and voiced his opposition to anti-Sunni sectarian policies and violence supported or encouraged by various Shia politicians in power.[1]
He joined the battles of Tikrit and Ramadi.[1][5] On 9 June 2016, while involved in the battle of Fallujah where he sustained injuries from a missile attack.[1]
In late 2016, while taking part in the second battle of Mossul, he led the Golden Division which breached Mosul's Eastern defenses on 1 November 2016.[1][6][7] In late December 2016, after the conquest of the Eastern side of Mosul, he left for the US to train 6 months.[1][8] He returned to Mosul in June 2017 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, to lead the offensive on Mosul's old town, on the western bank of the river.[8]
See also
edit- Iraqi Special Operations Forces aka Golden Division
- Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)
- Captain Harith al-Sudani
- Abu Azrael
- Abu Tahsin al-Salhi
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Sallon, Hélène (24 January 2017). "Major Salam, icône de la guerre contre l'EI en Irak". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ Sallon, Hélène (12 July 2017). "Mossoul entièrement reprise par les forces irakiennes". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ Sallon, Hélène (13 January 2017). "Sur le front de Mossoul, avec les forces d'élites irakiennes". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ Ourdan, Rémy (10 December 2016). "Sur le front de Mossoul, une bataille rue par rue contre l'organisation Etat islamique". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ a b Jaulmes, Adrien (24 November 2016). "À Mossoul, au cœur d'une guerre hors norme". Le Figaro.fr (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ Sallon, Hélène (28 October 2016). "Les forces irakiennes visent les djihadistes, un à un, la nuit, dans les faubourgs de Mossoul". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ Sallon, Hélène (2 November 2016). "Les forces irakiennes sont entrées dans Mossoul, mais le plus dur reste devant elles". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ a b Sallon, Hélène (27 June 2017). "A Mossoul, les forces spéciales irakiennes se préparent à reprendre le dernier carré de l'EI". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- Fighting the Islamic State with Iraq's Golden Division: The Road to Fallujah, Vice News, 17 June 2016.
