Falcons Intelligence Cell
{{short description|Iraqi law enforcement unit}}{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Falcons Intelligence Cell
| nativename = {{Script/Arabic|خلية الصقور الاستخبارية}}
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| logocaption = Logo of the Falcons Intelligence Cell
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| commonname = Falcons
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| formedyear = {{start date and age|df=yes|2006|2|8}}
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| employees = Classified
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| country = Iraq
| national = Yes
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| governingbody = Prime Minister’s Office
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| chief1name = Major General Hamid Sahi{{cn|date=March 2023}}
| chief1position = Chief of Military Intelligence
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The Falcons Intelligence Cell of Iraq (FIC) (Arabic: خلية الصقور الاستخبارية) is a military intelligence unit with law-enforcement officers, intelligence officers, and others in specialized intelligence capacities. The Falcons Intelligence Cell has been dubbed "the most dangerous spy network" in Iraq and is trained by the CIA and the MI6, and have carried out hundreds of successful operations against militants, rivaling other Iraqi intelligence services in Iraq in terms of scope and prowess.{{Cite web |title=ميدل إيست آي: بعد تفجير بغداد.. الكاظمي ينتزع السيطرة على خلية الصقور الاستخبارية للتقوّي على خصومه |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2021/2/3/ميدل-إيست-آي-الكاظمي-كيف-استولى |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=www.aljazeera.net |language=ar}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/terrorism-study/the-isis-spy-who-saved-baghdad-from-30-bombing-missions/|title=The ISIS Spy Who Saved Baghdad from 30 Terrorist Bombings|date=March 25, 2019|website=Homeland Security Today}}
Officials stated that the Falcons are responsible for foiling hundreds of attacks on important cities in Iraq during the War in Iraq (2013-2017){{Cite news |last=Coker |first=Margaret |date=August 12, 2018 |title=The Iraqi Spy Who Infiltrated ISIS |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/12/world/middleeast/iraqi-spy-isis.html}}
History
In 2006, the intelligence unit was created with the mission of eliminating leaders of hostile groups. The unit was named "Al-Suquor", or "The Falcons." The unit is most known for operations involving Captain Harith al-Sudani, in which Falcons foiled around 30 car-bomb attacks on Baghdad.{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm |url-status=live |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20101112160846/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm |archive-date=2010-11-12 |access-date=2010-11-12}}{{cite web |date=13 August 2018 |title=La spia che si è infiltrata nell'ISIS |url=http://www.ilpost.it/2018/08/13/spia-iraq-infiltrata-isis/ |website=Il Post |accessdate=2019-11-08}} The Falcons were praised by U.S. services for infiltrating ISIS cells, killing or arresting leaders and members, preventing attacks and destroying weapons. According to The New York Times, the Iraqi counter-terrorism intelligence unit "May be the most important organization on the front lines of the war on terrorism that almost no one has heard of."
Terrorism infiltration
The Falcons counter-terrorism operations typically involved Captain Harith al-Sudani infiltrating ISIS during the War in Iraq 2013-2017, driving ISIS's car bombs to important cities, letting the Falcon bomb disposal team dismantle the bombs and replacing them with pyrotechnic devices, and then dropping the car at the target point. There, Falcons would create a fake car bombing, including Falcons agents posing as victims, and photos and fake security briefs sent to news organizations. Captain Al-Sudani would then be picked up by ISIS agents and return with them, continuing his infiltration mission.
Al-Sudani was described as "Iraq’s most successful spy"{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/world/middleeast/iraq-spy-isis.html|title=Iraqi Leader Offers to Help Family of Spy Who Infiltrated ISIS|last=Coker|first=Margaret|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 14, 2018}} while operating within the Falcons unit.
Notable people
- Harith al-Sudani (1981–August 2017)
References
{{reflist}}
- Michael Knights, [https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/baghdad-bombing-spurs-major-intelligence-and-military-reshuffle Baghdad bombing spurs major intelligence and military reshuffle]
- {{cite web|last=Sweeny |first=Samuel |title='The Spymaster of Baghdad' Review: The Fight of the Falcons |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-spymaster-of-baghdad-review-the-fight-of-the-falcons-11628633937 |date=August 10, 2021}}
{{Iraqi security forces}}
{{National intelligence agencies}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Iraqi intelligence agencies
Category:2013 establishments in Iraq
Category:Organizations established in 2013