Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service

Special 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 Gulf War.Eisenstadt, Jane's Intelligence Review.

File:ISOF Pre-2003 Logo.png

After the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the Saddam Hussein-era Iraqi Army was disbanded by the occupation authorities. In late 2003, a commando battalion was recruited from scratch, mostly from Arabs (Shias and Sunnis), Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmen.{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/David-Witty-Paper_Final_Web.pdf |title=The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service |first=David |last=Witty |date=2016 |website=Brookings Institution}} Another more clandestine battalion named the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Force (ICTF), with robust intelligence capabilities and specialised in counterterrorism and hostage rescue, was also formed at the same time. The aforementioned commando battalion was placed in a supporting role to the latter, with the aim that a premier counterinsurgency force would eventually be developed around the two battalions.{{cite web|url= https://irp.fas.org/agency/dod/socom/2007history.pdf |title=United States Special Operations Command History|publisher=USSOCOM}} The first Iraqi Special Operations Forces brigade (ISOF-1) was formed by the Iraqi Army with the help of U.S special operations forces in July 2005.Ibid. p.123 In November 2005, after training in Jordan with [[Joint Special Operations Command (Jordan)|

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.{{cite web |url= http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsf/articles/20051117.aspx |title=Special Operations: Iraqi Special Operations Forces |date=17 November 2005 |work=StrategyPage |publisher= StrategyWorld.com |access-date=5 June 2016}}

In April 2007, the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) was established with ISOF as its operational arm, and by March 2008, it consisted of a single brigade which in turn was made up of Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Force (ICTF) battalion, three commando battalions, a support battalion and a special reconnaissance unit.[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/2008/iraq-security-stability_mar2008-02-4.htm Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq] - March 2008 Report to Congress.

The 2nd Special Operations Forces brigade (ISOF-2) was formed in July 2009.

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.{{sfn|Neville|2015|page=226}}[https://www.foxnews.com/world/2-most-wanted-al-qaeda-leaders-in-iraq-killed-by-u-s-iraqi-forces "2 Most Wanted Al Qaeda Leaders in Iraq Killed by U.S., Iraqi Forces"] FoxNews, 19 April 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-violence-alqaeda-idUSTRE63I3CL20100419|title=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|author=Waleed Ibrahim|publisher=Thomson Reuters}}

After the U.S. left in 2011, the CTS struggled without American intelligence, air strikes, logistical capabilities, and medical care.{{sfn|Gordon|2022|page=10}} 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."{{sfn|Gordon|2022|page=10}} Well-respected U.S. Army special operations Major General Mike Nagata found Major General Fadhil Jamil al-Barwari, who led the 1st ISOF Brigade of the CTS, "no longer the confident commander" that he had been in years past.{{sfn|Gordon|2022|page=11}}

The 3rd Special Operations Forces brigade (ISOF-3) was formed in spring 2013.

In 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.{{cite news|last1=Ramsay|first1=Stuart|title=Elite troops strengthen battle for Mosul|url=http://news.sky.com/story/us-trained-iraqi-special-forces-strengthen-battle-for-mosul-10623884|access-date=20 October 2016|publisher=Sky News|date=20 October 2016}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/01112016|title=Iraqi Army enters Mosul: Live updates day 16}} On 10 July 2017, the Iraqi prime minister declared the liberation of Mosul from ISIS.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-mosul-idUSKBN19V105|author=|title=Iraqi PM declares victory over Islamic State in Mosul|website=Reuters|date=10 July 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}} By the end of the battle, CTS forces suffered a 40 percent casualty rate.https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2018/fy2018_CTEF_J-Book_Final_Embargoed.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}

== Command Structure ==

File:القوات الخاصه العراقيه.jpg, 2020]]

File:Members of ISOF during a training exercise-Jan2025.jpg

The Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) are organized into three primary brigades, each responsible for operations in different regions of Iraq. The structure includes specialized battalions for commando, support, reconnaissance, and tactical operations.

{{tree list}}

• 1st Special Operations Brigade (ISOF-1) – Based in Baghdad, often referred to as the Golden Division, previously known as the Golden Brigade.{{sfn|Witty|2015|page=12}}
• 25x25px 1st Battalion (Commando) – Former 36th Battalion
• 30x30px 2nd Battalion (ICTF)
• 20x20px 3rd Battalion (Support)
• 24x24px 5th Battalion (Reconnaissance)

• 2nd Special Operations Brigade (ISOF-2) – Operates in Nineveh, Kirkuk, 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) – Responsible for operations in Basra, Babylon, Najaf, Maysan, Dhi Qar, and Muthanna. This brigade includes:
• 10th Regional Commando Battalion
• 20th Regional Commando Battalion
• 36th Regional Commando Battalion
• 45th Regional Commando Battalion

Additionally, the brigade maintains a reconnaissance battalion, a support battalion, and a Special Tactics Unit.{{sfn|Witty|2015|page=25}} {{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/3448788/iraqi-special-operations-special-tactics-unit|title=DVIDS - Images - Iraqi Special Operations Special Tactics Unit [Image 3 of 6]|website=dvidshub.net|access-date=1 January 2018}}

• 30x30px Academia – Formerly the 4th Battalion of the 1st ISOF Brigade, this unit is responsible for screening and training new recruits for the Counter-Terrorism Command (CTC).{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/counter-terrorism.htm|title=Golden Division / Iraqi National Counter-Terrorism Force (INCTF) Counter-Terrorism Service [CTS]}}

{{tree list/end}}

• Beretta 92FS pistol
• Tariq pistol
• S&W M&P9 pistol{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/10/31/iraqi-military-using-sw-mp9-pistol/|title=Iraqi Military using S&W M&P9 Pistol|website=www.thefirearmblog.com|date=31 October 2008}}
• Glock 17 & Glock 19
• HS2000 pistol

• M4A1 carbine
• M16A2/M16A4
• Remington R4{{cite web |title=Remington R4s Reach Iraq |url=https://silahreport.com/2020/04/18/remington-r4s-reach-iraq/ |website=Silah Report |access-date=27 May 2021 |date=18 April 2020}}
• Rock River Arms LAR-15{{cite web |title=ISOF Arms & Equipment Part 1 – Personal Equipment |work= Armament Research Services |date=27 November 2016 |url=https://armamentresearch.com/isof-arms-equipment-part-1-personal-equipment/ |accessdate=27 May 2021}}
• SIG Sauer SIGM400{{cite web |title=ISOF Arms & Equipment Part 1 – Personal Equipment – Armament Research Services |date=27 November 2016 |url=https://armamentresearch.com/isof-arms-equipment-part-1-personal-equipment/ |accessdate=31 May 2021}}
• VHS-K2/D2 bullpup assault rifle{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/10/21/vhs-k2-bullpup-iraq/|title=VHS K2 Bullpup in Iraq|website=www.thefirearmblog.com|date=21 October 2016}}
• K2C carbine{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/09/30/korean-k2c-iraq-sides/|title=Korean K2C in Iraq, on both sides|website=www.thefirearmblog.com|date=30 September 2016}}
• OTs-14 Groza

• HSR Cyclone sniper rifle{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/10/22/potd-iraqi-ct-sniper-in-comfy-action/|title=Iraq Loses Two Valued Snipers in the fight against IS|website=www.thefirearmblog.com|access-date=2021-01-07|archive-date=2021-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205005918/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/10/22/potd-iraqi-ct-sniper-in-comfy-action/|url-status=dead}}
• Steyr HS .50/AM50 anti-material rifle{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/10/13/iraq-loses-two-valued-snipers-fight/|title=Iraqi CT Sniper in Comfy Action|website=www.thefirearmblog.com|date=13 October 2017}}
• M24 SWS
• ORSIS T-5000 sniper rifle{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/06/18/iranian-am50-russian-orsis-t-5000-rifles-iraq/|title=Iranian AM50 and Russian ORSIS T-5000 rifles in Iraq|website=www.thefirearmblog.com|date=18 June 2014}}
• Barrett M82A1/M107 SASR
• K14 sniper rifle{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/138133913551556516/|title=Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) member armed with K14 sniper rifle and K2C Carbine|website=www.pinterest.com}}
• Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle

• PKM
• M249 light Machine gun
• M240 GPMG
• DShKM heavy machine gun
• Browning M2HB

• 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

• Promoter DAPC-2{{Cite web |date=Jan 15, 2021 |title=Iraq parades new South Korean-made armoured vehicles |url=https://defence-blog.com/iraq-parades-new-south-korean-made-armoured-vehicles/?amp}}
• Humvee

{{notelist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Gordon |first=Michael (R.) |title=Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump|place=New York |publisher=Farrar, Straus, and Giroux |date=2022 |isbn=978-0374279899 }}
• {{cite book|last=Neville |first=Leigh |title=Special Forces in the War on Terror |publisher=Osprey Publishing |date=2015 |series=General Military |isbn=978-1-4728-0790-8}}
• {{cite book |last=Witty |first=David |year=2015 |title=The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service |url= http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2015/03/iraq-counter-service-witty/david-witty-paper_final_web.pdf |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |page=10 |access-date=5 June 2016}}

{{Institutions of the Iraqi Council of Ministers}}

{{Iraqi security forces}}

Category:2007 establishments in Iraq

Category:Military counterterrorist organizations

Category:Institutions of the Iraqi Council of Ministers

Category:Military units and formations established in 2007

Category:Special forces of Iraq

Category:Iraqi intelligence agencies