Iraqi Special Operations Forces
| Iraqi Special Operations Forces | |
|---|---|
|
ISOF SSI | |
| Active | December 26, 2003 – Present |
| Country |
 Iraq |
| Branch | Iraqi Army |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Size | 4,000 |
| Part of |
 Iraqi Counter Terrorism Bureau (reports directly to Prime Minister of Iraq) |
| Motto(s) | May you sleep peacefully in your bed tonight for a mighty sword stands ready to strike fear in the hearts of those who would terrorize us! |
| Engagements | Anti-guerrilla operations in Iraq as part of the Iraq War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major General Fadhil Jalil al-Barwari |
| Insignia | |
| ICTB Flag |
|
| ISOF flag |
 |
Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) (Arabic: قوات العمليات الخاصة العراقية) refers to the Iraqi special forces unit created by Coalition forces after the 2003 invasion. As of November 2009, the forces, directed by the Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Bureau, consist of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Command, which has two brigades subordinate to it. The Counter-Terrorist Bureau is funded by the Ministry of Defence (Iraq).
History
Special operations troops in the old Iraqi army were first established when Colonel Khaleel Jassim Al-Dabbagh build the first royal special units in the name of " Queen Alia Forces " in the mid 50's of the last century. It was uniformed of Sunni, Shia Arabs and other components of Iraqi population, they were mainly used on an emergency basis to carry out special missions inside of Iraq and outside when the country was in war. After the Invasion in 2003, Iraqi forces were made redundant by the Invasion forces and because of this, the current Iraqi commando force were recruited from scratch, mostly from Shia Arabs, Kurds and few Sunni. In November 2005, after two years of training in Jordan with Jordanian and US Army Special Forces, the Iraqi Special Operations Force had 1440 men trained, composed into two combat battalions, considered equal in training and combat effectiveness to an average US Army Infantry battalion, and two support battalions.[1]
In 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.[2]
Command structure
The two brigades are the 1st Special Operations Brigade, in Baghdad with the 1st, 2nd, and 5th Battalions, a brigade support battalion and a training battalion/Iraqi Special Warfare Center and School. The 1st Battalion is the renamed Iraqi 36th Commando Battalion.[3]
The 2nd Special Operations Brigade has four commando battalions [1440-men], currently at Basra, Mosul, Diyala and Al Asad. The battalions at Basra and Mosul achieved Iraqi Operational Control (IOC) in January 2008 and conduct local operations. Regional CT Centers (RCCs), similar to Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) organizations, will be established at all four regional commando bases to develop intelligence on terrorist networks in their region.
CT pilot training
In February 2008, the Iraqi Air Force, with Coalition Advisors, began night vision goggle (NVG) training as the basis for future counter-terrorism (CT) pilot training. Potential CT pilots and aircrew will undergo NVG flying introduction in order to select the best pilots for advanced CT aviation training as early as April 2008. Selected pilots will continue to log NVG training hours in order to attain a proficiency level that prepares them for Advanced Special Operations specific training as early as late summer 2008. Once fielded, this special operations aviation capability will reside in the Iraqi Air Force's 15 Squadron,[4] which currently fields Mil Mi-17 helicopters.[5]
Gallery
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_training_2011.jpg)
Members of the Special Forces during training on January 2011
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_training_April_2011.jpg)
Members of the Special Forces during training on April 2011
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_participate_in_Lion's_Leap_on_April_26_2011.jpg)
Members of the Special Forces participate in Lion's Leap on April 26, 2011
See also
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iraqi Special Operations Forces. |
References
- ↑ Special Operations: Iraqi Special Operations Forces
- ↑ Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq - March 2008 Report to Congress
- ↑ DJ Elliott, Iraqi Counter Terrorist Bureau (page 8, Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle), Montrose Toast, information cut-off date 30 November 2009, via Iraqi Order of Battle
- ↑ Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq - March 2008 Report to Congress
- ↑ http://www.longwarjournal.org/enemy/wiring%20diagram%20CT-AF-Navy1.php
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