Spanish Special Operations in Iraq: essential support in the fight against jihadist terrorism

• For several years, the Special Operations Group has been deployed in Iraq to provide specialised training and support to the Iraqi Counter Terrorist Service (CTS), as part of the international mission Inherent Resolve

Within the framework of the International Coalition (Operation Inherent Resolve) against Daesh, Spanish special operations units provide essential support to the security of Iraq and its population. Through their mission of advising, assisting and training (A2E), Spanish forces have contributed significantly to strengthening the tactical and combat capabilities of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Service (CTS). Spanish-Iraqi collaboration has been materialised in a series of key activities:

1. Specialised Training and Instruction: Spanish operators provide advanced training to elite CTS forces, including the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF). These trainings range from urban combat tactics to advanced hostage rescue techniques, explosive disabling or sniper skills, among others. Through this support, the goal is to equip Iraqi forces with high-level skills to execute complex operations autonomously and with a high degree of professionalism.

2. Operational Planning Advisory: Spanish units provide comprehensive support in planning strategic CTS missions, including the development of operational plans, intelligence analysis, target identification and resource coordination. The experience of Spanish operators in asymmetric conflicts in a wide range of international scenarios allows them to transfer their knowledge in planning and strategy to Iraqi forces, thus increasing the effectiveness of CTS in large-scale missions.

3. Intelligence and Reconnaissance Assistance: Spanish special operations also provide advice in intelligence gathering and analysis. This collaboration has been key to the CTS's planning of operations based on up-to-date intelligence, a capability that is particularly relevant to obtaining information on the ground.

4. Capacity Development in Joint Operations: Through joint exercises and simulations, Spanish forces promote integration and coordination between Iraqi special operations forces and the international coalition, strengthening cooperation and communication in multinational operations.

5. Logistics and Medical Support: Spanish units provide logistical training in supply management for prolonged operations, as well as combat medical training to improve response to casualties and emergencies in combat situations, a vital factor in the effectiveness of CTS on the battlefield.

CTS: key in the fight against terrorism in Iraq

he Iraqi Counter Terrorist Service (CTS), one of Iraq's most prominent forces, was created in 2003 with the aim of confronting terrorist and extremist threats, mainly from DAESH. This unit, under the direct command of the Iraqi prime minister, possesses a high degree of independence and response capability that allows it to operate with remarkable autonomy in Iraq's complex security landscape. With a mission that encompasses high-precision military operations, intelligence and neutralisation of terrorist cells, CTS has been crucial in counter-terrorism fight and hostage rescue operations, as well as in dismantling insurgent networks.

As a whole, the support provided by the Spanish Special Operations Group to the CTS has enhanced its operational capabilities, allowing these elite Iraqi forces to carry out counter-terrorist missions with greater efficiency in a more autonomous manner. This Spanish collaboration contributes not only to combating terrorism, an objective of the OIR that is being developed with notable progress, but also to the stabilisation and reconstruction of Iraq, thus favouring a more stable and durable security context.