ShadowSpear Special Operations: ISOF, ISF Demonstrate Capabilities through Independent Operations

ISOF, ISF Demonstrate Capabilities through Independent Operations
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MNF-Iraq PAO on 14 July, 2008 01:20:00
 
BALAD, Iraq – For more than a month, elements within the Iraqi Special
Operations Forces and elite units of Iraqi Security Forces have conducted
independent missions throughout the Baghdad area capturing known Special Groups
criminals and seizing illegal weapons.
Prior to current operations, these forces normally worked alongside their U.S.
Special Forces counterparts.
Now, ISOF and ISF solely plan and execute their own missions capturing Special
Groups criminals and recovering weapons caches in Sadr City, Al Kut and Falil
areas of Baghdad.
According to Iraqi Brig. Gen. Noa’aman Dakeel Jawad, the Iraqi National
Emergency Response Unit commander, ISF is taking a larger role throughout the
Baghdad area and conducting unilateral operations.
In a Sadr City mission June 8, Kalsu Special Weapons and Tactics team planned
and executed a mission leading to the capture of four suspected Special Groups
criminals and recovering a weapons cache.
The cache was reportedly being delivered to other criminals in the area.
The following night, KSWAT recovered another weapons cache on the bank of the
Tigris River in Al Kut. The team’s mission was to confiscate sniper and RPG
weapons, but they also detained a criminal on site with a warrant out for his
arrest.
“This target was completely unilateral by the Iraqis, from target development
to execution,” said one Coalition forces advisor. “The cache was well hidden
in the bank of the Tigris River – this demonstrates the accuracy of the
reporting and extensiveness of the sensitive site exploitation.”
The ISOF also conducted more unilateral operations in Sadr City, June 10.
During these operations, two suspected Special Groups criminals were captured.
In the Falil area of Baghdad, ISOF captured another suspected Special Groups
criminal accused of providing weapons to other criminals in his organization as
well as conducting attacks against Iraq and Coalition forces.
“This mission showed a growing sophistication in the tactics of ISOF
companies,” said another Coalition forces advisor. “Every time they execute
a successful operation with no casualties and little or no collateral damage,
the unit wins a small victory.”