Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service

Counter Terrorism Service
Iraqi Special Operations Forces
CTS-ISOF
‏جهاز مكافحة الإرهاب
قوات العمليات الخاصة العراقية
Emblem of the Counter Terrorism Bureau
FoundedApril 2007 (CTS established)
Country Iraq
TypeSpecial operations force
Role
Size14,000 (2024)
Part ofIraqi Armed Forces
Garrison/HQGreen Zone, Baghdad
NicknameThe Golden Division
Motto"Raise The Black"
Colors  Black
Engagements
Commanders
Commander-in-chiefAli al-Zaidi
Head of CTSLt. Gen. Zaid Hoshi al-Musawi
Commander of CTCMaj. Gen. Alaa Yassir
Notable
commanders
Talib Shaghati
Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi
Abdul Ghani al-Asadi
Insignia
ICTB Flag
ISOF Flag

The Counter Terrorism Service (CTS; Arabic: جهاز مكافحة الارهاب) is an independent, quasi-ministerial level organization separate from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Ministry of the Interior (MoI), tasked with counterterrorism.

ISOF-3 during training in Babylon, 2020

It has a two-tiered organizational structure which consists of the CTS headquarters and the Counter Terrorism Command (CTC). The latter commands the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF; Arabic: قوات العمليات الخاصة العراقية), currently consisting of three brigades based in several governorates. They are often collectively referred to as the Golden Division. They are part of the Iraqi Armed Forces and report directly to the Prime Minister of Iraq.

During the occupation of Iraq, all military, security, and intelligence entities of the country were dissolved by the Coalition Provisional Authority following the issuance of CPA Order 2, and rebuilt from scratch. CTS was created in 2007 and is funded by the Ministry of Defence. The Service played a crucial role in combatting terrorism during the war in Iraq of 2013–2017. ISOF have conducted joint operations with the Green Berets.