The Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) were formed by American coalition forces after the 2003 U.S. Iraq invasion. Under the direction of the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTB), the ISOF is made up of three brigades. Commando forces were recruited from Shia, Kurd and Sunni fighters. By November 2005, 1,440 men had been trained. The 1st, known as the Golden Division, has a Special Warfare Center and School.
Iraqi special operations troops were first built in the 1950s as the first royal special units of Queen Alia Forces. It was made up of Sunni and Shia Arabs and other Iraqis. They were trained for special missions inside Iraq, and abroad during times of war.
Iran’s 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade
Trained by the U.S. Army in the 1960s, the Iranian 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade holds onto at least one relic of that past. The green beret. The specialized unit conducts psychological operations, hostage rescue, unconventional warfare, and counterterrorism training missions within the Islamic Republic and outside it. Nicknamed the “powerful ghosts” for once taking out two buildings near Tehran in under two hours, the formidable force operates today as advisers to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s presence in Syria.
A vigorous training regimen includes endurance and survival in environments like desert, jungle, and mountain, plus freefall training and parachute skills. It’s very similar to the Green Beret training it received when it was established in 1959 as part of the Imperial Iran Special Forces.
Syria’s 15th Special Forces Division
The 15th Specials Forces Division has the unique distinction of being identified in 2011 by Human Rights Watch. (The 14th division made the watchlist too, incidentally.) It is a branch of the Syrian Armed Forces headed by Major General Ghassan Al Yasmina and based in the As-Suwayda Governorate. Though made up of light infantry units, they are trained for special-ops missions in air assault and airborne operations.
The unit is loyal to President Assad in the Syrian Civil War. Earlier this year, a commander of the 15th Special Forces Division was assasinated. Brigadier General Jamal Al-Ahmad may have been taken out by a sleeper cell of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
Chilean Air Force Special Forces
Chilean Special Forces consist of commando, reconnaissance, counterterrorism, and support units. The Army, Navy, and Air Force each hold a group of these four special operation teams. Within the Air Force, there is an Air Counter-Terrorism Group, an Aviation Commando unit and a Parachute Search, Rescue, and Recovery unit.
The Chilean Air Force was formed in the early 1900s by training from French forces. It’s the fourth oldest arm of the military, established 17 years before the U.S. Air Force. In 2004, private military contractor Blackwater recruited 75 Special Forces commandos to fight in Iraq.
ACADEMI
Mercenary and private war contractor ACADEMI provides Special Operations military services to anyone. Commercial, NGO, state, federal and local governments, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies worldwide represent some of its clients. You’ll know the company best as Blackwater USA, established by ex-Navy SEAL Erik Prince in 1997.
The name change came in 2011 after private investors took over. Before that, it was called Xe Services LLC, rebranded to avoid bad press earned by its heavy presence in Iraq during the Iraq War. Prince stepped down as CEO of Blackwater Worldwide in 2009. It’s got a lot of names, but it’s still the same war contractor!