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Conflicts > Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF)
In March 2003 the United States invaded Iraq. Several Special
Forces units took part in the initial invasion to include the
3rd, 5th, and 10th Special Forces Groups. The conflict would
last for several years ending with the withdrawal of U.S. troops
at the end of 2011.
Once the invasion was over U.S. Army Special Forces continued
to conduct a variety of missions. The Combined Joint Special
Operations Task Force (CJSOTF-AP) was established at RPC
adjacent to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP).
One of the missions was the establishment of the first Iraqi
SOF units. The Iraqi
Counter Terrorist Force (ICTF) and the
36th
Commando (ICDC) were trained and advised by Special Forces
units.
Other Iraqi SOF units advised by U.S. SOF included the
Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the the Iraqi Ministry of
Interior (MoI). The ERU was initially set up under a Deparment
of State contract and advised by two former members of the
National Guard Special Forces. Later the U.S. Navy SEALs would
play a major role in training and advising the ERU.
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