For many years the ‘go to’ unit for the Iraqi Army has been the Iraq Special Forces or ‘Golden Division’. They have been in the forefront of all the battles against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). There are many reasons for their success including good leadership, isolation from the corruption and political meddling afflicting the regular Iraqi Army, and the intense training the unit undergoes. In addition, the Golden Division is ably advised and assisted by members of U.S. special operations forces as well as SOF from other nations in the world. However, the constant use of the Iraqi special forces for missions better suited for the conventional Iraqi Army means that the unit suffers more casualties and there is a risk of ‘burnout’. Read more in “Reputation restored: Elite Iraqi force leading its country’s fight against Islamic State”, Stars and Stripes, July 26, 2016.
