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Special Groups (Iraq) |
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Special Groups:
Term used by the U.S. Department of Defense to
describe military extremists and secret cells
operating in Iraq that are funded and trained
by external sources... specifically the Iranian
Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Forces. |
A Soldier from "Fox," Company F, 2nd Squadron,
2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, attached to the
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad,
searches a house during a cordon and knock
operation, April 17, 2008 to root out any
information concerning the whereabouts of
high-profile special groups criminals and
terrorists potentially operating in the
southeastern neighborhoods, Saha and Abu
T'shir, in Baghdad's Rashid District. |
NEWS
MNF-I
spokesman details secret cell involvement in Iraq
2 July 2007
BAGHDAD - U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Bergner, spokesman for
Multi-National Force-Iraq, held a press conference Monday at
the Combined Press Information Center.
During the press conference Bergner detailed the involvement
of certain secret cells or "Special Groups" in Iraq that have
been operating against the people of Iraq and Coalition
forces.
"These Special Groups are militia extremists, funded, trained
and armed by external sources... specifically by Iranian
Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force operatives," said
Bergner.
The special groups have evolved over the past three years into
what are largely rogue elements that use a cellular structure
to operate independently. Their cellular structure and
interactions create a complex web of relationships, which have
increasingly been fueled by external influences, said Bergner.
Many of the terrorists that belong to these groups have played
key roles in the planning and execution of bombings,
kidnappings, extortion, sectarian murders, illegal arms
trafficking and other attacks against Iraqi citizens, police,
army and Coalition forces, said Bergner.
Since February of this year, 21 members of the Special Groups
leadership have been captured or killed. One in particular,
Azhar Dulaymi, a Special Groups commander, led the attack on
the Provincial Joint Coordination Center Jan. 20 in Karbala
that killed five U.S. Soldiers. Dulaymi was killed May 19
during Coalition force operations.
The goal of the Quds Force is to develop the Iraqi Special
Groups into a network similar to the Lebanese Hezbollah, said
Bergner.
"In addition to training, the Quds force also supplies the
Special Groups with weapons and funding of 750,000 to three
million U.S. dollars a month. Without this support, these
Special Groups would be hard pressed to conduct their
operations in Iraq," Bergner said.
Coalition forces continue working closely with Iraqi Security
Forces to target these Special Groups and stop the flow of
weapons, money and training, Bergner said.
"As the surge of forces has become a surge in operations we
are increasing the pressure on extremists," said Bergner. |
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