![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VDTGRSNFOQYYFW2MKYJDJMEFBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c4812fbb1470f66aae8d2598ed73b343c118e3c2aeec19cd9787e683cb31423b&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi special forces patrol the streets of Baghdad.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SKLXYO42MPTG3DSYWGEB76WDRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e7356081628e497128f003bd0be0591b6e67260833a80f51af7a68eec52d131&width=400&height=225)
Members of Iraq’s elite counter-terrorism service in Anbar province in December 2015 after its capital, Ramadi, fell to ISIS. All Photos: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/25IXQ7EJLTG4SCFUCVTWY26AMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a73f9df9be613c152e700f411f8e7df150512d52bdb4bfb72864df14d9d6e92&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi special forces prepare to try to retake the northern city of Mosul in 2016.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BJDQ7TM3GM3MESFSXAE5J6OEOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d0fdf794169ef75fc301bf8b8416f96c4de152ee9c1167c4031d9d5cd539400&width=400&height=225)
Counter-terrorism forces stand guard at the US embassy in Baghdad last year after a rocket landed nearby.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EAVQM7KIC2K6FA2BTIKZM5NABM.jpg?smart=true&auth=49a748237629fd39a6ca54f6a9fd1f3ba82733eb9fb96cee9ae46747712cda12&width=400&height=225)
The Iraqi forces line up in front of armoured cars outside the embassy.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EXMIXTZXBWR5UDDZXTQHHYVGOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a97842a4ece1b3e490beefca15bb8b4308e51c8fb48f77b72c7098e807121dfc&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Counter-Terrorism Service at an arms-training session near Baghdad's international airport.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VDTGRSNFOQYYFW2MKYJDJMEFBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c4812fbb1470f66aae8d2598ed73b343c118e3c2aeec19cd9787e683cb31423b&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi special forces patrol the streets of Baghdad.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SKLXYO42MPTG3DSYWGEB76WDRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e7356081628e497128f003bd0be0591b6e67260833a80f51af7a68eec52d131&width=400&height=225)
Members of Iraq’s elite counter-terrorism service in Anbar province in December 2015 after its capital, Ramadi, fell to ISIS. All Photos: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/25IXQ7EJLTG4SCFUCVTWY26AMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a73f9df9be613c152e700f411f8e7df150512d52bdb4bfb72864df14d9d6e92&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi special forces prepare to try to retake the northern city of Mosul in 2016.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BJDQ7TM3GM3MESFSXAE5J6OEOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d0fdf794169ef75fc301bf8b8416f96c4de152ee9c1167c4031d9d5cd539400&width=400&height=225)
Counter-terrorism forces stand guard at the US embassy in Baghdad last year after a rocket landed nearby.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EAVQM7KIC2K6FA2BTIKZM5NABM.jpg?smart=true&auth=49a748237629fd39a6ca54f6a9fd1f3ba82733eb9fb96cee9ae46747712cda12&width=400&height=225)
The Iraqi forces line up in front of armoured cars outside the embassy.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EXMIXTZXBWR5UDDZXTQHHYVGOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a97842a4ece1b3e490beefca15bb8b4308e51c8fb48f77b72c7098e807121dfc&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Counter-Terrorism Service at an arms-training session near Baghdad's international airport.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VDTGRSNFOQYYFW2MKYJDJMEFBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c4812fbb1470f66aae8d2598ed73b343c118e3c2aeec19cd9787e683cb31423b&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi special forces patrol the streets of Baghdad.
Top ISIS financier captured by Iraqi security forces
Sami Jasim is a veteran of extremist groups in Iraq
![Robert Tollast](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F072875d5-f5fb-4517-9cce-38ace67d45b9.png?smart=true&auth=7af48bbbcf1a4e39e578898066778cb14924b2c9315abfd913973725dbda45d3&width=70&height=70)
Robert Tollast
11 October, 2021
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