Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG), also known as Lexoman Parastin (Kurdish for protection and information) is a government agency and the primary investigative arm belonging to the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraqi Kurdistan, headquartered in Sulaymaniyah. The organization is now a governmental agency that was established by PUK's intelligence service (called Lexoman Parastin) under the name CTG was first established in 2002 by the Patriotic Union with support from the United States and the CIA and the MI6 and as a response to the growing influence and threat from Ansar al-Islam in the areas which was the former Islamic Emirate of Byara. The primary function of the agency is investigation of crimes relating to both the internal and external security of the Kurdistan region. The agency officially has power to arrest holds jurisdiction over a number of crimes in the region including terrorism. Counter Terrorism Group (CTG) collects intelligence and carries out operations to prevent terrorists in Iraq from destabilizing the Kurdistan region in cooperation with U.S. forces.[4] The Anti-Terror Units (Kurdish: Yekîneyên Antî Teror, short: YAT, Arabic: وحدات مكافحة الإرهاب) are the special forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces, consisting of the best trained and equipped members of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Women's Protection Units (YPJ). They were led by the Syrian Kurdish commander Ali Boutan until his death in 2016, then by Shervan Kobani until his death in 2023. YAT is trained by United States special operations forces and the CIA Formed as the YPG's special forces in late 2014, the unit was organized to seek and destroy Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) sleeper cells in Rojava and to conduct operations behind enemy lines. At first, the unit "existed in name only", as it consisted of "fierce fighters but only just that". This changed under the leadership of Ali Boutan who reformed YAT and began to put its members through training courses that were intended to emulate those of US and British special forces, while providing them with the best equipment the YPG/YPJ could afford. As cooperation between the YPG and the United States increased, YAT was further trained by US special forces and the CIA in designated compounds in Rojava and Jordan, while some YAT commanders were sent to Fort Bragg and Fort Campbell for in-depth training. Since its formation, YAT has carried out raids against ISIL targets, arrested ISIL sleeper cells, and stopped ISIL terrorist attacks. In September 2016, YAT captured two Sultan Murad Division fighters who had previously been filmed torturing YPG fighters in Jarabulus. In November 2016, Boutan was the target of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Qamishli, which exploded as his car passed by. Even though an American SOF medic attempted to save his life, he died of his wounds shortly after. The attack was believed to have been carried out by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization. The Turkish pro-government Anadolu Agency claimed that Boutan had been responsible for sending Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters into Turkey in order to conduct "terror operations". In April 2017, YAT aided US special forces in capturing parts of the Tabqa Dam from ISIL. During the battle, YAT commandos were equipped with US-supplied combat helmets, night vision devices, flashlights, and were armed with carbines equipped with laser sights, holographic weapon sights. On 21 June 2017, YAT captured five ISIL sleeper agents who were preparing a terrorist attack in Manbij. In January 2018, the Anti-Terror Units took off the mastermind of the July 2016 Qamishli bombings, Hisen Ayid el-Bilebil Ebu el-Walid, during operations in Deir ez-Zor Governorate. In the same month, they also captured around twenty foreign members of ISIL as they attempted to flee from Syria to Turkey. One of those arrested was Thomas Barnouin, a French jihadist who is considered to be one of the planners of the 2012 Toulouse attack and the November 2015 Paris attacks. YAT was involved in resisting Operation Olive Branch in early 2018, with some of its members reportedly killed by the Turkish Armed Forces. On 1 September 2019, YAT captured Mohammed Remedan Eyd al-Talah, ISIL's chief financial officer, during a raid in ash-Shahil, Deir ez-Zor Governorate. 9 YAT members including its commander Shervan Kobani were eliminated when two helicopters carrying them crashed in Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region on 15 March 2023.
Peshmerga (Kurdish: پێشمەرگە Pêşmerge, Kurdish pronunciation [pɛʃmærˈɡæ]) are the military forces of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. Peshmerga means "one who confronts death" or "one who faces death". "Pesh" means to stand in front of (loosely translated as to confront or face) while "merga" means death. The overall formal head of the peshmerga is the President of Iraqi Kurdistan. The peshmerga force itself is largely divided and controlled separately by the Democratic Party of Kurdistan and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, although both pledge allegiance to the Kurdistan Regional Government. Efforts are under way to gather the entire force under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. Peshmerga forces are responsible for defending the land, people and institutions of the Kurdistan Region.[6]
Because the Iraqi Army is forbidden by law from entering Iraqi Kurdistan, the peshmerga, along with other Kurdish security subsidiaries, are responsible for the security of the Kurdish Region. These subsidiaries include Asayish (official intelligence agency), Parastin u Zanyarî (assisting intelligence agency) and the Zeravani (military police).
In 2003 during the Iraq War, peshmerga are said to have played a key role in the mission to capture Saddam Hussein. In 2004, Kurdish anti-terror forces captured al Qaeda key figure Hassan Ghul, who revealed the identity of Osama Bin Laden's messenger, which eventually led to Operation Neptune Spear and the death of Osama Bin Laden.
Following an unexpected large-scale ISIS offensive against Iraqi Kurdistan in August 2014, peshmerga and other Kurdish forces from neighboring countries have been waging war against ISIS in both Iraq andSyria.
