CTS: We Are Working With These Capabilities And Seeking To Form A Global Center In Baghdad

Baghdad / NINA / - The Counter-Terrorism Service has revealed its efforts to form an international center to combat terrorism, headquartered in the capital, Baghdad, with the participation of the various countries of the world that fight terrorism. The head of the Counter-Terrorism Service, Lieutenant-General Abdul-Wahhab Al-Saadi, said, in press statements followed by the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA), today, Thursday, that "the CTS operates with 30% of the officially approved law, but in carrying out special duties and tasks we work with small, militarily trained brigades according to advanced modern methods. He added, "During the past two years, we have arrested 647 terrorists, killed 232 others, and carried out 710 sorties in cooperation with the army aviation, the air force and the international coalition. We also destroyed more than 500 hideouts in cooperation with the international coalition and the Iraqi air force." Regarding the Syrian al-Hol camp, he explained that "the camp includes more than 30,000 families and the percentage of children in it is high, and all of them are not wanted to return to their areas of origin, so the government is working to address this file in cooperation with international humanitarian organizations." On the intelligence effort, Al-Saadi confirmed that "the CTS has an intelligence directorate and intelligence centers in all provinces in coordination with the National Security Advisory, and we have a five-year strategy that has been approved by the National Security Council." He added, "We do not allow any soldier or officer in the elements of the CTS to interfere in the political work," noting that "after the events of ISIS in 2014, the CTS was forced to carry out missions outside its work, which is fighting inside the cities," stressing that "the CTS is the best trained special force globally with the testimony of international specialists. Regarding his future career, Al-Saadi stressed, "I have a personal view that the military is not suitable for practicing political work, and I will continue to practice my military work as well as serve my country until the end of my mission and handing it over to someone else."/ End