71st Special Battalion
| 71st Special Battalion (Jordan) | |
|---|---|
| (الكتيبة الخاصة 71 (الأردن | |
 Emblem of the 71st Special Battalion | |
| Active | 1973 - present |
| Country |  Jordan |
| Branch | .png){kind=small} Jordanian Armed Forces |
| Type | Special forces |
| Size | Battalion |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt. col. Raad Amairah |
71st Special Battalion or 71st Counter Terrorism Battalion is a Jordanian Special Forces battalion that specializes in combating terrorism. Established in 1973, it is today known as being one of the best trained special forces units in the Middle East.[1]
Operations
The battalion is thought to have participated in several operations.[2]
In 1977, they participated in ending a hotel siege in Amman.[3]
In 2006, following 2005 Amman Bombings, the battalion collaborated with the Jordanian intelligence agents in several operations which included the capture of Ziad Khalaf Raja al-Karbouly in Iraq.[4]
In 2013, Crown prince Hussein participated in a training session with the 71st battalion members.[5]
On 22 June 2014, responding to the threat of ISIS which captured the Iraqi city of Ar Rutba not far from the Jordanian border, the unit was dispatched to the area.[6]
On 1 March 2016, the unit clashed with extremist militias in the city of Irbid in northern Jordan as part of the General Intelligence Directorate attempt to foil a terrorist plot against military and civilian targets in Jordan by ISIS affiliates. The GID had gathered thorough intel on their intentions in attacking civilian and military targets in Jordan and planned a raid against the group members who hid in a residential building. The operation ended in the death of 7 and capture of 13 terrorists and the death of a member of the 71st special battalion.[7]
External links
71st Special Battalion exercise video
References
- ^ "Inside Jordan's elite fighting force – CNN Security Clearance - CNN.com Blogs". Security.blogs.cnn.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "Jordan: The Special Forces or Special Operations of the Jordanian Armed Forces". Refworld. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ Bennett, R M (2011). Elite Forces. Virgin Books. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ "Jordan faces growing Salafist-jihadist threat - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ "تدريبات الامير الحسين بن عبدالله الثاني ولي العهد مع الكتيبة الخاصة ٧١". YouTube. 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ Schenker, David (July 13, 2014). "Countering the ISIS Threat to Jordan". WINEP.
- ^ http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/king-attends-funeral-fallen-officer-jordanians-hail-success-anti-terror-operation#sthash.t4YH2yb7.dpuf