71st Special Battalion (Jordan) / Special Unit II | |
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الكتيبة الخاصة 71 (الأردن) / الوحدة الخاصة 2 | |
![]() Emblem of the 71st Special Battalion | |
Active | 1973 – present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Jordanian Armed Forces |
Type | Special forces |
Size | Battalion |
Commanders | |
Current commander | unknown |
71st Special Battalion or 71st Counter Terrorism Battalion or as known today Special Unit II is a Jordanian Special Forces battalion that specializes in combating terrorism.
The battalion is thought to have participated in several operations. [1]
In 1977, they participated in ending a hotel siege in Amman. [2]
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. [3]
In 2013, Crown Prince Hussein participated in a training session with the 71st battalion members. [4]
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. [5]
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. [6]
The battalion was dispatched to the Kerak Castle, during the events of the 2016 Al-Karak attack. [7]
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