American combat units officially left Iraq at the end of 2011, but the U.S. war effort in the country is still going strong, only now it’s the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) taking the lead.

When American military units were still fighting in Iraq, U.S. Special Forces worked closely with elite Iraqi antiterrorism units to thwart al-Qaeda affiliates, such al-Qaeda in Iraq.

With these American commandos largely gone, CIA agents have stepped in to help Iraq’s Counterterrorism Service, which consists of specially-trained members from the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior.

The CIA is also focused on trying to keep the civil war in neighboring Syria from spilling over into Iraq. Those efforts haven’t been completely successful, as evidenced by the recent slaughter of 50 Syrian soldiers who sought safety on Iraqi soil from rebel fighters.

The Iraqi government claims that al-Qaeda in Iraq, which is closely linked to the Syria-based terrorist group, Jabhat al Nusra, was most likely behind the ambush.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

CIA Ramps Up Role in Iraq (by Adam Entous, Julian E. Barnes, and Siobhan Gorman, Wall Street Journal)

Obama Justice Dept. Won’t Charge Anyone over CIA Interrogation Deaths (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

Obama and Holder Drop 99 of 101 CIA Torture Cases (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Renamed Combat Brigades Carry on in Iraq (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)