ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Top Iraqi officials on Friday congratulated the country’s Counter-Terrorism Service over its triumph in a multinational competition in Jordan, where the Iraqi team bested teams from over 20 countries to secure first place in the contest.

The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) announced late Thursday night that its team had snatched the first spot in the Annual Warriors Competition, held in Jordan between October 5 and 9. The contest sees dozens of teams compete in harsh conditions every year, aiming to test and improve the participants’ skillsets.

“It is noted that the Counter-Terrorism Service participated with elite units of brave fighters who excelled with high superiority and professional competence, reflecting the level of training, discipline, and professionalism enjoyed by our fighters,” said the ICTS in a statement announcing its victory.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani lauded the achievement on Friday. “Congratulations to you and to all branches of our armed forces on this victory, which represents the fruit of high discipline, continuous training, and a firm belief in the outcome of being armed with doctrine and duty,” wrote the premier on X in a message, addressing the counter-terrorism forces.

“Once again, the Iraqi security institution proves to the world that it is capable of competing in the toughest arenas and harshest environments, and that we will spare no effort in supporting our fighting heroes,” Sudani further noted.

In addition to Sudani, Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji also hailed the occasion, sending “a salute of pride, appreciation, and honor to the men of the Counter-Terrorism Service as they dazzle the world with their capabilities and outperform 38 military teams in the competition” in a post on X.

The Annual Warrior Competition held at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) brings together "elite Special Forces, military, and law enforcement" units from several countries, who compete in “the toughest environments and scenarios, pushing their limits as they compete for the coveted title,” according to a press release on KASOTC’s official website.

The center, according to KASOTC, features “state-of-the-art technology, cutting-edge infrastructure, and globally recognized experts in counterterrorism, special operations, and law enforcement training.”

The competition aims to “test and sharpen the skills of participants,” highlighting both individual and team performance, and showcasing “the importance of teamwork under pressure, through a series of advanced tactical scenarios and mission-based tasks.”

The Islamic State (ISIS), a widely terrorist-designated group, took over large swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territory, announcing a caliphate with the Iraqi city of Mosul as its capital after the group captured three Iraqi provinces between 2014 and 2017, when they were territorially defeated with the help of a US-led global counter-terrorism coalition.

Despite its territorial defeat, the militant group still poses a threat to Iraq’s national security through sleeper cells and hit-and-run operations, with Iraqi counter-terrorism forces constantly attempting to counter such threats, leading to the presence of many seasoned fighters in the country’s counter-terrorism apparatus.