Iraqi Special Security Organization

Iraqi Special Security Organization
الأمن الخاص
Al-Amn al-Khas
Agency overview
Formed1973
Dissolved2003
JurisdictionGovernment of Iraq
HeadquartersBaghdad, Iraq
Employees5,000
Agency executive
  • Hani Abd Latif Tilfah al-Tikriti (2002–2003), Director
Parent agencyIndependent

The Iraqi Special Security Organization (SSO; Arabic: الأمن الخاص, Al-Amn al-Khas) was the most powerful Iraqi security agency under President Saddam Hussein and was responsible for personal security of high-ranking government officials and presidential facilities.[1] This agency, in an effort to provide security to the regime and assure quality control throughout the intelligence directorates, had the authority to carry out abduction, murder, and intimidation. All was done on direct orders from the Hussein leadership.[2] Its director, Hani Abd Al-Latif Tilfah Al-Tikriti was the seventh most wanted Iraqi government individual by the United States. He was the highest-ranking unpictured person in the U.S. Army most-wanted Iraqi playing cards (the king of hearts). He was captured in June 2004.[3]

SSO was officially dissolved on 23 May 2003 per Order Number 2 of the Coalition Provisional Authority under Administrator L. Paul Bremer.[4]

SSO organization
  1. ^ al-Marashi, Ibrahim (September 2002). "Iraq's Security and Intelligence Network: A Guide and Analysis". Middle East Review of International Affairs. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
  2. ^ Nance, Malcolm W. (2014). The Terrorists of Iraq. CRC Press. pp. 65–66. ISBN 978-1498706896.
  3. ^ "Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations".
  4. ^ "Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 2: Dissoulution of Entities" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2004.