Tactical Deception: US Special Ops in Chinese Camo in Iraq
Over the past few days, a pair of photos has been circulating through military enthusiast groups and forums, sparking intense debate. Is that a U.S. operator, or simply an Iraqi officer with a penchant for mismatched insignia? It’s a valid question, given the local habit of 'customizing' uniforms. To unravel the mystery, we are diving into the history of U.S. Special Operations in Iraq from 2014 to the present day.
Following the rapid rise of ISIS and the fall of Mosul in 2014, the U.S. launched Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). Built on the backbone of Special Operations Forces (SOF), the campaign initiated systematic counter-terrorism missions alongside the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) and Kurdish forces.
Throughout the conflict, Marine Raiders (MARSOC) played a pivotal role, leading the charge in ground training, tactical advising, and fire support. They were joined by Army Green Berets and Navy SEALs, who focused on long-term capacity building and precision strikes against high-value targets. Together, these units forged a seamless, multi-tiered joint operations network.
By August 2014, as ISIS pushed into Northern Iraq, Kurdish and Iraqi defensive lines were at a breaking point. U.S. Special Ops teams were rushed back into the theater. Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOTs) were among the first boots on the ground, embedding in strategic hubs like Erbil and Kirkuk to stabilize the front.
An Iraqi operation to recapture the city of Mosul, the last stronghold of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the country, is under way. Kurdish peshmerga forces are attacking from the east of Iraq's second city, while the Iraqi army is pushing from the south. The country's second city fell to the militants in June 2014, and it is central to the group's philosophy of a transnational Islamic caliphate.
During this period, the Marine Raiders’ primary mission was providing defensive support and specialized instruction. Operating from the Kurdish Training Coordination Center (KTCC) in Erbil, MARSOC spearheaded a modular training curriculum tailored to the specific operational gaps within ISOF and Kurdish forces. The program focused on critical combat proficiencies, including squad-level tactics, marksmanship, Counter-IED (C-IED) techniques, tactical combat casualty care (TCCC), and defense against suicide attacks. By training thousands of local fighters, MARSOC successfully transformed these units into a disciplined, professionalized force.
Simultaneously, Marine Raiders were embedded with Kurdish and ISOF elements on the front lines. Their role was to provide real-time tactical advice, manage complex communications, and coordinate precision air strikes. In decisive engagements at Kobani and Ayn al-Arab, these teams were instrumental in halting the ISIS advance and securing Iraq’s most critical strategic corridors.
Marine Raiders in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG), circa 2016–17.
During this same period, Army Green Berets deployed in 12-man Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) units to conduct Foreign Internal Defense (FID) training. Their mission focused on professionalizing the foundational command-and-control (C2) and logistical frameworks of their local partner forces.
U. S. Army 7th SFG: Partnering with the Golden Division for operational support and training.(The Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF), or the Golden Division, is an elite three-brigade force stationed throughout Iraq.)
CIF/CRF Company in Iraq with Partner SOF.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) CRF
U.S. Army Green Berets and ISOF operators conduct a joint night raid in Iraq
U.S. Navy SEALs executed small-scale forward reconnaissance and surgical precision raids. In October 2015, SEAL elements coordinated with the ISOF for a high-stakes hostage rescue at an ISIS-run prison in Hawija (Kirkuk). The mission successfully liberated over 70 captives through precise tactical breaches, demonstrating the operational effectiveness of joint maneuvers between U.S. Special Operations Forces and indigenous units.
US Navy SEALS and Navy EOD, November 2016
↓↓↓ Navy SEALs deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, 2016–2017 ↓↓↓
MARSOC maintained a consistent focus on ground-level coordination and sustained training, establishing the foundational capabilities required for the strategic counter-offensives that followed.
A Marine Raider team supports Peshmerga troops on the Forward Line of Troops.
A Marine Raider provides covering fire for a Peshmerga attack near Bashir in Northern Iraq.
Between 2016 and 2017, the tide turned decisively against ISIS as the conflict entered its critical counter-offensive phase. The falls of Mosul and Raqqa dealt the 'Caliphate' its final killing blows, with MARSOC positioned at the heart of the campaign.
Throughout the Siege of Mosul, the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion operated at the forward edge of the battlefield. Beyond their advisory role, they fought alongside their partners while providing devastating fire support. By embedding within the high-level command of the ISOF and Peshmerga, these Raiders orchestrated maneuvers and designated targets, utilizing their expertise in air-to-ground coordination to help local forces bypass ISIS ambushes and shatter the enemy's dense urban defenses.
Government troops backed by US-led coalition forces brace to storm flashpoint city's central Al-Hoz district
On the outskirts of Mosul, MARSOC deployed M777 howitzers and HIMARS rocket systems to provide around-the-clock precision fires. These strikes decimated enemy tunnel networks, VBIED (suicide vehicle) staging areas, and fortified positions, clearing vital corridors for the ground advance. Simultaneously, MARSOC provided 'just-in-time' tactical instruction to counter emerging threats, such as urban room-clearing, subterranean warfare, and drone defense. This real-time knowledge transfer significantly bolstered the survivability and lethality of ISOF and Kurdish forces—though the casualty rate for these Iraqi units remained staggeringly high.
The cost of this partnership was also felt within the Raider community. Captain Moises Navas of Germantown, Maryland, and Gunnery Sergeant Diego Pongo of Simi Valley, California, both gave their lives in the line of duty during the mission.
GySgt. Diego Pongo
Captain Moises Navas
During the Siege of Raqqa, MARSOC scaled its successful partnership model, joining the SDF and ISOF in the grueling urban clearance of the city. In the brief lulls between engagements, Raiders conducted targeted training on urban warfare and intelligence exploitation. By synchronizing devastating air support with ground maneuvers, they enabled their allies to dismantle ISIS strongholds block by block.
Simultaneously, Army Green Berets fortified the logistical and intelligence 'backbone' of partner units, while Navy SEALs executed surgical raids to neutralize high-value targets. The fall of Raqqa in October 2017 and the liberation of Mosul that December signaled the total collapse of the ISIS 'Caliphate'—a victory built on the foundation of MARSOC’s hands-on mentorship and combat integration.
By 2018, as ISIS transitioned from a territorial entity to an insurgency, the mission shifted toward rooting out sleeper cells and regional stabilization. Accordingly, MARSOC’s role evolved from frontline leadership to a 'mentorship-first' posture, ensuring local forces possessed the self-sufficiency to hold the line independently.
US Army Combat Applications Group operators in Tal Afar, Iraq
In this final phase, MARSOC targeted the remaining ISIS holdouts in the rugged Makhmur and Qarachogh Mountains, as well as the Diyala borderlands. These operations were defined by the core doctrine of 'By, With, and Through.' The Marine Raiders provided the 'brains' of the mission—managing intelligence, planning, and tactical oversight—while ISOF and Kurdish partners served as the 'fist,' leading the high-risk clearance of mountain caves and weapons caches.
Beyond kinetic operations, MARSOC focused on institutional sustainability. They developed advanced programs for border security and intelligence analysis, transitioning the ISOF from a reliance on U.S. support toward true operational independence.
As the campaign matured, Army Green Berets and Navy SEALs began to drawdown, transferring the primary advisory mantle to MARSOC. By the end of 2019, organized ISIS resistance across Iraq had been effectively neutralized. Having successfully transferred critical combat capabilities to their local partners, MARSOC presided over a period of significant regional stabilization.
A MARSOC operator catches a quick smoke between missions.
Post-2020, the U.S. footprint in Iraq transitioned into a 'low-visibility' Advise, Assist, and Enable mission, with MARSOC serving as the primary special operations component in the north. Their objective was twofold: maintain relentless pressure on ISIS remnants while ensuring the ISOF and Kurdish partners remained mission-ready.
As ISIS evolved into a decentralized guerrilla insurgency—utilizing border smuggling and subterranean hideouts—MARSOC recalibrated its training. They shifted from foundational infantry tactics to specialized instruction in subterranean (cave) clearance, counter-UAS (drone) defense, and forensic explosive exploitation.
This enduring partnership faced a decisive test in March 2020. Amidst the formidable Qarachogh Mountains, the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion and the ISOF executed a high-altitude strike against a fortified ISIS cave complex. The operation resulted in over ten insurgents neutralized and the destruction of multiple strategic strongholds, validating years of joint-force integration and proving the lethality of the independent partner force.
Iraqi Special Operations Forces training
↓↓↓ Iraqi CTS and intelligence soldiers in a CT op ↓↓↓
Iraqi Joint Operations Command uncover 14 terrorist bodies in al-Anbar desert
By 2021, the U.S. military footprint in Iraq had undergone a fundamental shift. The Green Berets transitioned to high-level institutional advising, while Navy SEALs pivoted away from daily operations, engaging only for critical precision strikes. Similarly, MARSOC moved back from the front lines, adopting a strictly 'hands-off' advisory posture. In former flashpoints such as Anbar, Kirkuk, and Nineveh, the Raiders now focus on enabling the ISOF to maintain operational momentum through routine patrols and network disruptions. This transition ensures that the hard-won victories against ISIS are preserved, while the mission of neutralizing the remaining insurgency now rests firmly with the Iraqi military and police.
Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS) "Golden Division" operators during a training exercise along the Iraq-Syria border. January 23, 2026
An operative of Iraq’s famed 'Golden Division' navigates the darkness of a subterranean tunnel. This image, taken during the Battle of Mosul, documents the grueling reality of urban clearing operations against entrenched ISIS fighters.
Since shortly after their inception, the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) have utilized a signature mix of black and Type 07 Desert patterns. Over years of grueling combat, the Type 07 palette has proven exceptionally well-suited to the arid Iraqi landscape. Although the digital pattern is borrowed, the uniform's construction differs significantly from standard Chinese military issue; the ISOF typically favors the ACU (Army Combat Uniform) cut or high-performance Crye-style G2/G3 combat shirts and trousers.
The Iraqi Security Media Center confirmed the apprehension of a high-ranking ISIS security operative in Nineveh Province in January 2020.
In November 2015, Iraqi Security Forces successfully recaptured the town of Khalidiya in the northern Anbar Province.
↓↓↓ Iraqi Special Forces wearing Chinese Type 07 Arid camouflage uniforms ↓↓↓
When operating alongside partner forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF)—including MARSOC, Green Berets, and SEALs—frequently adopt combat uniforms that mirror those of their local allies. This 'visual integration' is a calculated tactic to mitigate the high signature of standard-issue U.S. patterns like MultiCam or MARPAT, allowing operators to blend seamlessly into local formations. By minimizing their distinct visual profile, they reduce the risk of being prioritized by insurgent snipers or designated as high-value targets at long range.
In low-visibility reconnaissance and liaison missions, maintaining a unified color palette is a tactical necessity. This concealment prevents the premature disclosure of operational intent and significantly mitigates the risk of 'blue-on-blue' (friendly fire) incidents by ensuring partner forces do not misidentify U.S. personnel in high-stress environments. Furthermore, a shared visual identity streamlines command-and-control (C2), accelerating identity verification during combined maneuvers. When coordinating air strikes or calling for fire, this uniformity ensures that U.S. advisors are not mistaken for enemy combatants by overhead assets.
Beyond the tactical advantages, adopting local attire de-emphasizes the 'outsider' status of American forces. This fosters a sense of 'shared hardship,' building the rapport and trust essential for effective Foreign Internal Defense (FID). By living, eating, and training in the same colors as their partners, U.S. advisors bridge cultural gaps and enhance operational cohesion. This approach aligns with the 'Advise, Assist, and Enable' mission profile, shifting the optics away from that of an 'occupying force.'
While adopting local patterns, U.S. operators maintain compliance with the Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC) by retaining discreet identifiers, such as subdued IR flags, callsign tabs, or specialized equipment markings that remain invisible to the naked eye.
Judging by the weapon systems, gear configuration, and specific insignia visible, this is likely not a local Iraqi soldier with mismatched patches. Instead, it appears to be a MARSOC operator continuing to serve alongside the ISOF post-2019. In their capacity as advisors and instructors, these Raiders remain embedded with the Golden Division to support routine patrols in high-threat regions.
