Saudi Arabia. Royal Special Forces
In the 50s of the 20th century, the ruling clans of Saudi Arabia began to think about creating new, more secret and close-in units in the armed forces, as the regular army began to undergo revolutionary attitudes, which could lead to a revolution in all the country's power structures. .
Riyadh made the final decision to create a new unit after several high-ranking army officers were arrested for spreading revolutionary ideas among the rest of the military.
The basis of this unit consisted of representatives of several Bedouin tribes, who also appeared on the lands of Saudi Arabia in the early 20-s. Three years after the creation of the new army, it was renamed the "White Army", and a little later - the National Guard.
Of course, all military persons who were part of this armed alliance were direct henchmen of the current government, who generously paid their “subjects” for their love and devotion to themselves. Naturally, the main function of such units was the confrontation, which was still “alive” and well-established regular army. Since then, these two so-called military organizations constitute the internal political stability in the country.
By the way, during the 20 years after its creation, the National Guard differed little in behavior and armament from the tribes from which it was created, and only in 73, the last century, thanks to the Vinnell Corporation modernization program, the army began its revival. American veterans of the Vietnam War were even sent to the country, who began to train the military in schools and academies specially created for this purpose. Vinnell also helped with weapons, which by their distinctive qualities overtook many times the outdated military equipment that the National Guard had.
After literally a dozen years, the army of former militia turned from uneducated and unable to use powerful military equipment to the Bedouins in highly skilled and professional killers. Before the modernization, the special forces consisted of only four battalions, but in the 1992 year, after increasing and attracting new individuals, it increased to 60 thousand people. However, as almost half a century ago, the ruling family still occupies all senior positions in the Guard, and Prince Abdullah is now the Commander-in-Chief.
Of course, the army of Saudi Arabia also includes other units aimed at performing completely different military operations. And one of them - COP KSA (General Intelligence Service of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) - is considered one of the most secret organizations in the territory of the Muslim world.
COP XA
This service was organized a little later after the creation of the National Guard. By the way, in its creation an important role was taken by the staff of the American CIA, who prepared the weight of the personnel. Data on its first leaders are missing, perhaps, of course, on the sidelines of the CIA, they have not yet been saved, but many French sources claim that it was Kamal Adham al-Faith.
One of the main functions after its organization was the elimination of terrorist and subversive groups in Arab countries, especially in Egypt and Iraq. The leaders of these countries were the main opponents of Riyadh in the territory of the Islamic world.
COPA also participated in the overthrow of the dictatorships of all Arab countries, helping left-wing opposition organizations. By the way, in the middle of the 60-s, COP begins a close cooperation with the Cairo organization AMB, which in the future has become a priority for the development of special intelligence of Arabia.
By the way, the financing of intelligence by the authorities was at the proper level. This was facilitated by the development of the oil industry in the countries of the African world. By the way, the same funds were used to finance various Islamic religious and educational organizations, which allowed Riyadh to control the situation in the countries of Asia and Africa for a long time.
True, in the 80 of the last century, COP KSA globally changes its tactics and activities, directing most of its activity against the USSR. This was due to the war unleashed in Muslim Afghanistan. That is why in 1981, strange incidents with world oil prices began, because this “oil terror” was aimed only to undermine the economy of the Soviet Union. Also, to destabilize the situation in the state, monetary incentives and assistance to the Islamists of the Caucasus and Central Asia began. СОР КСА even had their agents, who supply information of various directions, even in the capital of Russia. They were Arab students studying in Moscow universities.
By the way, this attitude was preserved in almost all the former Soviet republics, and attention to Russia lasted even until the 2001 year. Many Russian sources claim that the Saudi special intelligence service still financially supports various Islamist organizations, which leads to the creation of terrorist sentiments in the country.
Antiterrorist squad
As we said above, the special forces created in 50's consisted of several special units, each of which was trained to carry out those operations that were in the field of activity of their department.
The anti-terrorist detachment of Saudi Arabia was the same secret division as the COP. It became known about him only in 2001, when the detachment had to storm a Russian airliner TU-154 captured by Chechen terrorists, as a result of which three people were killed, including a flight attendant. Because of this incident, the methods of work of the antiterrorist organization were severely criticized by the Russian FSB.
According to the data received, it became clear that the organization was trained by the French military and is quite a few - just 120 people. In their arsenal there was a variety of weapons, from rifles to explosive devices, but, despite all these factors, the degree of their experience in eliminating terrorist groups still remained low.
Brigade No. 1
This branch of the special forces of Saudi Arabia is designed to suppress opposition sentiments in a country that still lives in monarchy. It consists of three battalions and has powerful military equipment in its arsenal. By the way, during normal civilian life, the fighters of the brigade are engaged in the protection of the ruling family. True, in the past few years, fighters of the National Guard and Brigade No. 1 have increasingly been sent to serve near the borders with other Arab countries on the continent to protect the oil and gas facilities.
Particular attention is still being paid specifically to Iraq, whose power has been an implacable enemy of Saudi Arabia for more than 50 for many years.
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