Task Force 88 is an American special operations unit formed since 11 September 2001, of which little is publicly known. Described as a "hunter-killer team"[1] with its core made up of Delta Force, 75th Ranger Regiment Rangers and DEVGRU operators,[2] Task Force 88 reportedly conducts covert operations against what the US government deems to be High-value targets in countries around the world. The unit was reported to be responsible for both the cross border raid into Syria from Iraq in October 2008 that resulted in eight deaths including Abu Ghadiya[3][4] and several US operations in the Horn of Africa targeting al Qaeda.[5][6]
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This unit may be similar or identical to the British/American Task Force 145, which is similar or identical to Task Force 121, which is similar or identical to Task Force 6-26. These are most likely changing names for the same operational unit, which appears to have begun as Task Force 11 immediately after the September 11 attacks.
Task Force 145, seemingly also associated with the designation Other Coalition Forces – Iraq (OCF-I), was a combined U.S. and British military special forces provisional grouping specifically charged with hunting down high-value al-Qaeda and Iraqi leadership including Osama bin Laden and, prior to his death on 7 June 2006, Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. It is a continuation of a temporary SF striking force that began as Task Force 11 after the 11 September terrorist attacks, and has morphed through Task Force 121, Task Force 626, Task Force 77[7] (not to be confused with Task Force 77 of the United States 7th Fleet), and is now believed to be designated Task Force 88.[8] It is believed that the Task Force played a role in the medium altitude strike mission that killed al-Zarqawi just outside Baqubah.[9] Generally speaking, the Task Force was charged with disrupting al-Qaeda operations in Iraq and, to a lesser extent, Afghanistan.
The action arm of the task force is made up of operators from 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, DEVGRU, British Special Air Service," British Special Boat Service and soldiers from the 75th Ranger Regiment. Members of the CIA's elite Special Activities Division paramilitary unit are also believed to be an important part of the group.[10] Support elements include the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers), the Air Force’s 24th Special Tactics Squadron, and British paratroopers from the Special Forces Support Group.
The unit was operating up until at least 2006–07; it is not clear whether it is still operational with the U.S. drawdown from Iraq.
The task force is noted as operating in a highly autonomous fashion. In the only known operation which they conducted it is said that they conducted several raids that did not require approval from higher authorities. The task force was also responsible for the elimination of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Over 18 months beginning in early 2007, the task force is reported to have arrested 3,500 terrorists in Baghdad and killed several hundred others. As a result, al Qaeda bomb attacks that were occurring on an average of 150 times and killing almost 3,000 people each month have been reduced to about two bombings each month. During the campaign, six SAS troops were killed and 30 injured.[11]
During operations in Al-Anbar province, operatives of the task force made incursions into the insurgent controlled city of Haditha, several times finding Zarqawi's hideouts and when raiding them found eggs, still cooking, just missing the terrorist leader. During this time, with this intelligence, they asked the commander of II MEF(FWD) to have to city of Haditha assaulted in order to flush him out. The general opted for the 3rd Bn 1st Marines, experienced in heavy fighting from Operation Phantom Fury, to assault the city.
It is not clear what the reduced U.S. military role following the U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement and associated drawdown to purely advisory operations has had on the task force's operations.
(see Iraq War order of battle)
TF 145, or TF 88 as it may now be known, is commanded by a colonel (the commanding officer of the Army's Delta Force)[13] and is based at five locations across Iraq. Its task organization draws on every unit of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as well as on the CIA's Special Activities Division and British special operations forces.
The headquarters element, which includes the majority of the task force's many aviation and intelligence assets, is based at Balad Air Base between Samarra and Baghdad; the four elements that it controls, each commanded by a lieutenant colonel or equivalent, are spread across the country.
Task Force Center is probably co-located with TF 145's headquarters element at Balad, but it could also be based at Camp Liberty, since it is responsible for the Baghdad region. TF Center is based around a direct-action squadron; the three Delta Force squadrons and SEAL Team 6 appear to rotate through this position. It is also supported by a rotating company-sized element of the 75th Ranger Regiment and elements of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. TF Center has taken casualties in the Yusufiya area, where one of its helicopters was shot down in spring 2006.
Task Force West is structured similarly to TF Center in that it has a company-sized force protection element from the 75th Rangers and is based around a battalion-sized direct action unit that can at any given time be a Delta Force squadron or Naval Special Warfare Development Group (known also as SEAL Team 6). It seems that these units rotate every three to four months. TF West is responsible for operations in Anbar, where it is known to have been active at various times in Fallujah, Qaim, Husayba, and Ramadi. It is likely that TF West is based either at Camp Asad or Camp Taqaddum.
Task Force North is organized differently: it is based around a full battalion of the 75th Rangers (the position rotates among the three battalions), with a company-sized element from Delta Force acting in support. It is possible that TF North is based anywhere from FOB Marez in Mosul down to COB Speicher near Tikrit.
Based in the Baghdad area, TF Black (which was supported by Parachute Regiment members of the Special Forces Support Group)[14] is based around a squadron of the British army's 22 Special Air Service Regiment, with integrated units from the Special Boat Service and US 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force). It has participated in operations in the Baghdad area when British or Canadian hostages are involved. Operation Marlborough in July 2005, when the SAS killed three insurgent would-be suicide bombers, was also carried out by this unit in the Iraqi capital.[15] Sergeant Jon Hollingsworth, killed in Iraq with the SAS, was decorated for his service in this unit.
Reportedly, TF Black has removed or killed 3,500 insurgents from the streets of Baghdad.[16] With the removal of these insurgents, the number of bombings has been reduced from 150 per month to about 2 per month.[16] In October 2004, all SAS personnel in Iraq including Task Force Black were banned from handing over suspects to the US forces if the suspects were going to be taken to a US interrogation center due to the fact of the bad reputation those centers were getting.[17] Another setback for the task force was during the Battle of Fallujah when the SAS was banned from going into the city alongside its American counterpart because of the pressure that the government was feeling from the unpopularity of the war.[17].