In Baghdad, a new phase of EU-supported training has equipped Iraqi security forces with advanced tools to detect and disrupt terrorist threats — from social media to satellite imagery.
The EU-funded CT JUST project delivered specialised training on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) to 32 officers and senior officials from the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and the Office of the National Security Advisory (ONSA).
This initiative was carried out in close cooperation with the EU Delegation in Iraq and the European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq).
Tackling terrorist threats through digital and spatial intelligence
The training focused on how OSINT and GEOINT can help detect Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs), map out jihadist recruitment networks, and track radicalisation patterns online. These tools play a vital role in strengthening Intelligence-Led Policing (ILP) models, which are essential to preventing and disrupting terrorist activity.
Experts from EU Member States delivered hands-on sessions covering:
- digital techniques to identify and monitor terrorist activity online
- analysis of extremist propaganda and behaviour patterns on social media
- the use of geospatial tools to locate terrorist infrastructure and monitor suspicious movements
Ethics, rights and EU best practices at the core
Participants applied what they learned in simulated exercises, improving their analytical and operational capacity to respond to complex threats. The sessions integrated a strong emphasis on ethics, human rights, and international standards for countering violent extremism.
The training also introduced participants to the work of EUROPOL, especially its Internet Referral Unit (IRU), which plays a key role in detecting and removing online terrorist content while upholding privacy and fundamental rights.
A strategic boost to Iraq’s security
This training is part of a broader EU-supported strategy to reinforce Iraq’s internal security architecture and build long-term resilience to terrorism. By supporting local capacities and encouraging international cooperation, the EU continues to invest in a safer, more secure Iraq.
