Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi
Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi is an Iraqi general who led the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) from 2020 to 2023. He was born in 1963 in the Al-Thawra district of Baghdad. He studied physics at the University of Mosul, then attended the Iraqi Military College and the Iraqi Military Joint Staff College, graduating in 1996.
Al-Saadi began his military career in 1983 and fought in several major conflicts, including the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War. He rose to prominence as a key commander in the fight against ISIS. He led important operations such as the Baiji battle (2014–15), the campaigns in Tikrit, the Battle of Fallujah (2016), and the Hawija offensive (2017), and played a major role in the Mosul operation (2016–17).
In September 2019, the Iraqi prime minister removed him from his role as second-in-command of the CTS and moved him to the Ministry of Defense. He said the move was requested by the head of the Counter-Terrorism Agency and felt it was insulting and unfair. In May 2020, the new prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, promoted him to lead the CTS.
In 2022, al-Saadi received France’s Legion of Honour for his pivotal role in defeating ISIS. He stepped down as head of the CTS in November 2023, with General Karim Abboud Al-Tamimi succeeding him.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 09:41 (CET).