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Special Forces of Azerbaijan

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Special Forces of Azerbaijan
Azərbaycan Xüsusi Təyinatlı Qüvvələri
Emblem of the Special Forces of Azerbaijan
Founded30 April 1999
Country Azerbaijan
TypeSpecial forces
Part ofAzerbaijani Land Forces
Garrison/HQYashma (near Baku)[1]
Nickname(s)Kommando, XTQ
Motto(s)"My loyalty is my honor" (Azerbaijani: Sədaqətim Şərəfimdir)
Engagements
Commanders
Current commanderHikmat Mirzayev
Current deputy commander[2]

The Special Forces of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Xüsusi Təyinatlı Qüvvələri) is a tier one special forces unit of the Republic of Azerbaijan.[3][4]

History

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It was established in April 1999 under the Ministry of Defense. The formation of the unit was attended by officers and warrant officers who participated in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War of 1991–1994.[5] The Turkish Special Forces Command played a special role in the formation of the Azerbaijani special forces. On 29 April 2015, in commemoration of the 16th anniversary of their formation a ceremony of presenting battle flags to the newly created special forces units took place.[6] On 26 June 2018, a military parade was held in Baku on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, with the formation from the Special Forces being led by General Hikmet Mirzaev.[7][8] On 20 June 2020, a new Special Forces unit was created.[9] In late July and early August of that year, a series of large-scale tactical joint Azerbaijani-Turkish exercises took place on the territory of Azerbaijan, in the first stage of which units of the Azerbaijani Special Forces were also involved.[10]

The parade formation of the Special Forces during a parade on the Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in June 2018.

Battles and wars

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During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, personnel of the Special Forces captured the city of Jebrayil and nine surrounding villages from the Armenian Armed Forces.[citation needed] On November 8, Aliyev congratulated the commander of the Special Forces on their "liberation of Shusha".[11] Many of the tactical victory in the war were attributed to "saboteur groups" from the Special Forces that provided target coordinates from their positions on the ground as well as entered the city and pushed the Armenian Army out from the city center. The war was considered to be first time Azerbaijan has actively used all of its special forces units.[12]

Typically 30 out of 500 candidates earn the "Maroon beret" certificate. Cadets are taught to survive and execute their mission, even if they are hungry and thirsty for days. They are taught to eat whatever they find, such as frogs and snakes. They receive weapons training covering firearms and explosives. Officers operate under the rank of ensign.

Equipment

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Notable personnel

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  • Members of the Azerbaijani Special Forces during a military parade in Baku 2011.
    Members of the Azerbaijani Special Forces during a military parade in Baku 2011.
  • President Ilham Aliyev during a visit a special forces military unit in Aghdam.
    President Ilham Aliyev during a visit a special forces military unit in Aghdam.
  • Soldiers of the Special Forces during the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade on Red Square.
    Soldiers of the Special Forces during the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade on Red Square.
  • A 70-man formation of servicemen in the Special Forces, led by Major Mehdi Mahmudov, marching into Red Square.[13]
    A 70-man formation of servicemen in the Special Forces, led by Major Mehdi Mahmudov, marching into Red Square.[13]
  • Training at a military unit of Defense Ministry's Special Forces.
    Training at a military unit of Defense Ministry's Special Forces.
  • Servicemen of the Special Forces of the Ministry of Defense at the Baku Victory Parade of 2020.
    Servicemen of the Special Forces of the Ministry of Defense at the Baku Victory Parade of 2020.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Specnazopedia - всё о спецназе России". specnazopedia.narod.ru. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. ^ Safarov, Emin (9 December 2020). ""Vətən Müharibəsi Qəhrəmanı" adı verilən generallar kimlərdir?". Qafqazinfo.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Xüsusi Təyinatlı Qüvvələrin yeni yaradılan hərbi hissələrinə döyüş bayraqları təqdim olunub". Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan (in Azerbaijani). 29 April 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Bu gün Azərbaycan Xüsusi Təyinatlı Qüvvələrinin yaranma günüdür – FOTOLAR". Azeri Defence (in Azerbaijani). 30 April 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Xüsusi Təyinatlı Qüvvələrin 20 ili" (in Azerbaijani) (Azvision ed.). April 2019. 30 {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Xüsusi Təyinatlı Qüvvələrin yeni yaradılan hərbi hissələrinə döyüş bayraqları təqdim olunub". mod.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Официальный сайт Министерства обороны Азербайджана. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  7. ^ "В Баку прошел торжественный военный парад по случаю 100-летия Вооруженных сил Азербайджана". mod.gov.az. Официальный сайт Министерства обороны Азербайджана. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  8. ^ "General Hikmət Mirzəyev və aprel döyüşlərinin qəhrəmanları hərbi paradda" (in Azerbaijani) (Azərbaycan 24 ed.). June 2018. 26 {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ Состоялось открытие воинской части Сил специального назначения
  10. ^ К азербайджано-турецким учениям привлечены подразделения спецназа
  11. ^ "Release of the Press Service of the President". president.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Technology, Tactics, and Turkish Advice Lead Azerbaijan to Victory in Nagorno-Karabakh".
  13. ^ "Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic - NEWS » Events". en.president.az. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
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