Request a CPO team for Baghdad
This page is about the people who provide close protection in Baghdad: who they are, how they are vetted, and what credentials to verify before they deploy. Every operator in our Baghdad network works for a company licensed by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and is assessed for local competence. It covers standard team configuration, the operationally standard armed model, and the credential checks a buyer should insist on before engaging any officer.
All Baghdad assignments require armed CPOs operating under Iraqi Ministry of Interior authorisation under Private Security Companies Law No. 52 of 2017, B6 or B7 armoured vehicles, and a minimum two-vehicle convoy for all principal movements outside secured facilities. Green Zone (IZ) operations require advance coordination with IZ access management and compliance with current checkpoint and vehicle documentation procedures. Our operations controllers maintain 24-hour oversight of all principal movements, with real-time threat intelligence feeds and immediate escalation protocols throughout each assignment. For principals requiring integrated convoy management across their Baghdad programme, our security drivers in Baghdad provide armoured vehicle and driver services coordinated directly with the armed CPO team at every stage.
To arrange short-term cover for a specific trip, see bodyguard hire in Baghdad. For organisational, duty-of-care protection around a corporate visit, see executive protection in Baghdad.
What does this cover in Baghdad?
Iraqi Ministry of Interior Licensing
Private security companies in Iraq operate under Private Security Companies Law No. Private security companies in Iraq operate under the Private Security Companies Law No. 52 of 2017, which gives the Ministry of Interior's Directorate of Private Security Companies Affairs the licensing role and lets licensed companies obtain firearms licences. All companies on our Baghdad panel hold current MoI licensing and individual armed security authorisations for deployed personnel.
Essential Travel Only Context
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Iraq (2024). Baghdad CPO services are provided exclusively for principals whose organisations have completed a formal essential travel assessment and authorised the visit through their own duty-of-care process. This is not a destination for discretionary travel.
Armed CPO and Armoured Vehicles
Baghdad operations require armed close protection officers operating under Iraqi MoI armed security authorisation. B6 or B7 armoured vehicles are mandatory for all principal movements outside secured facilities. Vehicle selection is confirmed during the advance planning phase based on route and threat assessment.
Two-Vehicle Convoy Minimum
A minimum two-vehicle convoy is required for all principal movements in Baghdad. This provides a follow vehicle for immediate action response, route blocking capability, and contingency extraction if the lead vehicle is disabled or the route is compromised.
Green Zone and IZ Protocols
Operations within the International Zone (IZ/Green Zone) require compliance with specific IZ access and movement protocols, including checkpoint procedures, vehicle documentation, and coordination with IZ security management. Our advance officers are familiar with current IZ access requirements.
Threat Awareness: ISIS and PMF Activity
FCDO (2024) documents ISIS small cell activity and PMF militia attacks affecting the Baghdad area, including incidents proximate to the Green Zone. Our CPO teams receive current threat intelligence briefings before each assignment and maintain immediate action drills for vehicle-based attack, IED indicators, and hostile checkpoint scenarios.
Sources for this page
Licensing, firearms and foreign-operator rules for Baghdad, checked : Iraq Ministry of Justice, Private Security Companies Law No. 52 of 2017, as amended (Arabic text); Private Security Companies Law No. 52 of 2017, English text (Proelium Law); Iraq Ministry of Justice, Weapons Law No. 51 of 2017 (text). The full rules are on our Baghdad security overview.
Travel advice quoted on this page: FCDO travel advice: Iraq. Advice changes; read the current version before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FCDO advise against travel to Baghdad?
What is the minimum security configuration for a Baghdad assignment?
What are the Green Zone access procedures in Baghdad?
Who is an appropriate client for Baghdad CPO services?
How do your teams handle the PMF militia threat in Baghdad?
This page is published by CloseProtectionHire.com and written to editorial standards overseen by James Calloway, Senior Security Consultant (regulation, licensing, vetting and risk frameworks) and Marcus Webb, Security Operations Adviser (operational close protection, secure transport and city-specific safety).
Threat, regulatory and emergency information is sourced to named, dated authorities such as the FCDO, the US State Department and national licensing bodies. Last updated . See how we verify.