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Multinational Specialized Unit

KFOR-MSU Logo, 2013.

The Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU), is a unit of the Italian Carabinieri, dedicated to the military missions abroad, including the military and civilian police tasks, peacekeeping operations, crowd and riot control.[1]

After its creation in 1998, MSU units took part in many different NATO operations, in Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia Herzegovina and Iraq.

History

KFOR-MSU Carabinieri with two RG-12 during a crowd and riot control exercise in Kosovo.(2019).

Initially it has employed members of the 7th Carabinieri Regiment "Trentino-Alto Adige", the 13th Carabinieri Regiment "Friuli-Venezia Giulia" and the 1st Parachute Carabinieri Regiment "Tuscania". During the next years it has employed members from all over Italy, from every other Carabinieri units.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The first mission where MSU was involved was the NATO-SFOR, in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars. MSU was composed by Italian Carabinieri and members of the Romanian Military Police, among soldiers of Austria, Hungary and Slovenia.[2]

Albania

After the tension in the Balkan area, during the Yugoslav Wars, in particular in the northern part of Kosovo a MSU detachment was deployed in Albania during Operation Allied Harbor, to aid the country in the refugees management. The mission was codenamed AFOR.[3]

Iraq

Romanian Military Policeman, member of MSU, in Iraq. (2003).

During the NATO Mission, inside the Multi-National Force – Iraq, MSU was deployed alongside other Italians units. The Italian Mission codename was Operation Ancient Babylon. MSU was composed by Italian Carabinieri, Italian Army liaison officers, members of Romanian Military Police and Portuguese National Republican Guard. During the mission MSU suffered heavy losses, in particular for the 2003 Nasiriyah bombing.[4]

MSU-IRAQ Commanders

Kosovo

Carabinieri KFOR-MSU patrol in Mitrovica, Kosovo. (2018).
Austrian MSU Pandur I near the New Bridge, in Mitrovica, Kosovo. (2011).

Since 1999, after the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, MSU has been deployed into Kosovo for peacekeeping operations within NATO-KFOR. After years it's still present in the theatre, contributing to maintain peace and stability in the country.[1]

KFOR-MSU Carabinieri patrols, in front of the Ibar Bridge, in Mitrovica, Kosovo. (2019).

From 1999 to 2013 the French National Gendarmerie, Estonian Military Police and Austrian Military Police were also part of the MSU. Since 2013 it is composed entirely of the Italian Carabinieri and its main mission is to patrol the entire city of Mitrovica 24/7, in particular the New Bridge.[5]

Since 2022 a unit of Army of the Czech Republic Military Police is part of the MSU regiment.

The KFOR-MSU Regiment is commanded by Italian Carabinieri brigadier general Ruggiero Capodivento.[6][7][8]

KFOR-MSU Commanders

KFOR-MSU Vehicles

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "KFOR | MSU". jfcnaples.nato.int.
  2. ^ "NATO/SFOR Informer: MULTINATIONAL SPECIALIZED UNIT".
  3. ^ "Albania". www.carabinieri.it.
  4. ^ "Ministero della Difesa - Iraq: Esplosione a Nassyria presso il Comando MSU dell'Arma dei Carabinieri". www.difesa.it.
  5. ^ Santora, Marc (30 January 2018). "New York Times (USA) In Kosovo, a Peace Built on Separation". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  6. ^ "KFOR | MSU Commander". jfcnaples.nato.int.
  7. ^ "KFOR | MSU Change of Command". jfcnaples.nato.int.
  8. ^ "CARABINIERI: PROMOSSO GENERALE CAPODIVENTO (MSU KOSOVO)". www.osservatorelibero.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  9. ^ Kfor - MSU Com 2021

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MSU_Carabinieri.