Editing Counterterrorism (section)

=== Military ===

{{Further| List of special forces units}}
[[File:DSA 2016 - Breach the hideout.jpg|thumb|[[Malaysian Army]] [[Gerak Khas (Malaysian Army unit)|''Gerak Khas'']] operatives during a [[training exercise]] in 2016]]
Given the nature of operational counterterrorism tasks, national military organizations do not generally have dedicated units whose sole responsibility is the prosecution of these tasks. Instead the counterterrorism function is an element of the role, allowing flexibility in their employment, with operations being undertaken in the domestic or international context.

In some cases the legal framework within which they operate prohibits military units conducting operations in the domestic arena; [[United States Department of Defense]] policy, based on the [[Posse Comitatus Act]], forbids domestic counterterrorism operations by the U.S. military. Units allocated some operational counterterrorism tasks are frequently [[special forces]] or similar assets.

In cases where military organisations do operate in the domestic context, some form of formal handover from the law enforcement community is regularly required, to ensure adherence to the legislative framework and limitations. For instance, during the 1980 [[Iranian Embassy siege]], the [[Metropolitan Police]] formally turned responsibility over to the [[British Army]]'s [[Special Air Service]] when the situation went beyond police capabilities.