American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–2021)

American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–2021) was a multinational military campaign initiated in response to the rapid territorial gains of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in northern Iraq. Authorized under the 2001 AUMF and at the invitation of the Iraqi government, the intervention's primary objective was to degrade and ultimately destroy the Caliphate declared by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The campaign evolved from airstrikes and advisory support into a significant, though officially "non-combat," ground presence, culminating in the Battle of Mosul and a protracted period of advisory and counter-terrorism operations.

Background and context

The intervention was precipitated by the collapse of Iraqi Army divisions in Nineveh province in June 2014, following the Fall of Mosul. This allowed ISIL, which had expanded from the Syrian Civil War, to seize vast territories, threatening the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil and committing atrocities such as the Sinjar massacre against the Yazidis. The Obama administration, facing the potential genocide of minority groups and the destabilization of a key regional ally, determined that the post-2011 security vacuum required a renewed military response. The crisis was compounded by the sectarian policies of then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, which had alienated Sunni populations and created fertile ground for ISIL's insurgency.

Military intervention and operations

Operation Inherent Resolve began on 15 June 2014 with targeted airstrikes near Mosul Dam and the delivery of humanitarian aid. The campaign quickly expanded, with the United States Air Force and coalition partners like the Royal Air Force conducting thousands of sorties against ISIL positions, supply lines, and economic assets like oil facilities. A critical ground component was the deployment of U.S. Special Operations Command advisors to train and assist the Iraqi Armed Forces, Counter Terrorism Service, and Peshmerga forces. Major combat operations included the Second Battle of Tikrit, the Liberation of Fallujah (2016), and the pivotal, nine-month Battle of Mosul that concluded in July 2017. Following the territorial defeat of the Caliphate, the mission shifted to training, intelligence sharing, and targeted strikes against residual ISIL cells.

International coalition and support

The military effort was formally organized under the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which ultimately included over 80 members, though core combat contributions came from nations like the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada. Key regional partners included the Kurdistan Regional Government and, controversially, the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces, which received coalition air support during several operations. Logistical and basing support was provided by countries including Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan. The coalition worked in parallel, though not always in coordination, with separate military interventions in Syria by Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Impact and consequences

The intervention achieved its primary military objective with the territorial destruction of the ISIL Caliphate by the end of 2017, a milestone declared by then-Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. However, the human and material costs were immense, particularly during the Battle of Mosul, which caused widespread destruction in cities like Mosul and Ramadi and displaced millions of civilians. The campaign also entrenched the military and political influence of the Popular Mobilization Forces, strengthening Iran's proxy network within Iraq. Furthermore, the continued presence of U.S. troops became a flashpoint, leading to tensions with Iran-backed militias and culminating in events like the 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis and the 2020 attack on the United States embassy in Baghdad.

Withdrawal and aftermath

Following the 2020–2021 U.S.–Iraq strategic dialogue, the Biden administration and the government of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi formally agreed to conclude the combat mission by December 2021. The remaining U.S. forces, numbering approximately 2,500, were transitioned to an advisory and assistance role under the newly defined Operation Inherent Resolve mandate. The official end was announced on 9 December 2021. The aftermath has been characterized by a persistent ISIL insurgency in rural areas, ongoing political instability in Baghdad, and continued rocket and drone attacks on remaining U.S. diplomatic and military facilities by Iranian-backed militias such as Kata'ib Hezbollah.

Category:2010s in Iraq Category:War on terror Category:Military operations of the War in Iraq (2013–2017)