Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve
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Unit name	Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve
Caption	The official insignia of CJTF-OIR.
Dates	October 2014 – present
Country	United States (lead nation)
Branch	U.S. Central Command
Type	Combined Joint Task Force
Role	Military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Size	Varies; includes personnel from over 80 nations
Garrison	Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (forward headquarters)
Garrison label	Headquarters
Battles	War in Iraq (2013–2017), Syrian civil war
Website	https://www.inherentresolve.mil

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve is a multinational military formation established to coordinate the international campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Formed in late 2014, the task force operates under the authority of United States Central Command and is headquartered at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Its mission encompasses advising, assisting, and enabling local partner forces in Iraq and Syria to achieve the enduring defeat of ISIL. The coalition involves contributions from over 80 nations, including key members like the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada.

Background and establishment

The task force was created in response to the rapid territorial gains made by ISIL in mid-2014, including the capture of Mosul and significant swaths of Syria. Following the Siege of Mount Sinjar and the threat of genocide against the Yazidis, the United States initiated airstrikes under Operation Inherent Resolve in August 2014. To better synchronize the expanding international effort, U.S. Central Command formally established the Combined Joint Task Force in October 2014. Its creation followed authorizations from the Iraqi government and was supported by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2170.

Mission and objectives

The primary mission of the coalition is the military defeat of ISIL and the stabilization of liberated areas. Core objectives include training, advising, and assisting the Iraqi Security Forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces, and other vetted partner groups. The task force also conducts and enables precision strikes, provides intelligence support, and facilitates the delivery of humanitarian aid. A key strategic goal is to ensure ISIL cannot resurge or re-establish territorial control, thereby enhancing regional security for nations like Jordan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Structure and participating forces

The task force is led by a rotating U.S. general officer and integrates components from over 80 member nations of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Major contributing countries include the United Kingdom, which leads the No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group, and France, which operates as part of Opération Chammal. Key operational elements are divided between the Baghdad-based Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command and the Qatar-based Combined Air Operations Center. Partner forces on the ground are primarily the Iraqi Security Forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga, and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Major operations and campaigns

The task force has supported and enabled several decisive campaigns against ISIL strongholds. Major operations include the pivotal Battle of Mosul (2016–2017) in Iraq and the Battle of Raqqa (2017) in Syria, which served as the terrorist group's declared capital. Other significant campaigns were the Al-Hawl offensive, the Battle of Tal Afar (2017), and the Deir ez-Zor campaign (2017–2019). These operations often involved close coordination with Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service units and the SDF.

Impact and assessment

The coalition's efforts significantly degraded ISIL's territorial control, liberating millions of people and dismantling its proto-state structure by March 2019. However, the campaign faced criticism for civilian casualties from airstrikes in urban battles like the Raqqa campaign, documented by groups such as Amnesty International. The task force's role has evolved from major combat operations to a "by, with, and through" advisory mission focused on preventing resurgence, working alongside organizations like the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. The enduring presence of insurgent cells in regions like Deir ez-Zor underscores the ongoing challenge.