Coalition against ISIL

Coalition against ISIL
Name	Coalition against ISIL
Active	2014–present
Type	International coalition
Headquarters	Washington, D.C., United States Department of Defense
Area	Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sahel
Allies	NATO members, Arab League states, Gulf Cooperation Council

Coalition against ISIL The Coalition against ISIL is an international military, political, and humanitarian grouping formed to counter the Islamic State insurgency in Iraq and Syria, later extending activities to Libya and the Sahel. The Coalition coordinates airstrikes, advise-and-assist missions, intelligence-sharing, sanctions policy, and reconstruction planning among partners such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and regional organizations including the Arab League and the European Union.

Background

The Coalition emerged after the rapid territorial gains by the Islamic State in 2014, notably the capture of Mosul and the declaration of a "caliphate" in Raqqa, which prompted responses from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Turkey, Iraq, and regional partners. Preceding events included the Iraq War (2003–2011), the Syrian Civil War, and the rise of insurgent groups such as Al-Qaeda in Iraq and Jabhat al-Nusra, motivating strategic alignments with actors like Iran supporting Iraqi Security Forces and Russia intervening in Syria.

Formation and Member States

Initial meetings were convened by the United States Department of State and United States Central Command with participation from NATO members including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia, as well as regional partners Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Over time coalition partners expanded to include European states such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and non-NATO contributors like Jordan and Bahrain; international organizations including the United Nations and the European Union provided diplomatic and humanitarian coordination. Member roles ranged from kinetic operations by the Royal Air Force, United States Air Force, and French Air and Space Force to training missions conducted by the Combined Joint Task Force elements and national contingents such as the Turkish Land Forces and Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service.

Military Operations and Campaigns

Coalition military activity encompassed air campaigns, special operations, intelligence-sharing, and support for partner ground forces during key battles such as the Battle of Mosul (2016–2017), the Siege of Kobani, and the Battle of Raqqa (2017). Air operations were executed by assets from the United States Air Force, Royal Air Force, Armée de l'Air, and carrier strike groups including USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and HMS Queen Elizabeth while special operations forces from the United States Special Operations Command, Special Air Service, and GIGN conducted direct-action and advisory missions. Campaigns involved coordination with local forces like the Peshmerga, Syrian Democratic Forces, Iraqi Army, and Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq), and intersected with operations against affiliates in Libya (notably around Sirte) and the Sahel where groups linked to ISIL clashed with forces from France's Operation Barkhane and regional militaries.

Coalition Structure and Command

The Coalition established an operational framework centered on the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force model under the oversight of United States Central Command and a diplomatic steering group hosted by the Department of State. Command arrangements integrated national chains of command for air tasking orders, rules of engagement, and intelligence fusion centers such as the Combined Joint Intelligence Operations Center and liaison offices with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and Syrian Democratic Forces leadership. NATO coordination mechanisms and ad hoc multinational staff elements facilitated interoperability with assets from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, logistical support from the United States Transportation Command, and legal advice from national judge advocates.

Political and Diplomatic Efforts

Beyond kinetic measures, Coalition members pursued sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and counter-radicalization initiatives involving the United Nations Security Council, the Financial Action Task Force, and bilateral diplomacy with Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Jordan. High-level diplomacy included meetings at Vatican City-hosted gatherings, United Nations General Assembly briefings, consultations with the G20 and Arab League, and negotiations addressing foreign fighter flows, prisoner transfers, and post-conflict governance with stakeholders such as the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraqi political blocs like the Shia and Sunni coalitions.

Humanitarian Assistance and Reconstruction

Coalition partners coordinated humanitarian relief and stabilization funding through agencies and organizations including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations Development Programme, and national aid agencies such as USAID, DFID, and Agence Française de Développement. Reconstruction and stabilization programs targeted liberated areas including Mosul and Raqqa, involving demining by specialist units, restoration of infrastructure overseen by the World Bank and European Investment Bank, and support for returnees in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and regional ministries.

Criticism, Controversies, and Legal Issues

The Coalition faced criticism over civilian casualties attributed to airstrikes documented by organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, legal debates in forums like the International Court of Justice and among scholars of International humanitarian law regarding intervention authority and the application of self-defense, and controversies over coordination with proxies such as the Syrian Democratic Forces and Popular Mobilization Forces. Political disputes included tensions between Turkey and United States policy on Kurdish forces, allegations of insufficient post-conflict planning raised in Parliament of the United Kingdom inquiries and United States Congress hearings, and differing approaches to detainee handling in Iraq and Syria scrutinized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and human rights NGOs.

Category:Coalitions