Coalition to Defeat ISIS

Coalition to Defeat ISIS
Name	Coalition to Defeat ISIS
Formation	2014
Type	Multinational coalition
Headquarters	Baghdad
Region served	Iraq, Syria, Levant
Leader title	Chair
Membership	Multiple states

Coalition to Defeat ISIS is a multinational partnership formed in 2014 to coordinate military, political, and humanitarian efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). It brought together states, international organizations, and regional actors to share intelligence, conduct air and ground operations, and plan stabilization in liberated areas. The coalition linked Western capitals with regional capitals, international institutions, and local forces in a complex campaign across Iraq and Syria.

Background and Formation

The coalition emerged after rapid territorial gains by ISIL in 2014, including the capture of Mosul, Fallujah, and parts of Aleppo Governorate. Prompted by appeals from the Iraqi government and coalition partners, members convened in Washington, D.C. and at The Hague to organize a response involving the United States and allies such as United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Canada. Regional stakeholders including Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates participated alongside multinational organizations like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations. The formation drew on precedents from the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS efforts and linked to earlier operations such as the Iraq War counterinsurgency campaigns and the international response to the Syrian civil war.

Membership and Participating States

Participants included NATO members like United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain; non-NATO partners such as Australia, Japan, and New Zealand; Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait; regional actors including Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon; and neighboring countries like Iraq and Syria government-aligned forces or opposition factions. International organizations involved were the United Nations Security Council, European Union, and NATO. Non-state actors and local forces linked through partnerships included the YPG, Syrian Democratic Forces, Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service, Hashd al-Shaabi, and various Free Syrian Army brigades. Training and logistics were provided by military institutions such as United States Central Command, Royal Air Force, French Air and Space Force, and Bundeswehr units.

Objectives and Strategy

Primary objectives prioritized degrading ISIL's territorial control in urban centers like Raqqa, Mosul, and Deir ez-Zor; disrupting leadership echelons, financiers, and external plotters based in regions such as Anbar Governorate and Al-Hasakah Governorate; and preventing the spread of foreign fighters from countries including Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, France, and Belgium. The strategy combined air campaigns, special operations forces deployments, intelligence sharing among agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency, MI6, and DGSE, capacity building for partner forces, and sanctions targeting facilitators linked to networks in Istanbul, Beirut, and Baghdad. Legal and policy coordination referenced resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and counterterrorism frameworks such as the Financial Action Task Force guidelines.

Military Operations and Campaigns

Major operations coordinated by the coalition included airstrikes over Syria and Iraq, training missions in Erbil, and advisory roles in urban offensives like the Battle of Mosul (2016–17), the Raqqa campaign (2016–17), and operations around Tabqa Dam. Special operations forces conducted targeted raids and hostage rescues with support from intelligence collected by satellites, surveillance aircraft like the MQ-9 Reaper, and signals intelligence from partners such as GCHQ and NSA. Naval contributions from fleets including the United States Sixth Fleet and French Navy enforced maritime security in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf. Air campaigns involved platforms such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, and Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Political and Diplomatic Coordination

Diplomatic coordination took place in multilateral fora including ministerial meetings hosted in Paris, Rome, and Brussels. Coalition diplomacy involved coordination with the Iraqi Prime Minister's office, the Syrian opposition delegations, and regional bodies like the Arab League. Legal debates referenced the UN Charter's self-defense provisions and bilateral Status of Forces Agreements with host nations. Intelligence cooperation involved liaison officers embedded at commands such as CENTCOM and multinational coordination centers in Kuwait City and Jordan.

Humanitarian Assistance and Stabilization Efforts

Humanitarian responses coordinated relief from agencies including OCHA, International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, and World Food Programme to assist displaced populations in Al-Qaim, Sinjar, and Kobani. Stabilization programs addressed reconstruction of infrastructure damaged in sieges and battles, involving contractors and organizations such as USAID, DFID, Agence Française de Développement, and European Civil Protection, alongside local governance initiatives drawing on municipal administrations in Mosul and Raqqa. Reintegration efforts targeted former combatants and displaced families with vocational training models used previously in Afghanistan and Balkans post-conflict programs.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critiques focused on civilian casualties from airstrikes documented by organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, the legal basis for cross-border operations into Syria, and tensions between partners over relations with Turkey and Kurdish forces. Disputes arose over arms transfers involving suppliers such as United States, Russia, and Iran's influence via proxy groups including Hezbollah and Hashd al-Shaabi. Accusations of insufficient post-conflict planning cited failures to rapidly restore services in liberated cities and allegations of human rights abuses by some local partner forces. Political controversies intersected with wider debates about intervention policy in United States presidential elections, European parliamentary inquiries in France and United Kingdom, and global discussions at the United Nations General Assembly.

Category:Coalitions