Iraq War (2013–2017)

Iraq War (2013–2017)
Conflict	Iraq War (2013–2017)
Partof	War on Terror
Date	2013–2017
Place	Iraq
Result	Coalition and Iraqi victory; territorial defeat of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Combatant1	Iraqi Armed Forces, Peshmerga, Popular Mobilization Forces, United States Armed Forces, Coalition (Iraq)
Combatant2	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Casualties1	Estimates vary
Casualties2	Estimates vary

Iraq War (2013–2017) was a multi-year conflict in Iraq marked by the rapid territorial expansion and subsequent collapse of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and a major international military intervention. The conflict involved Iraqi security forces, Peshmerga factions, Popular Mobilization Forces, and a US-led Global Coalition to Counter ISIL supported by air power, advisors, and special operations, and resulted in large-scale urban combat, sectarian displacement, and political realignment across Baghdad, Mosul, Anbar Governorate, and Kirkuk. Fighting overlapped with the Syrian civil war and affected neighboring states including Turkey, Iran, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, provoking debates in United Nations forums and regional capitals about counterterrorism, state sovereignty, and reconstruction.

Background

The roots trace to the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the 2006–2008 insurgency involving Al-Qaeda in Iraq, sectarian militias, and the collapse of Ba'ath Party governance, with the emergence of leaders such as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and networks tied to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Al-Qaeda. Political tensions between the Islamic Dawa Party-led administration, Kurdish parties like the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and Sunni Arab factions including the Iraqi Islamic Party were exacerbated by policies of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and later Haider al-Abadi, contributing to security vacuums exploited by ISIL during the Syrian civil war and the destabilization following the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces combat brigades in 2011. Regional actors such as Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia competed for influence through proxies, funding, and diplomatic initiatives, while international organizations including the United Nations and NATO monitored humanitarian and security implications.

Course of the conflict

ISIL launched a rapid offensive in 2014 capturing Mosul, Tikrit, and large swathes of Nineveh Governorate and Anbar Governorate, prompting the declaration of a caliphate in Raqqa and Mosul by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and drawing international condemnation from entities such as United Nations Security Council members and the European Union. The fall of Mosul in June 2014 led to a US presidential decision under Barack Obama to authorize air strikes and advisory deployments, creating the International Coalition Against ISIL which coordinated with the Iraqi Security Forces, Peshmerga, and Popular Mobilization Forces under Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Major offensives, urban sieges, and counteroffensives unfolded through 2015–2017 around Ramadi, Fallujah, Sinjar, and the Euphrates River corridor, culminating in the Battle of Mosul (2016–17) and the liberation of Raqqa in coordination with Syrian Democratic Forces and coalition partners.

Military operations and campaigns

Key campaigns included the 2014–2015 defensive and stabilization battles in Anbar Governorate and the Samarra counterattacks, the 2015–2016 offensives to retake Ramadi and Fallujah, the 2016–2017 Mosul offensive led by Iraqi forces with coalition support, and the 2017 Hawija and Tal Afar operations; these involved coordination among Iraqi Army, Counter Terrorism Service (Iraq), Peshmerga, Popular Mobilization Forces, United States Special Operations Forces, and allied air forces from United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, and others. Urban warfare tactics in Mosul and Fallujah saw use of combined-arms operations, siege tactics, and counter-IED efforts against ISIL defenders who used tunnels, improvised explosive devices, and human shields, while logistical lines linked battlefields to supply hubs in Baghdad and border crossings with Syria and Turkey.

Humanitarian impact and casualties

The conflict produced widespread civilian casualties, mass displacement, and humanitarian crises, with millions internally displaced in Iraq and many seeking refuge in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and European states, generating responses from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Committee of the Red Cross, and NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières. Cities like Mosul and Fallujah experienced extensive infrastructure destruction, disruptions to utilities, and cultural heritage losses including looting and damage in Nineveh Plains and at sites cataloged by UNESCO. Reports by human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International detailed alleged abuses by ISIL and various armed actors, while Iraqi ministries and international agencies estimated tens of thousands of combatant and noncombatant deaths and long-term needs for reconstruction and demining.

Political developments and governance

The war precipitated political reforms, power shifts, and debates over federalism, with the Kurdistan Regional Government consolidating control in parts of northern Iraq before a 2017 referendum strained relations with Baghdad and neighboring capitals, involving parties like the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Gorran Movement. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi oversaw reorganization of Iraqi security forces, incorporation of Popular Mobilization Forces into state structures under the Hashd al-Shaabi framework, and negotiations with international creditors and donors for reconstruction. Legislative and constitutional questions involving the Iraqi Constitution and provincial authority were central to post-conflict governance, as were corruption allegations, reconciliation efforts, militia integration, and adjustments in relations with Iran and United States diplomatic missions.

International involvement and foreign support

International actors provided military, intelligence, humanitarian, and diplomatic support: the United States Armed Forces led air campaigns and training programs, United Kingdom and France conducted strikes and advisory missions, Iran supplied weapons and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps advisors to allied Shia militias, and regional states including Turkey and Jordan engaged in border security and refugee management. Multinational coordination occurred through the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, while institutions like the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and World Bank engaged in stabilization and reconstruction planning, and non-governmental organizations from International Rescue Committee to Red Crescent societies provided relief.

Aftermath and legacy

By late 2017 ISIL lost territorial control in Iraq and its so-called caliphate was dismantled, yet the conflict's legacy included persistent insurgency, sectarian tensions, humanitarian reconstruction challenges, and legal debates over detainees and reparations involving international courts and tribunals. The war reshaped regional alignments among Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Western partners, influenced counterterrorism doctrine in NATO members, and prompted long-term investments in demining, urban rehabilitation, and reconciliation programs supported by the United Nations Development Programme and bilateral donors, while survivors and displaced populations continue to affect electoral politics and social recovery in Iraq.

Category:Wars involving Iraq Category:Conflicts in 2013 Category:Conflicts in 2014 Category:Conflicts in 2015 Category:Conflicts in 2016 Category:Conflicts in 2017