Iraq conflict

Iraq conflict
Clyde H. Mapping · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Iraq conflict
Partof	Iraq War, War on Terror, Arab Spring
Date	2003–present
Place	Iraq
Status	Ongoing

Iraq conflict

The Iraq conflict refers to the prolonged period of armed violence, insurgency, sectarian strife, and counterinsurgency operations in Iraq following the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and extending through episodes involving Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and Kurdish, Iranian, Turkish, and Western forces. The conflict has entailed overlapping campaigns such as the 2003–2011 occupation by Coalition Provisional Authority, the 2014–2017 War on ISIS in Iraq, and ongoing tensions involving the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Iran–Iraq relations, and Turkish–Iraqi conflict (1992–present).

Background

Iraq's modern instability is rooted in events including the 1968 Ba'athist takeover, the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq War, the 1990–1991 Gulf War, the 1991 Iraqi uprisings, and the 1990s sanctions regime overseen by the United Nations Security Council. The 2003 Invasion of Iraq led by United States and United Kingdom forces toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein and generated a power vacuum exploited by insurgent groups such as Al-Qaeda in Iraq and later Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Post-invasion transitions involved the Coalition Provisional Authority, the 2005 Iraqi Constitution, and elections contested by blocs like the United Iraqi Alliance and the Iraqi National Movement.

Major Phases of the Conflict

The conflict evolved through distinct phases: the initial 2003 invasion and occupation with battles such as the Battle of Baghdad (2003), the 2004–2007 insurgency featuring the Siege of Fallujah (2004), the 2006–2008 sectarian civil strife culminating in the surge strategy under CENTCOM and the 2007 Anbar Awakening with tribal realignments involving the Sons of Iraq. A subsequent phase included the 2011 U.S. drawdown and the resurgence of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant culminating in the 2014 capture of Mosul and the proclamation of a caliphate. The international campaign against ISIL, including Operation Inherent Resolve led by the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, regained major cities by 2017, shifting to stabilization, insurgency suppression, and ongoing clashes in Diyala, Nineveh, and Anbar provinces.

Key Actors and Alliances

State actors include Iraq, the United States, United Kingdom, Iran, Turkey, and the Syrian Arab Republic as a regional actor. Non-state actors include Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Mahdi Army, Badr Organization, Kata'ib Hezbollah (Iraq), the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and tribal groups such as the Awakening Councils. International coalitions featured NATO training missions, the Coalition of the Willing, and ad hoc arrangements involving the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and military coordination between French Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, and Gulf Cooperation Council partners like Saudi Arabia. Iran’s influence manifested through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and allied militias, while Turkey conducted cross-border operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Humanitarian Impact and Displacement

The conflict has produced mass casualties, with civilians affected by sieges, suicide bombings, and targeted killings linked to actors such as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and sectarian militias like the Mahdi Army. Large displacements occurred during campaigns for Fallujah, Mosul, and the Nineveh Plains, prompting responses from humanitarian organizations including United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Committee of the Red Cross, and Médecins Sans Frontières. Internal displacement, refugee flows to Syria, Jordan, and Turkey, and the disruption of services led to public health crises exacerbated by attacks on hospitals such as Al-Jumhuri Hospital and infrastructure damage near Mosul University.

International Involvement and Diplomacy

Diplomatic efforts spanned United Nations Security Council resolutions, the 2004 return to Iraqi sovereignty ceremonies involving United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, and bilateral negotiations among United States–Iraq relations, Iran–Iraq relations, and Turkey–Iraq relations. Military diplomacy included the deployment of the International Security Assistance Force in regional coordination, NATO training missions in Baghdad, and the multinational Operation Inherent Resolve. Peacebuilding actors such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and European Union engaged in reconstruction financing and governance reforms, while regional actors negotiated corridors and energy deals involving Iraqi Oil Ministry stakeholders and companies like Basra Oil Company.

Economic and Infrastructure Consequences

Combat operations, sanctions, and sabotage damaged energy sectors centered on fields like Kirkuk oil field and terminals in Basra. Reconstruction efforts confronted corruption scandals linked to contractors such as firms previously awarded contracts following the Plan Iraq. Damage to transportation infrastructure affected ports of Basra, highways connecting Baghdad to provincial centers, and power plants like Al-Faw Port and the Mosul Dam. The economic contraction influenced by crisis dynamics affected currency stability at the Central Bank of Iraq and led to shifts in foreign investment with companies including Shell plc and ExxonMobil reassessing projects.

Post-conflict Reconstruction and Reconciliation

Reconstruction initiatives combined infrastructure projects, demining operations led by units such as the Iraqi Army Engineers, and transitional justice discussions involving commissions modeled on processes like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Political reconciliation efforts engaged blocs including the State of Law Coalition and the Kurdistan Democratic Party negotiating power-sharing in Baghdad and Erbil, reparations for victims, and minority rights for communities like Assyrians in Iraq and Yazidis. Challenges remain: sectarian distrust, militia integration debates involving units such as the Popular Mobilization Forces, veteran reintegration, and privatization proposals debated at forums like the Baghdad International Fair and meetings hosted by the United Nations Development Programme.

Category:Conflicts in Iraq