Iraqi Armed Forces

Iraqi Armed Forces
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Name	Iraqi Armed Forces
Native name	القوات المسلحة العراقية
Founded	1921 (modern)
Country	Iraq
Allegiance	Republic of Iraq
Type	Combined arms
Role	National defense, internal security, expeditionary operations
Headquarters	Baghdad
Commander in chief	President of Iraq
Minister	Minister of Defence
Commander	Prime Minister of Iraq
Active personnel	~200,000 (2020s est.)
Conscription	Suspended (volunteer)
Notable operations	Iran–Iraq War, Gulf War, Iraq War, War in Iraq (2013–2017), Sinai insurgency

Iraqi Armed Forces are the combined military forces responsible for the defense and security of Iraq. Originating from formations created under the British Mandate for Mesopotamia and evolved through monarchic, republican, Ba'athist and post-2003 periods, the forces have participated in major regional conflicts including the Anglo-Iraqi War, 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, the Iran–Iraq War, the Persian Gulf War, and the post-2003 insurgency including the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

History

The origins trace to the formation of the Iraq Levies and the Royal Iraqi Army under King Faisal I. Coups during the Iraqi coup d'état (1958) and the rise of the Ba'ath Party transformed doctrine and leadership, culminating in the centralized command of Saddam Hussein. During the Iran–Iraq War the forces expanded into a conscript-heavy force employing formations such as the Republican Guard and the Armored Corps. The 1991 uprisings in Iraq and UN sanctions against Iraq weakened capabilities prior to the 1990–1991 Gulf War where units faced Operation Desert Storm. After the 2003 Invasion of Iraq the existing structures were dissolved and rebuilt through initiatives by the Coalition Provisional Authority and United States Department of Defense, leading to the contemporary Iraqi security apparatus that confronted Al-Qaeda in Iraq and later ISIL during the War in Iraq (2013–2017).

Organization and Structure

Post-2003 reforms established separate branches: the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Air Force, the Iraqi Navy, and specialized forces including the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service and the Popular Mobilization Forces. Command is nominally under the President of Iraq as Commander-in-Chief and the Prime Minister of Iraq as head of the Iraqi Ministry of Defence. The force structure includes corps-level headquarters, divisional formations, brigades, and Iraqi National Guard-style elements; elite units such as the Iraqi Special Operations Forces operate alongside conventional mechanized and armored brigades. Civilian oversight involves the Council of Representatives of Iraq and institutions like the General Command of the Armed Forces for procurement and logistics.

Equipment and Capabilities

Equipment inventories reflect a mix of legacy Soviet-era systems acquired under the Soviet–Iraqi relations and Western hardware supplied post-2003 by partners such as the United States and United Kingdom. Armored fleets include T-55, T-72, and M1 Abrams main battle tanks; infantry mobility comprises Humvee, BTR-80, and domestic and imported MRAPs. The Iraqi Air Force fields transport and rotary-wing assets including C-130 Hercules and Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopters, with nascent fixed-wing combat capability rebuilt using Lockheed Martin platforms. Naval components operate patrol craft for the Persian Gulf littoral and riverine security in the Tigris–Euphrates basin. Air defense and artillery arrays combine to support counterinsurgency and conventional deterrence roles. Indigenous repair and upgrade centers trace to collaborations with Turkish Armed Forces and regional manufacturers.

Training and Doctrine

Doctrine evolved from conventional mass-mobilization concepts seen during the Iran–Iraq War toward counterinsurgency and counterterrorism models shaped by experiences during the Iraq War (2003–2011). Training pipelines include national academies such as the Iraq Military Academy, officer candidate schools, and branch-specific schools supported by bilateral programs with the United States Army, British Army, Turkish Armed Forces, and Iranian Armed Forces at times of rapprochement. Specialized training for the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service and Federal Police emphasizes urban warfare, close-quarters battle, and joint operations interoperability, while international military education exchanges occur via institutions like the NATO Partnership for Peace framework and ad hoc training missions.

Operations and Deployments

Iraqi formations have conducted large-scale conventional operations in the First Battle of al-Faw, Battle of Basra (2008), and nationwide counter-ISIL campaigns including the Siege of Mosul (2016–17), supported by coalition airpower such as Operation Inherent Resolve. Peacekeeping and security tasks extend to border security along the Iraq–Syria border and maritime patrols in the Persian Gulf. Units have also been deployed internally during political crises including the 2019–2021 Iraqi protests and have participated in multinational exercises with partners like Jordan and Kuwait. Operations often involve coordination with the Popular Mobilization Forces and international advisors from the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

Personnel and Conscription

Historically, conscription systems were employed during the Ba'athist era and the Iran–Iraq War; the current force relies primarily on voluntary enlistment after conscription was suspended in the post-2003 era. Recruitment draws from Iraq’s diverse demographic mosaic including Shia Arabs, Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, and minority communities. Professionalization efforts focus on veteran reintegration from the Iraqi insurgency and retraining former regime personnel, while retention and morale are shaped by pay reforms, benefits legislation, and programs administered by the Ministry of Defence (Iraq).

International Cooperation and Assistance

Reconstruction and modernization have been supported through bilateral partnerships with the United States Department of Defense, security assistance from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, equipment sales from Russia, France, and Italy, and training exchanges with Turkey and Jordan. Multinational coalitions, including the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, provided intelligence, logistics, and air support. Legal and institutional reform has involved bodies such as the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and defense industry cooperation with firms like Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems. Ongoing military diplomacy includes arms control dialogues with regional actors and participation in exercises under the aegis of NATO-aligned programs.

Category:Military of Iraq