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| Joint Operations Command (Iraq) | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Joint Operations Command (Iraq) |
| Native name | هيئة الاركان المشتركة |
| Dates | 2003–present |
| Country | Iraq |
| Branch | Iraqi Armed Forces |
| Type | Joint headquarters |
| Role | Strategic coordination |
| Garrison | Baghdad |
| Notable commanders | Babakir Zebari, Abdul Karim Khalaf, Abdul-Ghani al-Asadi |
Joint Operations Command (Iraq) The Joint Operations Command (Iraq) is the central strategic headquarters responsible for coordinating the Iraqi security effort across the Iraqi Armed Forces, the Ministry of Interior (Iraq), and allied formations. Established in the aftermath of the 2003 Iraq War, the command acts as the principal nexus among Iraqi military components, coalition partners such as the United States Department of Defense, and regional actors including Iran through its influence over proxy groups. Its remit spans counterinsurgency campaigns, counterterrorism operations against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and interagency crisis management during events such as the Battle of Mosul (2016–17) and the Siege of Fallujah (2016).
The Joint Operations Command emerged after the collapse of the Ba'ath Party regime and the dissolution of the Iraqi Army (pre-2003), as part of reconstruction efforts led by the Coalition Provisional Authority and later the Iraqi Governing Council. Early restructuring involved integration with legacy elements from the Republican Guard (Iraq) and coordination with coalition-led initiatives such as the Office of Security Cooperation (Iraq). During the 2004 Iraq insurgency (2003–2006), the command coordinated with units tied to the Counter-Terrorism Service (Iraq) and the Popular Mobilization Forces amid tensions following the U.S. troop surge (2007). The Joint Operations Command played a central role in the campaigns to recapture Tikrit, Ramadi, and later Mosul, often liaising with international partners including the NATO Training Mission-Iraq and intelligence contributors like the Central Intelligence Agency.
The command functions as a joint headquarters incorporating representatives from the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Air Force, Iraqi Navy, and the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service, as well as liaisons from the Ministry of Interior (Iraq) and the Popular Mobilization Forces. Its structure includes a chief of staff cadre, operations directorate, logistics directorate, and intelligence directorate meeting in Baghdad with subordinate joint regional commands aligned to provinces such as Nineveh Governorate, Al Anbar Governorate, and Kirkuk Governorate. The headquarters maintains coordination cells with foreign missions, including delegations from the United States Central Command, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, and military advisers from Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps—while also interfacing with multilateral institutions like the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq.
Mandated to plan, direct, and synchronize military operations, the Joint Operations Command is charged with operational-level campaign planning, force allocation, and strategic liaison across Iraqi security services. Responsibilities include coordinating counterinsurgency operations against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, directing relief and security for humanitarian responses coordinated with International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and managing airspace deconfliction with partners such as the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The command also assigns forces for border security with Syria and Iran, oversees coordination during civil unrest events linked to political actors like Muqtada al-Sadr and parties in the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, and allocates national-level strategic reserves.
The Joint Operations Command has led major operations including the 2014–2017 campaign against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant culminating in the Battle of Mosul (2016–17), the 2015 operations to retake Ramadi, and the 2014 defense of Samarra and Baqubah. It coordinated combined-arms operations involving Iraqi ground forces, air assets, and allied advisory elements from Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, and integrated paramilitary contributions from the Popular Mobilization Forces during the liberation of Tikrit (2015). The command also managed counter-smuggling and border interdiction operations related to the Iraqi–Kurdish conflict and contingency responses during diplomatic crises involving Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Key leaders associated with the Joint Operations Command include senior officers who have served as commanders and chiefs of staff, such as Babakir Zebari, Abdul Karim Khalaf, and Abdul-Ghani al-Asadi, who have each liaised with U.S. generals from Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and coalition envoys. The headquarters hosts advisors from entities like the United States Special Operations Command and the British Army, while maintaining coordination with Iraqi political figures including the Prime Minister of Iraq and security ministers from parties such as the State of Law Coalition and the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
The intelligence directorate within the Joint Operations Command aggregates reporting from the Iraqi Intelligence Service, the Counter-Terrorism Service (Iraq), and provincial security directorates, as well as foreign intelligence partners including the Central Intelligence Agency, MI6, and regional services like the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security. It runs joint fusion centers for human intelligence, signals intelligence in cooperation with partners such as NATO and technical assistance from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, and coordinates targeting processes with the International Security Assistance Force legacy frameworks. The command also manages airspace coordination with the Iraqi Air Force for close air support and coordinates humanitarian security with agencies like United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Joint Operations Command has faced criticism over alleged sectarian bias linked to political factions such as Dawa Party and accusations of insufficient oversight of the Popular Mobilization Forces, drawing scrutiny from domestic opponents including Iraqi Interim Government advocates and international NGOs like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Questions have been raised regarding transparency in procurement linked to contractors associated with Halliburton-era networks, coordination failures during the Camp Speicher massacre, and contested command relationships with the Kurdistan Regional Government culminating in disputes over control of Kirkuk. Critics, including members of the Iraqi Parliament and international watchdogs, have highlighted issues in civil-military relations and the need for reform consistent with constitutional provisions overseen by the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq.