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| Military operations of the Iraq War | |
|---|---|
| Conflict | Iraq War operations |
| Partof | Iraq War and Global War on Terror |
| Date | 2003–2011 (major operations) |
| Place | Iraq, Persian Gulf, Kuwait |
| Result | Coalition victory in 2003 invasion; prolonged insurgency; eventual withdrawal of United States Armed Forces; emergence of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
Military operations of the Iraq War
The military operations of the Iraq War encompassed the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, prolonged counterinsurgency, multinational coalition campaigns, and irregular warfare involving Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and Shia militias; these operations drew forces from the United States Armed Forces, United Kingdom Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, Polish Armed Forces, and other coalition partners, and interacted with regional actors such as Iran, Turkey, and Syria. Major operations spanned from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Telic to provincial stability operations, the 2007 surge strategy, and post-2011 insurgent campaigns culminating in the 2014 Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017), reshaping Middle East security and doctrine in the Global War on Terror.
The prelude drew on the 1991 Gulf War, UN Security Council resolutions including Resolution 687 (1991), sanctions overseen by the United Nations, and intelligence disputes involving the Central Intelligence Agency, MI6, and Bundesnachrichtendienst; diplomatic efforts by the George W. Bush administration, the Tony Blair government, and the José María Aznar cabinet culminated in the 2002 National Security Strategy (United States) debates and the 2003 ultimatum to Saddam Hussein regarding alleged weapons of mass destruction. Preparations involved staging in Kuwait, basing agreements with Qatar and Bahrain, and logistical planning by United States Central Command, Coalition forces, and participating logistics units.
The 2003 invasion, led by United States Central Command under General Tommy Franks, employed combined arms formations from the Iraq Campaign Plan, including I Marine Expeditionary Force, the 3rd Infantry Division (United States), 82nd Airborne Division, and 1st Armored Division (United Kingdom) participating in operations like Shock and Awe and rapid mechanized thrusts toward Baghdad, while the Royal Air Force and United States Air Force conducted strategic bombing and close air support; amphibious and carrier operations involved the United States Navy and the Royal Navy in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. Major engagements included the Battle of Nasiriyah, the Fall of Baghdad, and the capture of Saddam Hussein following intelligence operations and captivity procedures led by CENTCOM task forces and military intelligence units.
Following regime collapse, coalition forces including Multi-National Force – Iraq, Coalition Provisional Authority, Iraq Survey Group, and provincial reconstruction teams confronted an insurgency comprising former Ba'ath Party elements, Sunni insurgent networks, and sectarian militias; operations ranged from city pacification in Fallujah and Ramadi to clearance and hold campaigns in Mosul and Tal Afar. Notable campaigns included Operation Vigilant Resolve and Operation Phantom Fury, coordinated with Iraqi Armed Forces elements and influenced by doctrine from FM 3-24 (Counterinsurgency Field Manual) contributors such as David Petraeus and John Nagl; detainee, reconstruction, and governance issues involved the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and NGOs.
The 2007 surge, directed by General David Petraeus and endorsed by the Bush administration, increased United States Army and United States Marine Corps presence to facilitate counterinsurgency tactics, population security, and reconciliation initiatives with tribal leaders including the Anbar Awakening; complementary efforts involved training and equipping the Iraqi Security Forces, the Iraqi Army, and the Iraqi Police, under programs run by Multi-National Corps – Iraq and contractors like DynCorp and KBR. Transition milestones included the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) negotiations, the 2009 phased withdrawal plans under the Barack Obama administration, and the 2011 complete drawdown of combat brigades culminating in the departure of United States combat troops.
Sectarian violence intensified as Al-Qaeda in Iraq led by figures such as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi executed bombings, assassinations, and coordination with Sunni insurgent networks; Shia militias including Mahdi Army under Muqtada al-Sadr and other groups carried out counterattacks, targeted killings, and control of neighborhoods in Sadr City and Basra. The collapse of security and governance post-withdrawal enabled the emergence of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant leadership from Anbar Province and Nineveh Governorate, which later captured Mosul and declared a caliphate, precipitating multinational campaigns against ISIL including later operations by Operation Inherent Resolve partners.
Coalition participants beyond the United States Armed Forces and United Kingdom Armed Forces included the Australian Defence Force, Polish Armed Forces under Multinational Division Central-South, the Italian Army, South Korean Armed Forces, Romanian Land Forces, and contributions from NATO partners; diplomatic, intelligence, and reconstruction roles involved the European Union, the Arab League, and the United Nations Security Council. Nations conducted Provincial Reconstruction Teams, training missions, and stabilization operations while contributing to doctrine and legal frameworks such as Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and UN oversight mechanisms.
Air campaigns employed United States Air Force assets including B-52 Stratofortress, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, along with Royal Air Force and coalition airlift and ISR platforms; naval forces from the United States Navy and Royal Navy executed maritime security and carrier strike missions in coordination with United States Fifth Fleet. Special operations forces including United States Special Operations Command, British Special Air Service, Polish GROM, and regional units conducted direct action, reconnaissance, and counterterrorism raids targeting leadership figures and insurgent networks, while intelligence agencies like the CIA, MI6, and Mossad provided human and signals intelligence support.
The operational legacy includes the restructuring of the Iraqi Armed Forces, doctrine changes for the United States Army and United States Marine Corps, and the institutionalization of counterinsurgency principles in military education at institutions such as the United States Army War College and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; regionally, operations influenced Iran–Iraq relations, Turkey–Iraq relations, and the strategic posture of Syria and Saudi Arabia. Long-term effects encompassed veteran care systems for United States Veterans, legal and ethical debates involving International Committee of the Red Cross and International Criminal Court observers, and an enduring impact on transnational insurgent movements culminating in further multinational campaigns against ISIL in the mid-2010s.