Operation Inherent Resolve
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| Operation Inherent Resolve | |
|---|---|
 Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Fenaroli · Public domain · source | |
| Conflict | Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) |
| Date | 2014–present |
| Place | Iraq, Syria, Levant |
| Combatant1 | United States Department of Defense coalition |
| Combatant2 | Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Commander1 | Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden |
| Commander2 | Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi |
| Result | Territorial defeat of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; ongoing counter‑insurgency |
Operation Inherent Resolve
Operation Inherent Resolve was the United States‑led multinational military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq and Syria beginning in 2014. The campaign combined airstrikes, special operations, training, intelligence sharing, and support for local forces including the Iraqi Armed Forces, Syrian Democratic Forces, and Peshmerga. It intersected with broader conflicts such as the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017), the Syrian Civil War, and regional rivalries involving Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
Background
By mid‑2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant seized large swathes of territory following the fall of Mosul and advances from Fallujah to Tikrit, creating a proto‑state across Anbar Governorate and northeastern Syria. Prior developments included the insurgency stages after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, power vacuums after the Iraq War (2003–2011), and the radicalization linked to the Syrian Civil War. The rapid collapse of Iraqi units and the declaration of a caliphate by Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi prompted multinational responses, recalling precedents like the Coalition invasion of Iraq and counter‑terrorism operations such as those targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Objectives and Strategy
The stated objectives focused on degrading and destroying Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant capabilities, preventing attacks against United States interests, and restoring territorial integrity to partner states including Iraq and elements of Syria under allied control. Strategic components included precision air campaigns leveraging United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps assets; training and equipping partner ground forces like the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service and the Syrian Democratic Forces; and intelligence coordination with agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency and NATO partners including United Kingdom and France. The campaign integrated special operations forces from countries like Australia and Canada to advise and conduct direct action missions.
Military Campaign and Major Operations
Major phases included the initial air campaign beginning in August 2014, counterattacks to retake Tikrit and Ramadi, the two‑year campaign for Mosul culminating in 2017, and multi‑front operations to capture Raqqa led by Syrian Democratic Forces with Coalition support. Significant battles involved sieges at Kobane and Deir ez-Zor, urban warfare in Fallujah and Mosul, and combined arms operations in Anbar Governorate. The campaign employed precision strike systems such as MQ‑9 Reaper and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, and integrated unmanned aerial surveillance from platforms like the RQ-4 Global Hawk. Special operations contributions included raids attributed to United States Special Operations Command and partner units like British Special Air Service and French Commandement des opérations spéciales.
International Coalition and Partners
The Coalition included dozens of states providing air assets, training, logistics, and financial support, notably United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, Jordan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Regional partners on the ground included the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government’s Peshmerga, Iraqi federal forces such as the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, and Syrian ground formations including the Syrian Democratic Forces and various rebel groups backed by states like Turkey. Coordination mechanisms involved bilateral agreements, NATO consultations, and ad hoc coalitions modelled on previous multilateral efforts like the anti‑ISIL contact group meetings hosted by United States Department of State and allied capitals like Brussels and Paris.
Humanitarian Impact and Civilian Effects
Large displacement occurred from sieges and urban combat, producing refugee flows into neighboring Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan and internally displaced persons within Iraq and Syria. Urban destruction in Mosul and Raqqa led to extensive infrastructure damage, public health crises, and cultural heritage losses including sites catalogued by international bodies such as UNESCO. Humanitarian response involved actors like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Committee of the Red Cross, and numerous non‑governmental organizations from countries including Norway and Sweden. Allegations of civilian casualties from airstrikes and ground engagements prompted investigations by bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and prompted legal scrutiny from courts like the International Criminal Court advocates, although jurisdictional and evidentiary issues complicated prosecutions.
Legal and Political Issues
The campaign raised legal questions under international law concerning the use of force in Syria without explicit consent from the Syrian Arab Republic, the invocation of collective self‑defense for Iraq, and domestic authorizations such as the United States Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists (2001). Political debates in parliaments of states including United Kingdom and Australia addressed rules of engagement, oversight of special operations, and arms transfers to non‑state actors like the Syrian Democratic Forces. Regional tensions involving Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps support for pro‑government militias and Turkey’s interventions complicated coalition cohesion and post‑conflict governance arrangements.
Aftermath and Legacy
Territorial defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant by 2019 ended its control of major cities, but the insurgency persisted as guerrilla attacks, sleeper cells, and transnational networks. The campaign influenced doctrines on urban warfare, counter‑insurgency, and coalition interoperability among militaries including the United States Armed Forces and NATO allies. Reconstruction and reconciliation challenges in Iraq and Syria remain central to regional stability, involving institutions like the World Bank and multilateral diplomacy in venues such as the United Nations Security Council. The operation shaped debates on counter‑terrorism policy, civil‑military relations, and the limits of airpower seen in studies by the RAND Corporation and academic centers like King's College London and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.