Operation Okra
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| Operation Okra | |
|---|---|
 U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tyler Woodward · Public domain · source | |
| Name | Operation Okra |
| Partof | Iraq War and War against the Islamic State |
| Date | 2014–2018 |
| Place | Iraq, Syria |
| Result | Coalition air campaign against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Combatant1 | Australia; United States; United Kingdom; Canada; France; Germany; Italy; Netherlands; Turkey; Jordan |
| Combatant2 | Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Commander1 | Tony Abbott; Malcolm Turnbull; Mark Binskin |
| Casualties1 | aircraft losses (minimal); ground adviser casualties |
| Casualties2 | significant territorial losses; leaders killed |
Operation Okra was the Australian Defence Force contribution to the international campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq and Syria beginning in 2014. It involved Royal Australian Air Force strike, surveillance, refuelling, and intelligence support, accompanied by Special Forces advisory and training roles alongside coalition partners including the United States Department of Defense, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, and regional states. The deployment intersected with operations such as Operation Inherent Resolve, the Syrian Civil War, and the broader Iraq War stabilization efforts.
Background
The deployment followed rapid territorial gains by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant after the fall of Mosul and the declaration of a caliphate in 2014, prompting responses from countries including Australia, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Jordan, and regional partners such as Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. Political decisions by leaders such as Tony Abbott and later Malcolm Turnbull were influenced by advice from defence chiefs including Mark Binskin and intelligence assessments from agencies like the Australian Secret Intelligence Service and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. International coordination took place through forums involving the United Nations Security Council, the NATO liaison network, and bilateral ties with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil. The campaign connected with prior interventions like the 2003 invasion of Iraq and diplomatic instruments such as UN Security Council Resolution 2170.
Military operations
Australian contributions included RAAF aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program discussions, deployed platforms like the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, and KC-30A Multirole Tanker Transport for aerial refuelling, surveillance, and strike. Operations coordinated with United States Central Command assets including B-1 Lancer, MQ-9 Reaper, and AH-64 Apache platforms alongside carrier operations from the United States Navy and the Royal Navy.
Special Operations Forces from Australia worked alongside elements of the United States Army Special Forces, the British SAS, the French Commandement des opérations spéciales, and regional units in advising Iraqi Security Forces, Peshmerga, and the People's Protection Units in northern Syria. Campaign tasks encompassed air interdiction, close air support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance with systems such as Sentinel R1 and Global Hawk, and joint targeting with coalition headquarters at Al Udeid Air Base and Al Asad Airbase.
Major coalition offensives during the period included the Siege of Kobani, the Battle of Mosul (2016–17), the Battle of Ramadi (2015–16), the Fall of Fallujah (2016), and the Battle of Raqqa (2017). Australian aircraft participated in strike packages and support missions during these operations, together with forces from Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Spain, and New Zealand in various non-combat roles. Legal and parliamentary scrutiny in Australia involved debates referencing constitutional authorities, ministerial responsibility in the Australian Parliament, and parliamentary committees such as the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
High-profile IS leaders targeted in the campaign included figures linked to the Al-Qaeda in Iraq lineage and successors, whose elimination was achieved via coalition kinetic operations and intelligence cooperation among services including the CIA, MI6, and the DGSE. Logistic and humanitarian coordination involved agencies such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and non-state actors like Doctors Without Borders.
Impact and aftermath
Territorial defeats of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant culminated in the loss of major strongholds including Mosul and Raqqa, reshaping the strategic landscape across Iraq and Syria and affecting regional actors like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel. The campaign influenced counterterrorism policy in countries such as Australia, United States, United Kingdom, and France, prompting legislative and policing measures involving agencies like the Australian Federal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Humanitarian consequences included displacement crises in Sinjar, Anbar Governorate, and Deir ez-Zor Governorate, with responses by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and NGOs such as International Rescue Committee and Save the Children. Reconstruction and stabilization efforts engaged international financial institutions including the World Bank and donor conferences involving the European Union and G20 partners. The protracted conflict affected global security debates on foreign fighter flows to and from countries like Tunisia, France, Belgium, and Russia.
Domestic political effects in Australia involved scrutiny of defence spending, equipment acquisition programs like the Wulff report discussions and broader capability reviews, while veterans' affairs and rehabilitation services engaged the Department of Veterans' Affairs and non-profits such as the Returned and Services League of Australia. Legacy issues included lessons for coalition interoperability drawn from exercises such as Talisman Sabre and doctrinal updates across the Royal Australian Air Force, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Navy.