War in Iraq (2013–2017)

War in Iraq (2013–2017)
Conflict	War in Iraq (2013–2017)
Date	2013–2017
Place	Iraq, Syria (spillover)
Result	Defeat of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; territorial changes; political realignments
Combatant1	Iraqi Armed Forces; Peshmerga; People's Mobilization Forces; coalition partners
Combatant2	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commander1	Haider al-Abadi; Fuad Masum; Barham Salih; Abadi's Chiefs of Staff
Commander2	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

War in Iraq (2013–2017) The War in Iraq (2013–2017) was an armed conflict between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and a coalition of state and non-state actors, including the Iraqi Armed Forces, Peshmerga, People's Mobilization Forces, and an international coalition led by the United States Department of Defense. The conflict featured large-scale battles such as the Fall of Mosul (2014) and the Siege of Kobanî spillover, extensive urban warfare, and complex interactions among actors including the Syrian Civil War, Kurdistan Regional Government, and regional powers like Iran and Turkey. The campaign culminated in the territorial defeat of ISIL in Iraq and the recapture of major cities including Mosul and Ramadi.

Background and origins

The origins trace to the aftermath of the Iraq War (2003–2011), the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces, and political tensions under Nouri al-Maliki that affected relations with the Sunni Arab population and the Kurdistan Democratic Party. The 2011 return of insurgent networks contributed to the resurgence of Al-Qaeda in Iraq elements, later reorganized by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi into the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Regional dynamics involving Bashar al-Assad, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and King Salman intersected with local disputes over Ramadi, Fallujah, and Mosul Governorate. Socioeconomic grievances linked to oil revenue disputes with the Kurdistan Regional Government and contested control of hydrocarbons around Kirkuk also shaped the emergence of the conflict.

Course of the conflict

The conflict accelerated after the Northern Iraq offensive (2014) and the rapid Battle of Mosul (2014) that resulted in ISIL declaring a Caliphate across captured territories in Raqqa and Mosul. The 2014 Sinjar massacre and the targeting of Yazidis led to United Nations and NATO-aligned concerns, while the 2014 American intervention in Iraq initiated an air campaign by the United States Department of Defense and partner states. Campaigns unfolded in phases: consolidation of ISIL-held regions, coalition counteroffensives including operations in Anbar Governorate, Nineveh Governorate, and Diyala Governorate, and decisive urban battles such as the Siege of Fallujah (2016), Battle of Mosul (2016–2017), and the Battle of Ramadi (2015–2016). The decline of ISIL involved territorial losses culminating in the Battle of Mosul (2016–2017) and the fall of ISIL strongholds.

Military operations and campaigns

Major operations included the international air campaign coordinated by the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, ground offensives by the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service, and local insurgent engagements by Sunni tribal fighters and Shia militias organized under the People's Mobilization Forces and affiliated groups like Kata'ib Hezbollah. Kurdish forces, primarily the Peshmerga and units of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in some areas, conducted operations around Sinjar and Kirkuk. Urban warfare in Mosul involved combined arms from the Iraqi Army and International Coalition partners, use of improvised explosive devices traced to ISIL bomb-makers, and complex clearance operations informed by lessons from the Battle of Aleppo. Naval and air assets from countries including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada provided support in logistics, reconnaissance, and strikes.

Humanitarian impact and casualties

The conflict produced large-scale displacement and civilian suffering, including mass internal displacement in Iraq and refugee flows to Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon. Violations attributed to ISIL such as mass executions in Tikrit and genocidal acts against Yazidis prompted responses from the United Nations Human Rights Council and humanitarian agencies like United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and International Committee of the Red Cross. Urban destruction in Mosul and Ramadi led to widespread infrastructure collapse, prompting reconstruction needs addressed by organizations including the World Bank and United Nations Development Programme. Casualty estimates varied among the Iraq Body Count project, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, reflecting combatant and civilian fatalities alongside cultural heritage losses at sites such as Hatra and the Mosul Museum.

Political developments and governance

Political shifts included the replacement of Nouri al-Maliki by Haider al-Abadi, debates over federal versus regional authority involving the Kurdistan Regional Government led by Massoud Barzani, and contested referendums over territorial administration in Kirkuk. Post-liberation governance in liberated cities saw provincial councils, Iraqi Security Forces re-establishment, and international diplomatic engagement by actors including United States Secretary of State envoys, European Union representatives, and Gulf Cooperation Council members. Legal and constitutional questions arose concerning de-Ba'athification policies, reintegration of former combatants, and the role of militias like Hashd al-Shaabi in formal security structures.

International involvement and legal issues

International involvement ranged from direct military intervention by the United States and airstrikes by the United Kingdom and France to advisory and training missions by Australia and Germany. Regional powers such as Iran provided material support and advisory personnel associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and allied militias, while Turkey conducted cross-border operations targeting Kurdistan Workers' Party positions. Legal debates focused on the United Nations Charter, claims of self-defense invoked by coalition members, and prosecution of foreign fighters under statutes in countries like France and Russia. War crimes allegations against ISIL and some militia elements prompted investigations by the International Criminal Court-related mechanisms and ad hoc investigative bodies.

Aftermath and reconstruction

By 2017, major ISIL-held territories in Iraq were recaptured, prompting stabilization, demining, and reconstruction programs spearheaded by the United Nations Development Programme, World Bank, and bilateral donors including United States Agency for International Development and Japan. Political reconciliation efforts involved talks between Baghdad authorities and the Kurdistan Regional Government, negotiations over oil revenue sharing, and international conferences on Mosul reconstruction convened by entities such as the European Union. Ongoing challenges included displaced persons returning to contested areas, prosecution of ISIL-affiliated suspects in Iraqi courts and international tribunals, and regional security arrangements involving Saudi Arabia and Iran that influenced Iraq's post-conflict trajectory.

Category:Conflicts in 2013 Category:Conflicts in 2014 Category:Conflicts in 2015 Category:Conflicts in 2016 Category:Conflicts in 2017