Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present)

Last updated
Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present)
Part of the Iraqi conflict
Qaratapa self-defense group.png
Fighters of a self-defense group in northeastern Iraq in June 2018. IS still has a presence in remote areas of the country, often attacking small villages and forcing the locals to fight or flee.
Date9 December 2017 – present
(6 years, 3 months, 2 weeks and 4 days)
Location
Iraq
Status Ongoing as a hit-and-run campaign
Belligerents

Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq

De facto SA-NES Flag.svg Rojava (cross-border cooperation since May 2018) [2]
Supported by:
Seal of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.svg CJTF-OIR (until 2021)

Contents


Flag of Kurdistan.svg  Kurdistan Region

Supported by:
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands [3]
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Islamic State
Flag of White Flags - Infobox version.png White Flags
Commanders and leaders

Flag of Iraq.svg Abdul Latif Rashid
(Commander in Chief)
Flag of Iraq.svg Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani
(General Commander)
Flag of Iraq.svg Abdel Emir Yarallah
(Chief of the General Staff)
MOI.png Abdul Amir al-Shammari
(Minister of Interior)
Flag placeholder.svg Thabit Al Abassi
(Minister of Defence)
Flag placeholder.svg Abdel-Wahab al-Saadi
(Counter Terrorism Service)
Flag of Iraq.svg Falih Alfayyadh
Flag of Iraq.svg Qais Khazali
Flag of Iraq.svg Hadi al-Amiri
Flag of France.svg Emmanuel Macron
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rishi Sunak
Flag of the United States.svg Joe Biden
Flag of the United States.svg Donald Trump
Flag of the United States.svg Lt. Gen. Paul LaCamera

Killed:

Flag of Kurdistan.svg Nechirvan Barzani
Flag of Kurdistan.svg Masoud Barzani
Flag of Kurdistan.svg Sirwan Barzani

Flag of Kurdistan.svg Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa

AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (Leader of IS)
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Abu Hudhayfah Al-Ansari (Spokesmen)
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Abu Fatima al-Jaheishi
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Abu Jandal al-Masri
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Abu Yusaf
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Abu Muhammad al-Jazrawi
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Sami Jasim Muhammad al-Jaburi (POW) [4]
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Faysal Ahmad Ali al-Zahrani
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Zulfi Hoxha  
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Bajro Ikanović  
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Ahlam al-Nasr
Flag of White Flags - Infobox version.png Hiwa Chor
Flag of White Flags - Infobox version.png Assi al-Qawali  (POW)

Killed:
Units involved

Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq


Flag of Kurdistan.svg  Kurdistan Region

AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Islamic State

Strength
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq:
530,000 personnel (including paramilitary forces) [9]
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Islamic State: 5,000–7,000 (per UN, 2023, in Iraq and Syria) [10]
400–500 (per Iraq, 2023) [10]
Casualties and losses
Flag of Iraq.svg Unknown
Flag of the United States.svg 8 killed, 2 HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters crashed [11] [12]
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg 1,591 killed (as of December 2023) (Iraqi government claim) [13]

The Islamic State insurgency in Iraq is an ongoing low-intensity insurgency that began in 2017 after the Islamic State (IS) lost its territorial control in the War in Iraq, during which IS and allied White Flags fought the Iraqi military (largely backed by the United States, United Kingdom and other countries conducting airstrikes against IS) and allied paramilitary forces (largely backed by Iran).

Context

The insurgency is a direct continuation of the War in Iraq from 2013 to 2017, with IS continuing armed opposition against the Shia-led Iraqi Government. Along with the Islamic State, other insurgents fighting the government include a group known as the White Flags which is reportedly composed of former IS members and Kurdish rebels and is believed by the government of Iraq to be part of Ansar al-Islam and possibly affiliated with al-Qaeda. [14] The group operates mostly in the Kirkuk Governorate and has used an assortment of guerilla tactics against government forces. In September 2017, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of IS, called on IS supporters around the world to launch attacks on Western news media and continued in his message the IS must focus on combating the two-pronged attack on the Muslim Ummah; these statements marked a departure from previous rhetoric which was focused on the state building of IS and heralded a shift in IS's strategy toward a classical insurgency. [15]

Course of the insurgency

Since IS's loss of all territory in Iraq in late 2017 which was declared as Iraq's victory over IS and widely seen as an end to the war, and declared as such by Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, [16] multiple incidents of violence have occurred being carried out by the conflicting sides, in spite of Iraq's declaration of victory over IS the group is widely seen as far from gone and continues to retain a presence throughout Iraq, and still capable of carrying out attacks and skirmishes with pro-government forces. [17] IS has been waging a guerrilla war with a strong presence in the governorates of Kirkuk, Diyala, Saladin, and Sulaymaniyah, with local forces largely ill-equipped and inexperienced, IS has also taken advantage of the areas' rough terrain to carry out operations. IS has also made a notable presence in the cities of Kirkuk, Hawija and Tuz Khurmato and has carried out attacks at night in rural areas.

IS fighters also reportedly move through villages during the day without interference from security forces, and locals have been asked by IS to give fighters food and give information on the whereabouts of Iraqi personnel, locals have also stated that IS fighters will frequently enter into Mosques and ask for Zakat to fund the insurgency. Among IS's operations include assassinations, kidnappings, raids and ambushes. [18]

As of 2021, U.S. officials warned that IS "remains capable of waging a prolonged insurgency” but also described IS in Iraq as "diminished”. Iraqi intelligence estimated that IS has 2,000–3,000 fighters in Iraq. [19] [20]

Following IS's defeat in December 2017, they have been greatly weakened and violence in Iraq has been sharply reduced. 23 civilians lost their lives from violence-related incidents during November 2021, the lowest figure in 18 years. [21]

Timeline

2018

1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment of the US Army drill with the Battelle Drone Defender in Iraq, 30 October 2018. US troops anticipate ISIS units deploying drones during reconnaissance or attacks 1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, operate the Drone Defender.jpg
1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment of the US Army drill with the Battelle Drone Defender in Iraq, 30 October 2018. US troops anticipate ISIS units deploying drones during reconnaissance or attacks

In 2018, 3,643 ISIS militants, 937 Iraqi security forces, 11 American service members, 1 British service member were killed. The death toll in this year was noted to be the lowest since 2003, when the United States invaded the country. [22]

Notable [lower-alpha 1] events this year include:

2019

Coalition airstrike on IS positions, Qanus Island, Iraq, September 2019

In 2019, 1,129 ISIS militants and 387 Iraqi security forces soldiers were killed. [23]

Notable [lower-alpha 1] events this year include:

2020

Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines packing up gear to withdraw from Al-Taqaddum Air Base, 24 March 2020 Marine Corps withdrawal from Al-Taqaddum, Iraq (March 24, 2020).jpg
Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines packing up gear to withdraw from Al-Taqaddum Air Base, 24 March 2020

In 2020, 777 IS militants and 412 Iraqi security forces soldiers were killed. [24]

Notable [lower-alpha 1] events this year include:

2021

On 6 February 2021, the coalition's CTEF (Counter-IS Train and Equip Fund) program delivered 15 land cruisers and 36 M249 Squad Automatic Weapons to Iraqi security forces at Al Asad Airbase. Iraqi Security Forces Receive More Vehicles and Weapons, February 2021.jpg
On 6 February 2021, the coalition's CTEF (Counter-IS Train and Equip Fund) program delivered 15 land cruisers and 36 M249 Squad Automatic Weapons to Iraqi security forces at Al Asad Airbase.

In 2021, 487 ISIS militants and 409 Iraqi security forces soldiers were killed. [25]

Notable [lower-alpha 1] events this year include:

2022

In 2022, 564 ISIS militants and 183 Iraqi security forces soldiers were killed. Furthermore, one US Marine died of non-combat related causes. [26]

Notable [lower-alpha 1] events this year include:

2023

In 2023, 281 ISIS militants, 61 Iraqi security forces and 3 French soldiers were killed. [27]

2024

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Defined as passing Wikipedia's notability guidelines and warranting an independent article

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuz Khurmatu</span> City in Saladin, Iraq

Tuz Khurmatu is the central city of Tooz District in Saladin Governorate, Iraq, located 55 miles (89 km) south of Kirkuk. Its inhabitants are predominantly Shia Turkmen, with a minority of Arabs and Kurds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order</span> Islamic and pan-Arabist armed organization in Iraq

The Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order, also called the Naqshbandi Army, is one of a number of underground Ba'athist and Sufi militant insurgency groups fighting U.S.-led Coalition forces in Iraq. Media frequently refers to the group by the initials JRTN, a romanization of its Arabic name. Supreme Command for Jihad and Liberation, technically the name of the umbrella organisation to which JRTN belongs, is also often used to refer to JRTN specifically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013)</span> 2011-13 sectarian violence in Iraq following the US invasion and withdrawal

The Iraqi insurgency was an insurgency that began in late 2011 after the end of the Iraq War and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, resulting in violent conflict with the central government, as well as low-level sectarian violence among Iraq's religious groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation al-Shabah</span> Military operation

Operation al-Shabah was launched in May 2013 by the Iraqi Army, with the stated aim of severing contact between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the al-Nusra Front in Syria by clearing militants from the border area with Syria and Jordan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War in Iraq (2013–2017)</span> War between Iraq and its allies and the Islamic State

The War in Iraq (2013–2017) was an armed conflict between Iraq and its allies and the Islamic State. Following December 2013, the insurgency escalated into full-scale guerrilla warfare following clashes in the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah in parts of western Iraq, and culminated in the Islamic State offensive into Iraq in June 2014, which lead to the capture of the cities of Mosul, Tikrit and other cities in western and northern Iraq by the Islamic State. Between 4–9 June 2014, the city of Mosul was attacked and later fell; following this, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for a national state of emergency on 10 June. However, despite the security crisis, Iraq's parliament did not allow Maliki to declare a state of emergency; many legislators boycotted the session because they opposed expanding the prime minister's powers. Ali Ghaidan, a former military commander in Mosul, accused al-Maliki of being the one who issued the order to withdraw from the city of Mosul. At its height, ISIL held 56,000 square kilometers of Iraqi territory, containing 4.5 million citizens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Iraq (2011–present)</span>

The departure of US troops from Iraq in 2011 ended the period of occupation that had begun with the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. The time since U.S. withdrawal has been marked by a renewed Iraqi insurgency and by a spillover of the Syrian civil war into Iraq. By 2013, the insurgency escalated into a renewed war, the central government of Iraq being opposed by ISIL and various factions, primarily radical Sunni forces during the early phase of the conflict. The war ended in 2017 with an Iraqi government and allied victory, however ISIL continues a low-intensity insurgency in remote parts of the country.

Between 1 and 15 August 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) expanded territory in northern Iraq under their control. In the region north and west from Mosul, the Islamic State conquered Zumar, Sinjar, Wana, Mosul Dam, Qaraqosh, Tel Keppe, Batnaya and Kocho, and in the region south and east of Mosul the towns Bakhdida, Karamlish, Bartella and Makhmour

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic State – Sinai Province</span> Branch of the Salafi jihadist group IS

The Islamic State – Sinai Province is a branch of the terrorist Islamist group Islamic State that is active in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.

This is a timeline of events during the War in Iraq in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Kirkuk (2016)</span> Battle between Iraqi Kurdish forces and ISIL in Iraq

The Battle of Kirkuk took place in the city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq between Iraqi Kurdistan and allies and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The battle occurred less than a week after the beginning of the Battle of Mosul launched by Iraqi security forces and allies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Flags</span> Kurdish Salafi insurgent group formed in 2017

The White Flags, also known as Sufyaniyyun, are a militant Kurdish Islamonationalist group which are an offshoot of Ansar al-Islam. They are based in the disputed territories of northern Iraq opposed to the Iraqi government. Their appearance was first noted during the Battle of Kirkuk in October 2017, when the Jambur oil facility was secured by Iraqi forces in October 2017 as the federal government regained control of disputed territories which were taken by the Kurdish Regional Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Syria insurgency</span> Armed insurgency

The Eastern Syria insurgency is an armed insurgency being waged by remnants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and both pro and anti-Syrian government Arab nationalist insurgents, against the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), its military, and their allies in the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) coalition.

This is a timeline of events during the Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present) in 2024.

This is a timeline of events during the Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present) in 2023.

This is a timeline of events during the Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present) in 2022.

This is a timeline of events during the Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present) in 2021.

This is a timeline of events during the Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present) in 2019.

This is a timeline of events during the Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present) in 2018.

References

  1. "For this Iraqi tribe massacred by Isis, the fear never truly goes away". Independent. Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  2. "U.S.-backed Syrian forces resume battle against Islamic State". Reuters. May 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-12-02. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  3. Kurdistan24. "Dutch army to continue support for Kurdish Peshmerga forces". Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2018-10-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. Reuters Staff (2021-10-11). "Iraqi forces capture deputy of IS slain leader Baghdadi – PM". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  5. agencies, Staff and (13 March 2022). "Islamic State names new leader, confirming US raid killed predecessor". the Guardian. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  6. "رئيس الحكومة العراقية: تنفيذ حكم الإعدام ضد المدانين بتفجير الكرادة عام 2016 – بوابة الشروق". www.shorouknews.com (in Arabic).
  7. "The so-called 'Emir Hawi the Great' was killed by air strikes in Hamrin". NINA News.
  8. "عاجل ... لواء علي الأكبر يتقدم بأربعة محاور من شمال الطوز للقضاء على الرايات البيضاء". www.wr-news.net. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  9. Yuan, Shawn. "Iraqi military marks 101st anniversary as US ends combat mission". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  10. 1 2 National, The (2023-03-13). "Iraqi general says there are only 5000 ISIS fighters left in Iraq". The National. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  11. "7 US service members killed in Iraq helicopter crash – CNNPolitics". Archived from the original on 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  12. "1 dead, others hurt after U.S. Helicopter crashes in Iraq". NBC News . Archived from the original on 2019-01-24. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  13. References: Griffis, Margaret (2019-01-02). "7,201 Killed in Iraq During 2018, Lowest Since US Invasion". Antiwar.com Original. Retrieved 2021-08-11. "Iraq Yearly Roundup: 3,092 People Were Killed in 2019". Antiwar.com Original. 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2021-08-11. "Iraq Yearly Roundup: 1,942 Killed During 2020". Antiwar.com Original. 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-08-11. "Iraq Yearly Roundup: 1,625 Killed During 2021". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-01-01. Retrieved 2022-01-01. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 125 Killed in January". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-31. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 142 Killed in February". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-02-28. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 97 Killed During March". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 173 Killed During April". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2022-05-01. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 165 Killed in June". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2022-07-01. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 196 Killed During May". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-07-01. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 112 Killed". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-07-31. Retrieved 2022-07-31. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 168 Killed". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 179 Killed during September". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2022-09-30. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 105 Killed in October". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-10-31. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 95 Killed". Antiwar.com Original. 2022-11-30. Retrieved 2022-11-30. "Iraq Annual Roundup: 1,681 Killed in 2022". Antiwar.com Original. 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-01-01. "Iraq Monthly Roundup: 49 Killed". Antiwar.com Original. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-01-01.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. "A 'post-ISIS insurgency' is gaining steam in Iraq". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
  15. Bilal, Giath (22 December 2017). "Defeating ISISl". Zenith.
  16. Chmaytelli, Maher (9 December 2017). "Iraq declares final victory over Islamic State". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  17. "ISIS returns to Iraq, and a town confronts a new wave of terror". PBS NewsHour. 16 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
  18. Foltyn, Simona (16 September 2018). "The Underground Caliphate: ISIS Has Not Vanished. It Is Fighting a Guerrilla War Against the Iraqi State". The Intercept. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  19. "Islamic State Resilient as Ever in Iraq, Syria | Voice of America – English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  20. "ISIS in Iraq: Weakened but Agile". Newlines Institute. 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  21. "Iraq Body Count". www.iraqbodycount.org. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  22. Griffis, Margaret (2019-01-02). "7,201 Killed in Iraq During 2018, Lowest Since US Invasion". Antiwar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  23. Griffis, Margaret (2020-01-02). "Iraq Yearly Roundup: 3,092 People Were Killed in 2019". Antiwar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  24. Griffis, Margaret (2021-01-01). "Iraq Yearly Roundup: 1,942 Killed During 2020". Antiwar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  25. Griffis, Margaret (2022-01-03). "Iraq Annual Roundup: 1,625 Killed During 2021". Antiwar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  26. Griffis, Margaret (2023-01-02). "Iraq Annual Roundup: 1,681 Killed in 2022". Antiwar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  27. Griffis, Margaret (2024-01-02). "Iraq Yearly Roundup: 757 Killed During 2023". Antiwar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.