The United States and Iraq have declared that the military mission of the Global Coalition against ISIS will conclude within the next year, with the terrorist organisation having been territorially defeated in Iraq.
The United Kingdom will maintain its support for Iraq’s security as the Global Coalition transitions into a new phase. In the upcoming months, the UK will collaborate closely with Iraqi partners to foster a sustainable bilateral relationship, which will be part of the shift towards a new security and defence partnership with Iraq.
Operation Inherent Resolve, initiated in 2014, was designed to advise, assist, and empower partner forces to achieve the lasting defeat of ISIS and to establish enduring security cooperation. This mission is conducted under the auspices of the Global Coalition Against ISIS, which comprises 87 partners, including 82 governments and five member organizations.
Over the past decade, the UK has taken a prominent role through Operation SHADER, its contribution to Operation Inherent Resolve. At the request of the Iraqi government, UK forces have provided essential support, training, and assistance to over 111,000 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), including more than 21,000 Kurdish Peshmerga, focusing on critical skills such as infantry tactics, weapons maintenance, counter-IED operations, medical training, and engineering.
The RAF have also conducted more than 10,000 sorties striking more than 1400 targets, as well as providing critical surveillance and reconnaissance in support of ISF ground operations.
