The Ministry of Defence has announced that the UK’s role in Iraq and Syria will evolve following the conclusion of the Global Coalition’s military mission against Daesh. Over the next 12 months, the UK will transition into a bilateral security partnership with Iraq.
Over the last decade, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has conducted more than 10,000 sorties, striking more than 1,400 targets in the region as part of Operation Shader, contributing to the territorial defeat of Daesh in Iraq.
Correction Notice: This article was updated on 30/09/2024 to clarify that future RAF strike operations remain under discussion as the UK transitions to a new bilateral relationship with Iraq. The original version incorrectly interpreted the MOD statement as suggesting that RAF strike operations would cease.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said, “We pay tribute to the professionalism of UK personnel who have played their part in the Global Coalition. Thanks to the bravery and effectiveness of the Iraqi Security Forces, Peshmerga, and the coalition’s continued commitment, Daesh has been territorially defeated in Iraq. The ISF has enabled the restoration of critical services for communities and the rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas.”
The MOD further clarified that “the UK will continue to support the security of Iraq, as the Global Coalition enters a new phase. The UK will work closely with our Iraqi partners to develop an enduring bilateral relationship during the coming months, as part of the transition to a new security and defence partnership with Iraq”.
We understand that a definitive conclusion regarding the future of RAF operations has not yet been reached, as such, our claim that strikes will end was ‘jumping the gun’, so to speak. While the UK is transitioning to a new bilateral relationship with Iraq, it has not been confirmed whether RAF strike operations will cease, as that depends entirely on any future agreements. The exact details are still being worked out bilaterally.
Supporting this, the US-Iraq Joint Statement, released by the U.S. Department of State, outlines the overall coalition strategy: “Iraq and the United States of America are connected by a strategic relationship, and… announce the conclusion of the Coalition’s military mission in Iraq over the next twelve months, and transitioning to bilateral security partnerships in a manner that supports Iraqi forces and maintains pressure on ISIS.”
The US statement continues: “Iraq is a key member of the Coalition, and to prevent the return of the ISIS terrorist threat from northeast Syria, the military mission of the Coalition operating in Syria will continue until September 2026.”
The UK’s involvement in Operation Inherent Resolve has seen forces provide training and assistance to more than 111,000 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), including 21,000 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, in areas such as counter-IED tactics, weapons maintenance, and medical training.
While the Global Coalition’s military mission will formally conclude over the next year, “the UK remains committed to developing a bilateral security relationship with Iraq, ensuring the long-term defeat of Daesh and the stability of the region,” the MOD reaffirmed.
However, the exact nature of future RAF operations, including potential strike missions, remains under discussion.
It has been a long time in coming. Though with the threats from Yemen, along with how Hezbollah react to its leadership decapitation. I’d expect the Typhoons to stay in Cypress for a while longer. With this news, there is a very strong chance that without the allies operating in Iraq. That long delayed civil war between the Kurds wanting independence and Iraq wanting to maintain control over the oil and gas fields in Northern Iraq, will kick off. More worryingly is that Turkey has told Iraq, that they must not let the Kurds have an independent state. As that… Read more »
Surely Turkie can look across the Black Sea to understand that diplomacy ends at the border of a sovereign nation and armed conflict is not to their advantage, consistent with NATO membership or taking part in the JSF (F35) programme, again.
Having the opportunity to say goodbye to unhappy Kurds in Turkie and allowing them to go to an independent Kurdistan within Iraqi territory seems like a much more reasonable and democratic solution that relieves Turkie of internal security concerns and so reduces costs.
Turkey produces over 85 percent of its weapons which are state of the art from self propelled howitzers, tanks, helicopters, drones , Corvettes, frigates, submarines, helicopter / drone carrier drones , unmanned stealth fighter jet Kizilema, Anka 3 stealth drone bomber to TFX or Kaan 5th Gen fighter jet it’s working on . Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Siper long range air defense system ( Not needing S400 anymore ) Ithas bases in Iraq Syria Qatar middle East , central Asia Azerbaijan, Balkans Europe , North Africa Libya , Horn of Africa Somalia. Turkey is now working with Egypt and Saudi… Read more »
Yeah, well, given the Iron alliance between Pakistan and China… Things are going to be a bit complexe. Especially if a country like USA is pushing an agenda like say… « Quad ». I guess we can all understand that this may be a bit complexe to play an unanimous story with all of them at the same time. It will require cunning diplomatic talents to hold together. And we all know what happens when cunning diplomats invent a complexe system and dye with no smart pupils, like the system Bismarck created in Europe and a not as skilled follower Guillaume 2… Read more »
Erdogen has always fancied rebuilding the Otoman empire. As the saying goes, all roads lead to Constantinople.
What you are suggesting is a form of ethnic cleansing. Where a population is “encouraged” to move to a new location because they don’t fit in with the rest of the population. Why can’t they stay where they are and be independent from Turkey?
Not sure he is I thought he was suggesting that if the Kurds had a sepearte state then the kurds causing issues to Turkey would/could move to that state. (Although I’m not sure the Syrian/turkey kurds Aare the ‘same’ as the Iraqi kurds?). As for ethnic cleasing haven’t the Turks been doing that to the Kurds for a long time , and I know after the Kurds helped the USA/UK in Syria they (the kurds) hoped that would pave the way for backing for said state. I seem to recall they were ignored by USA/UK when their usefulness was no… Read more »
Indeed.
Democratic self determination is not ethnic cleansing because it is voluntary not imposed. However that’s a fair concern that must be considered. I am hoping that Türkiye would see the advantages of removing uncertainty with diplomatic relations to a separate nation. That avoids the risk of being judged a less than Democratic nation in Europe. Further I hope that an independent Kurdistan would have no quarrel with Türkiye that is respecting Kurds and their right to a peaceful existence elsewhere. I’m not suggesting that Türkiye would give up territory as that seems unrealistic. I don’t know that Iraq would be… Read more »
I think Iraq stopped being a whole state a long time ago . If allies pull out in entirety the shia sunni divide will only increase . The divide has already been quite dramatic from ethnic cleansing
Not only Iraq, Syria too. Turkey have troops in both.
Syria was a beautiful place before the war. Syrian people, culture, food and history rivals any place in Europe.
Same with Iraq and Libya before the WEF, I mean West got involved.
The war on terror was unfortunately not a win for the west or the region.
Of course “war on terror” was a win.
. It forced Al Qaeda and its allies – some of circumstance- to fight in the Islamic lands and made thousands of causalities there.
Instead of its resources being used worldwide.
You did not see protests when Bin Laden was killed, you saw more festivities in 11 September 2001.
But by 2011 Islam already realised that what they sent to America came back with a vengeance.
Don’t get me wrong, going after Al Qaeda, killing Bin Laden ect was justified..the problem was the whole regime change and let’s turn all these places into function democracy “state building” that went with it…if the mission had been destroy Al Qaeda kill all the leaders…that could have been done in different ways..burning 1.2 trillion dollars destabilising a large number of nations and trying to rebuild them into functioning democratic nations etc did not work, when it failed it made the west look weak…the Taliban re conquering Afghanistan did profound damage to the west…Iraq is a nightmare that is still… Read more »
I agree with your sentiments, however your composition and punctuation made the reading of it difficult.
.
You only make the Al Qaeda waste their resources in Iraq or any islamic land if you make a challenge to them there. Iraq intervention was a big threat to Al Qaeda, they attacked and exploded in bridges, markets, mosques everywhere they could make a carnage. Now imagine half or 1/4 of that outside islmic lands. Now if you tell me it was incompetently handled, i would agree 100%. It is also a sad reflection how bureaucracy took over western world when US soldier only got anti IED vehicles 4 years after the first IED appearing. In WW2 that time… Read more »
The problem is that much of what happened, most of the money spend ( trillions of dollars) was essentially unnecessary, the terror group Al Qaeda was a Sunni group…essentially the Taliban and 80% of the Iraq population were happy to shoot them in the head if give a valid reason… in Afghanistan the Taliban opened with negotiations, they were first willing to take the evidence and put the Al Qaeda leaders on trial (after all they were all Sunni Arabs).. clearly the US wanted them for a U.S. trial and started the prep for invasion..by the time the first bombs… Read more »
Your ruZZian☠ mates choose Syria for their experiments, just to dampen Syrians enthusiasm for democracy!
Working hard for your masters in the Kremlin☠, as usual!
It was western timidity that allowed Putin to send in troops to prop up the Assad regime that was perfectly happy exterminating any “rebels”.
Blame the ruZZians for that!
Turkey has troops across the region. They may move into Lebanon too soon is the talk . Saudi Arabia wants a Turkish base like Qatar too some day
National unity is only possible in that region under a strong hand dictator. Remove the dictator and it all breaks down into tribal and religious infighting.
The exception is Israel being the only democracy in that region.
I agree. Saddam made that point very clear . The ethnic cleansing internally in nations like Iraq Syria lebanon is very high. Not good advertisements for multiculterism
Currently no big tension exist , that tension was created By Rumsfeld and necons before they went in openly said they will exploit that and arm the Shia whom they saw as victims only for them to turn around against the US that armed them giving Iran a strategic win in Iraq
Given the events of the last few days, Iran and its proxies will probably step up attacks. Daesh may be subdued or defeated but other threats are rising.
Well done the RAF. A brilliant job sustained over a decade.
These aircraft and their smart munitions are needed closer to home. The MOD really need to progress quickly now with ordering another tranche of eurofighters to bridge the gap between tranche 1 leaving service and tempest. We also need to see movement on the new typhoon radar being fitted to tranche 2 aircraft. Importantly NATO considers a war vs the Russian Axis likely within the next 5 years (possibly sooner) so you would think we would see some increased emphasis on armed forces numbers, resilience and having some form of attritional war to safeguard us against a high-tempo peer or… Read more »
All those were funded during the cold war besides large armed forces including the BAOR. It’s not these worthy, essential components of society that are at fault or too costly, but the race for the riches of the west to be offfshored away from the taxman that has left us short of what we need for a decent civilised society. Most pay far more taxes for degraded services.
So the RAF just managed to get an early SDR saving in place…
Cynic!
I’m not hopeful, although for the RN, their boat has sailed 😉 … getting their commitment in early!
There are many intelligent people on this forum with a broad range on knowledge and experience in many fields alas I have no knowledge so here’s some wisdom Did you know that technology exists that can detect a SSBN down to a depth of 25000 ft so if you think that any SSBN is patrolling the worlds oceans undetected you are mistaken Did you know that the ultimate control of all SLBM/ICBMs lies in the hands of the guardian of the earth interestingly the last time(around 2011) that a country got belligerent and threatened to launch their nuclear weapons at… Read more »
Wow, did you bang your head really hard when you sneezed half your brain out?
I could make a website that says a load of nonsense, But that doesn’t make it true just because it’s on the web.
We are not flying UK jets. UK Drones? Probably Iraq will be left with an ability to take over. Better perhaps for countries to take charge when they can.
Bradford can no longer supply targets?
Pulling back assets from Cyprus is for one thing only and that is defence cuts.
No, it’s redeployment, watch what happens next, we still have the best fighting men and women in the world and first class technology. Only Israel matches us.
Oh really! It’s our Typhoons operating out of Cyprus that give Rivet Joint top cover over the Black Sea, air defence to Israel upon attack from Iran. Something that is distasteful to this current government.
Cyprus is surprisingly busy. It’s being the frontline for a number of operations for a number of years. I think that’s appreciated at Whitehall and there are a number of infrastructure projects in place right now (trying to mitigate years of under investment) which would seem to confirm that. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Typhoon presence remained even if only under the guise of being a training deployment. Air Gunnery training for example. That’s how they did it before Op Shader.