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The roughly 2,500 U.S. troops are scattered across the nation, largely in navy installations in Baghdad and within the north. And whereas it’s a far cry from the greater than 170,000 U.S. forces in Iraq on the peak of the battle in 2007, U.S. officers say the restricted — however continued — troop stage is essential as a present of dedication to the area and a hedge in opposition to Iranian affect and weapons trafficking.
A have a look at America’s evolving function in Iraq:
HOW DID IT START?
The U.S. invaded Iraq in March 2003 in what it known as a large “shock and awe” bombing marketing campaign that lit up the skies, laid waste to giant sections of the nation and paved the way in which for American floor troops to converge on Baghdad. The invasion was primarily based on what turned out to be defective claims that Saddam Hussein had secretly stashed weapons of mass destruction. Such weapons by no means materialized.
Saddam was toppled from energy, and America’s battle shifted the nation’s governing base from minority Arab Sunnis to majority Shiites, with Kurds gaining their very own autonomous area. Whereas many Iraqis welcomed Saddam’s ouster, they had been dissatisfied when the federal government failed to revive fundamental companies and the continued battles as a substitute introduced huge humanitarian struggling.
Resentment and energy struggles between the Shiites and the Sunnis fueled civil battle, main finally to America’s full withdrawal in December 2011. The divide was a key issue within the collapse of the nation’s police and navy forces when confronted with the Islamic State insurgency that swept throughout Iraq and Syria in 2014.
THE U.S. RETURNS
The rise of the Islamic State group — its roots had been in al-Qaida associates — and its increasing menace to the U.S. and allies throughout Europe despatched the U.S. again into Iraq on the invitation of the Baghdad authorities in 2014. Over that summer time and fall, the U.S.-led coalition launched airstrike campaigns in Iraq after which Syria, and restarted a broad effort to coach and advise Iraq’s navy.
The coalition’s practice and advise mission has continued, bolstered by a Nato contingent, even after the Islamic State group’s marketing campaign to create a caliphate was led to March 2019.
The roughly 2,500 troops deployed to Iraq reside on joint bases with Iraqi troops, the place they supply coaching and tools. That troop whole, nonetheless, fluctuates a bit, and the Pentagon doesn’t reveal the variety of U.S. particular operations forces that routinely transfer in and in a foreign country to help Iraqi forces or journey into Syria for counterterrorism operations.
“Iraq remains to be beneath stress from ISIS,” mentioned retired Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie, who led U.S. Central Command and served as the highest U.S. commander for the Center East from 2019 to 2022. “We nonetheless assist them proceed that battle. We’ve accomplished loads of issues to assist them enhance the management of their very own sovereignty, which is of very excessive significance to the Iraqis.”
WHY THE U.S. PRESENCE CONTINUES
The much-stated cause for the continued U.S. troop presence is to assist Iraq battle the remnants of the Islamic State insurgency and stop any resurgence.
However a key cause is Iran.
Iran’s political affect and militia power in Iraq and all through the area has been a recurring safety concern for the U.S. over time. And the presence of American forces in Iraq makes it harder for Iran to maneuver weapons throughout Iraq and Syria into Lebanon, to be used by its proxies, together with the Lebanese Hezbollah, in opposition to Israel.
The identical is true for the U.S. troop presence across the al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria, which is situated on a significant street that may hyperlink Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way in which to southern Lebanon — and Israel’s doorstep. In each Iraq and Syria, U.S. troops disrupt what may very well be an uncontested land bridge for Iran to the japanese Mediterranean.
U.S. troops in Iraq additionally present essential logistical and different help for American forces in Syria, who associate with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces battling the Islamic State group. The U.S. conducts airstrikes and different missions focusing on IS leaders, and in addition helps the SDF in guarding 1000’s of captured IS fighters and members of the family imprisoned in Syria.
Army leaders efficiently beat again efforts by then-President Donald Trump to tug all troops out of each Syria and Iraq. They argued that if something had been to occur in Syria that endangered U.S. forces, they would wish to have the ability to shortly ship troops, tools and different help from Iraq.
In a latest go to to Baghdad to satisfy with Iraqi leaders, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned U.S. forces are prepared to stay in Iraq, in a noncombat function, on the invitation of the federal government.
“We’re deeply dedicated to making sure that the Iraqi individuals can reside in peace and dignity, with security and safety and with financial alternative for all,” he mentioned.
IRAQ BY THE NUMBERS
By the point Washington withdrew its final fight troops in December 2011, tens of 1000’s of Iraqi civilians had been useless, together with 4,487 American troops.
Greater than 3,500 troops had been killed in hostile motion and almost 1,000 died in noncombat deaths from 2003 to 2011. Greater than 32,000 troops had been wounded in motion; tens of 1000’s extra have additionally reported sicknesses to the Division of Veterans Affairs which might be believed to be linked to poisonous publicity from the burn pits in Iraq. Laws signed into regulation by the Biden administration has expanded the variety of these veterans who will qualify for lifetime care or advantages on account of that publicity.
From 2003 via 2012, the US offered $60.64 billion to fund Iraq’s safety forces and civilian reconstruction, in accordance with the Particular Inspector Common for Iraq Reconstruction. Of that whole, $20 billion went to funding, equipping, offering uniforms for and coaching Iraq’s safety forces.
There have been roughly 100,000 contractors every year in Iraq supporting U.S. forces and the U.S. mission from 2007 till 2010, in accordance with the Congressional Analysis Service. As of late final 12 months, there have been about 6,500 contractors supporting U.S. operations in Iraq and Syria, in accordance with U.S. Central Command.
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