U.S. to End Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq

The United States will conclude Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq by Wednesday, marking the end of a military presence that has intermittently lasted for over twenty years.

This withdrawal means that Iraqi forces will take on the main responsibility for the country’s security, as Washington and Baghdad work towards establishing a bilateral defense relationship. This transition was highlighted in a Department of War press release from July. The removal of U.S. troops comes during a time when Iran-backed militia groups are still influential in Iraq, and both Iraqi and Kurdish officials have expressed concerns that ISIS could take advantage of potential security lapses, as reported by Reuters.

American forces initially invaded Iraq in March 2003, remaining amidst years of insurgency and sectarian conflict. The U.S. combat mission concluded with the withdrawal of final troops under Operation New Dawn in December 2011, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System.

U.S. personnel returned in 2014 following ISIS’s capture of significant areas in Iraq and Syria, which initiated the campaign known as Operation Inherent Resolve. Over time, the mission shifted focus from large-scale combat to training and supporting Iraqi forces once ISIS lost its territorial claims.

Iraqi officials now assert that their military is capable of handling the lingering threat of terrorism independently. They emphasize that while Iraqi forces possess the necessary manpower and skills, what they need from the coalition is largely advanced weaponry and technology, as noted by a spokesperson for the Iraqi commander.

It’s worth mentioning that the United States and Iraq are not completely severing their defense ties. Following the coalition’s withdrawal, Baghdad has initiated a joint technical security committee aimed at restructuring military technology and cybersecurity cooperation.

However, the withdrawal does leave behind strong Iran-aligned factions within Iraq. The terrorist group Kata’ib Hizballah, which receives various forms of support from Iran, has been identified as the dominant faction among Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces.

Since February, Kata’ib Hizballah and other aligned militias have conducted numerous attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, including drone and rocket strikes targeting American facilities.

Analysts suggest that Iran may gain from the U.S. exit as America’s presence had acted as a counterbalance to Iranian influence in the region. A commander from an Iran-backed group framed the withdrawal as a success for armed factions in Iraq.

On another front, ISIS poses ongoing risks. Some Kurdish leaders have warned that the loss of U.S. intelligence and drone support could provide ISIS an opening to regain strength. Recently, Iraqi authorities have reported the discovery of a suspected cell planning suicide attacks linked to the withdrawal.

Even in the run-up to the mission’s end, dangers for American troops remained. Recently, Army Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton was killed during a controlled detonation of a downed drone at Erbil Air Base.

The Financial and Human Toll of the Iraq War

The financial and human costs of U.S. involvement in Iraq over the past two decades are substantial and varied. Different estimates attempt to capture all spending associated with the conflict, including combat, reconstruction, and counter-ISIS operations.

Costs began accumulating rapidly after the invasion. In 2003, the Bush administration requested about $62.6 billion for military operations, which was just the beginning of a much larger financial commitment.

By 2018, it was reported that obligations for operations directly related to Iraq had reached approximately $757.1 billion. This included the costs associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Inherent Resolve, which also encompassed actions in Syria.

Reconstruction efforts added significant expenses as well. The U.S. allocated around $60.64 billion for Iraqi relief and rebuilding between 2003 and 2012, with over $53 billion actually spent by the end of that period.

Funding went toward various projects, from infrastructure to military training, with continued financial support after combat troops withdrew in 2011, largely due to renewed efforts against ISIS in subsequent years.

Further, estimates regarding the total costs, including projected future obligations for veterans and associated healthcare, climb into the trillions. As of 2023, costs related to the wars in Iraq and Syria may have approached $1.79 trillion, according to Brown University’s Costs of War project.

The human cost has been equally stark. Operation Iraqi Freedom resulted in 4,418 U.S. military deaths, with thousands more wounded. The U.S. also sustained additional losses during the follow-up mission and subsequent operations in the region.

The planned withdrawal on September 30 marks the end of a military operation whose impacts will extend well beyond the departure of the last troops, with long-term obligations related to veteran care expected to persist for decades to come.