Многие государства начали вмешиваться в дела Исламского государства , как в гражданской войне в Сирии , так и в войне в Ираке (2013–2017 гг.) , в ответ на его быстрые территориальные приобретения в результате наступлений в Северном Ираке в 2014 г. , повсеместно осуждаемые казни , нарушения прав человека и страх перед дальнейшим распространением гражданской войны в Сирии . Эти усилия называются войной против Исламского государства или войной против ИГИЛ . В последующие годы некоторые государства также предпринимали незначительные вмешательства против связанных с ИГ групп в Нигерии и Ливии . Все эти усилия значительно ослабили возможности Исламского государства примерно к 2019–2020 гг. Хотя в Сирии продолжаются умеренные боевые действия, по состоянию на 2024 г. ИГИЛ сдерживается на управляемо небольшой территории и с небольшими силами.
В середине июня 2014 года Иран , согласно американской и британской информации, начал запускать беспилотники над Ираком , и, по данным Reuters , иранские солдаты находились в Ираке, сражаясь с ИГ. Одновременно Соединенные Штаты приказали отправить небольшое количество войск в Ирак и начали запускать пилотируемые самолеты над Ираком. В июле 2014 года, по данным Международного института стратегических исследований , Иран отправил самолеты Су-25 в Ирак , а Хезболла якобы отправила инструкторов и советников в Ирак, чтобы помочь шиитским ополченцам отслеживать передвижения ИГИЛ. В августе 2014 года США и Иран по отдельности начали кампанию авиаударов по целям ИГИЛ в Ираке. С тех пор четырнадцать стран в возглавляемой США коалиции также наносили авиаудары по ИГИЛ в Ираке и Сирии . Начиная с сентября 2014 года Соединенные Штаты начали тесно сотрудничать с Саудовской Аравией и Иорданией, чтобы вести скоординированную кампанию воздушных бомбардировок против целей ИГИЛ по всему Ираку и Сирии. [106]
В сентябре 2015 года российские войска начали военную интервенцию в Сирию, чтобы поддержать союзника этой страны Башара Асада в борьбе с Исламским государством . Хотя Москва официально представляла свою интервенцию как кампанию против ИГ и публично заявляла о поддержке «патриотической сирийской оппозиции », подавляющее большинство ее бомбардировок было сосредоточено на уничтожении баз сирийских оппозиционных ополченцев Свободной сирийской армии (ССА) и Южного фронта . [107] С другой стороны, Соединенные Штаты и их западные союзники выступали против баасистского режима за его предполагаемую государственную поддержку терроризма , жестокое подавление сирийской революции и широкое применение химического оружия . Коалиция под руководством США обучала, оснащала и поддерживала светские Свободные сирийские и курдские ополчения, выступавшие против правительства Асада во время своей кампании против ИГ. [108] В течение нескольких месяцев после начала обеих воздушных кампаний ИГИЛ начало терять позиции как в Ираке , так и в Сирии . [109] Число жертв среди гражданского населения в результате авиаударов начало расти в 2015 и 2016 годах. [110] [111] В середине 2016 года США и Россия планировали начать координировать свои авиаудары; однако эта координация не состоялась. [112] [113]
По оценкам, по состоянию на декабрь 2017 года ИГИЛ не контролировало ни одной территории в Ираке и 5% территории Сирии после продолжительных действий. [114] 9 декабря 2017 года Ирак объявил о победе в борьбе с ИГИЛ и заявил, что война в Ираке окончена. [115] [116] 23 марта 2019 года ИГИЛ потерпело территориальное поражение в Сирии , проиграв битву при Багуз-Фаукани , после чего группировка была вынуждена перейти к мятежу . [117] Лидер ИГИЛ Абу Бакр аль-Багдади погиб во время рейда спецназа США на севере Сирии в октябре 2019 года [118] и его сменил Абу Ибрагим аль-Хашими аль-Кураши . По оценкам Организации Объединенных Наций в августе 2020 года, в Сирии и Ираке осталось более 10 000 боевиков ИГИЛ , в основном в качестве спящих ячеек . [119]
На полях саммита НАТО 4/5 сентября 2014 года в Уэльсе , 5 сентября 2014 года, госсекретарь США Джон Керри пригласил министров Австралии , Канады , Дании , Франции , Германии , Италии , Турции и Великобритании на отдельную встречу [120] [121], на которой он настоятельно просил их поддержать борьбу с ИГИЛ в военном и финансовом плане. [122] Эти девять стран согласились сделать это, поддержав антиИГИЛовские силы в Ираке и Сирии поставками и авиаподдержкой, согласно заявлению Керри и министра обороны США Хейгела в тот день . [122] В сентябре 2014 года иорданские и саудовские ВВС начали координацию с Соединенными Штатами для проведения совместной кампании по бомбардировке баз ИГИЛ на их территориях по всему Ираку и Сирии. [123] [124]
17 октября 2014 года Министерство обороны официально создало Объединенную оперативную группу — операцию «Непоколебимая решимость» (CJTF-OIR) — «в целях формализации текущих военных действий против растущей угрозы, исходящей от ИГИЛ в Ираке и Сирии ». [125]
3 декабря 2014 года в штаб-квартире НАТО в Брюсселе дипломаты [126] и министры иностранных дел [127] из 59 стран собрались, чтобы наметить путь вперед против угрозы ИГИЛ. [126] Государственный секретарь США Джон Керри заявил собравшимся, что «борьба с идеологией, финансированием и вербовкой» ИГИЛ должна быть главным предметом их обсуждения, более важным, чем авиаудары и другие военные действия. [126]
Страны, представленные 3 декабря, были: девять стран вышеупомянутой коалиции 5 сентября в Уэльсе (см. выше); дополнительные 18 стран коалиции 15 сентября во главе с Францией в Париже (см. ниже), за исключением Китая и России ; и 33 дополнительные страны: Албания , Австрия , Босния и Герцеговина , Болгария , Хорватия , Кипр , Эстония , Финляндия , Грузия , Греция , Венгрия , Исландия , Ирландия , Косово , Латвия , Литва , Люксембург , Македония , Молдова , Черногория , Марокко , Новая Зеландия , Португалия , Южная Корея , Румыния , Сербия , Сингапур , Словакия , Словения , Сомали , Швеция , Тайвань и Украина . [128 ]
Они назвали себя Глобальной коалицией по противодействию Исламскому государству Ирака и Леванта (ИГИЛ) и согласовали стратегию, которая включала:
15 сентября 2014 года на «Международной конференции по миру и безопасности в Ираке », организованной президентом Франции Франсуа Олландом в Париже , были представлены 26 стран: страны коалиции под руководством США , которые 5 сентября в Уэльсе (см. выше) договорились о коалиции против ИГИЛ, за исключением Австралии и Польши , а также Бахрейн , Египет , Ирак, Иордания , Кувейт , Ливан , Оман , Катар , Саудовская Аравия , Объединенные Арабские Эмираты , Бельгия , Китай , Чешская Республика , Япония , Нидерланды , Норвегия , Россия и Испания . [129] Они взяли на себя обязательство оказывать военную помощь иракскому правительству в его борьбе с ИГИЛ и подтвердили свою приверженность резолюции 2170 Совета Безопасности ООН от 15 августа (осуждающей любую торговлю с ИГИЛ и призывающей к предотвращению любых финансовых пожертвований и любых выплат выкупов ИГИЛ), [130] как сообщило французское правительство . [129]
В ответ на атаки в Париже в ноябре 2015 года французские ВВС значительно усилили авиаудары по объектам ИГИЛ в Сирии , нанеся удары среди прочих целей по сирийскому городу Ракка , фактической столице ИГИЛ. Французские ВМС разместили авианосец Charles de Gaulle с восемнадцатью Rafale , восемью Mirage 2000 , двумя E-2 Hawkeye и четырьмя вертолетами. Авианосец сопровождали фрегат Chevalier Paul и HMS Kent .
В конце сентября 2015 года Россия , Ирак , Иран и Сирия создали в Багдаде «совместный информационный центр» для сбора, обработки и анализа разведданных относительно ИГИЛ и операций вблизи сирийско-иракской границы. [131] 30 сентября 2015 года Россия начала свою воздушную кампанию на стороне и в поддержку сирийского правительства .
Сообщалось также, что Россия достигла соглашений о координации операций в Сирии с Иорданией и Израилем . [132] [133]
14 марта 2016 года президент России Владимир Путин объявил о частичном выводе войск с территории Сирии, сославшись на успех продолжающегося прекращения огня и большую безопасность сирийского правительства . [134]
10 декабря 2017 года Владимир Путин отдал аналогичный приказ о выводе российских войск из Сирии , заявив, что полный вывод будет зависеть от текущей ситуации. [135]
14 декабря 2015 года заместитель наследного принца Саудовской Аравии и министр обороны Мухаммед бин Салман Аль Сауд объявил, что 34 страны присоединятся к борьбе с мусульманским экстремизмом , который он назвал «болезнью». Коалиция, базирующаяся в Эр-Рияде , Саудовская Аравия , включает Бахрейн , Бангладеш , Бенин , Чад , Коморские Острова , Кот-д'Ивуар , Джибути , Египет , Габон , Гвинея , Иордания , Кувейт , Ливан , Ливия , Мальдивы , Мали , Малайзия , Марокко , Мавритания , Нигер , Нигерия , Пакистан , Палестина , Катар , Саудовская Аравия, Сенегал , Сьерра-Леоне , Сомали , Судан , Турция , Того , Тунис , Объединенные Арабские Эмираты и Йемен . [136]
4 июля 2014 года США бомбили военную базу ИГИЛ «Усама бен Ладен» в деревне Укайришах, Сирия . Затем два десятка американских бойцов Delta Force высадились в попытке спасти заложников, включая Джеймса Фоули . Попытка провалилась, и заложники были перемещены в другое место за несколько дней до этого. [137] [138] [139] [140] В серии видеороликов Фоули, Стивен Джоэл Сотлофф и еще несколько заложников были убиты. [141] [142]
26 августа 2014 года США начали отправлять разведывательные полеты , включая беспилотники , в Сирию для сбора разведданных. У Сирийской Арабской Республики не спрашивали разрешения. [143] [144]
28 августа, говоря о борьбе с ИГИЛ в Сирии , президент Обама сказал: «У нас пока нет стратегии». [145]
Британские королевские военно-воздушные силы действуют в Сирии в качестве наблюдателей с 21 октября 2014 года, что делает Великобританию первой западной страной, помимо США, которая действует одновременно в Ираке и Сирии. [146]
По указанию президента Обамы Центральное разведывательное управление США играло активную роль с ранних стадий гражданской войны в Сирии . [147] [148] США изначально снабжали проверенных ополченцев Свободной сирийской армии нелетальной помощью, но вскоре перешли к предоставлению обучения, денег и разведданных командирам повстанцев. [149] [150] [151] В июне 2014 года Обама запросил у Конгресса разрешение на выделение 0,5 млрд долларов на обучение, вооружение и поддержку проверенных ополченцев Свободной сирийской армии в качестве силы противодействия как режиму Асада , так и ИГ . [152] [153]
17 сентября 2014 года Палата представителей проголосовала за одобрение предложения об обучении и вооружении прозападных Свободных сирийских ополченцев с целью подготовки 5000–10 000 военнослужащих. [154] [155] [156] Национальная революционная коалиция сирийской оппозиции приветствовала заявление Обамы о расширении кампании бомбардировок против ИГ на территорию Сирии, заявив:
«Сирийская коалиция... готова и желает сотрудничать с международным сообществом не только для того, чтобы победить ИГИЛ, но и избавить сирийский народ от тирании режима Асада » [157]
В марте 2015 года Соединенное Королевство объявило, что отправит 75 военнослужащих для помощи в обучении проверенных на Западе Свободных сирийских ополченцев использованию стрелкового оружия, тактике пехоты и базовым медицинским навыкам. Обучение должно было проходить в Турции в рамках усилий под руководством США . [158]
По данным Министерства обороны США , Саудовская Аравия предложила провести обучение сирийских повстанцев , чтобы они могли вернуться в Сирию и сражаться с ИГИЛ. [159] Попытка подготовить большую группу сирийских повстанцев из антиасадовских группировок для борьбы с ИГИЛ в конечном итоге провалилась: в 30-м дивизионе было обучено всего 54 бойца, а многие были захвачены в плен, убиты или не сражались. [160] [161] [162]
Президент США Обама объявил 10 сентября 2014 года, что он начнет расширять воздушную кампанию в Сирии с одобрения Конгресса или без него. [163] Многие сенаторы выступили против политики Обамы одностороннего вмешательства, без запроса мандата Конгресса. [164] Хотя Обама признал широкий консенсус в разведывательном сообществе США о том, что ИГ не является «текущей угрозой» для Соединенных Штатов, он заявил, что ИГ представляет собой будущую опасность для США, сославшись на антиамериканскую риторику руководства ИГ. [157] Руководство Пентагона предпочло бы более активное участие американских войск в борьбе с ИГ, но это предложение было отвергнуто Обамой, который вместо этого выступил за сотрудничество с иракскими сухопутными войсками , Пешмерга и сирийскими оппозиционными ополченцами. [164]
Начиная с 22 сентября 2014 года США , Бахрейн , Иордания , Катар , Саудовская Аравия и Объединенные Арабские Эмираты начали многочисленные крупномасштабные авиаудары по объектам ИГИЛ в Сирии [165] с использованием истребителей, бомбардировщиков и крылатых ракет «Томагавк» морского базирования . [166] Эти удары стали крупнейшими операциями по бомбардировке объектов ИГ с тех пор, как США начали свою военную кампанию против ИГ в августе 2014 года. [167]
Хади аль-Бахра , президент Национальной коалиции сирийских революционных и оппозиционных сил , заявил, что удары были «необходимы» для помощи сирийскому народу в борьбе с ИГИЛ и призвал коалиционные силы избегать жертв среди гражданского населения. [167] Соединенные Штаты исключили любое сотрудничество с Башаром Асадом в борьбе с ИГИЛ, вместо этого предупредив сирийских военных о необходимости отстраниться от самолетов коалиции. Представитель Госдепартамента Джен Псаки заявила, что режиму Асада не было отправлено никаких уведомлений относительно операций США в воздушном пространстве Сирии . [167]
Кроме того, в первую ночь американские войска также нанесли восемь ударов крылатыми ракетами по Хорасану , связанному с Аль-Каидой . [168] Многие авиаудары были направлены против командных и контрольных объектов ИГ, учебных лагерей, складов снабжения, военных объектов и т. д. в Ракке и вокруг нее . [169] [167] Удары продолжают наноситься в Сирии ежедневно. В начале ноября — начале декабря 2014 года США нанесли дополнительные авиаудары по той же группировке. В ноябре 2014 года Марокко отправило 3 F-16 для развертывания в ОАЭ для борьбы с ИГИЛ в Ираке и Сирии в рамках операций под руководством США. [170] [171] [172]
24 декабря 2014 года ИГИЛ сбил иорданский истребитель над Сирией и захватил его пилота, лейтенанта иорданских ВВС Муата Аль-Касабеха . Аль-Касабех был предложен в обмен на захваченных боевиков ИГИЛ. Иордания предложила совершить обмен, но сначала потребовала «доказательства жизни». Однако Аль-Касабех уже был казнен путем сожжения. Когда было опубликовано видео казни пилота, мораторий на казни в Иордании был снят, и боевики Аль-Каиды Саджида аль-Ришави и Зиад аль-Карбули были казнены. [173] [174]
21 августа 2015 года трое боевиков ИГИЛ, двое из которых имели гражданство Великобритании, были атакованы и убиты в Ракке , Сирия, в результате удара британских Королевских ВВС MQ-9 Reaper . Премьер-министр Дэвид Кэмерон сделал заявление в парламенте о том, что один из британских граждан, подвергшихся атакам, планировал атаки в Соединенном Королевстве . Еще один британский гражданин был убит в результате отдельного авиаудара американских войск в Ракке 24 августа. [175]
В октябре и ноябре 2015 года США усилили свои авиаудары по удерживаемым ИГИЛ нефтяным объектам в ходе операции под названием « Tidal Wave II », после кампании Второй мировой войны против нефтяных целей Оси в Румынии . Стратегия США была направлена на «выведение из строя определенных установок на срок от шести месяцев до года», сосредоточившись на объектах вблизи Дейр-эз-Зора . Нефтяное месторождение Омар, которое производило 30 000 баррелей нефти в день и доход от 1,7 до 5,1 млн долларов в месяц при полной загрузке, было атаковано 21 октября, что сократило его примерно на треть. Французские самолеты также участвовали в ударах. [176]
16 ноября 2015 года вылет США в рамках операции Tidal Wave II уничтожил 116 топливных танкеров ИГИЛ, сгруппированных около Абу-Камаля , города на границе Сирии с Ираком . В налете участвовали четыре самолета A-10 Thunderbolt II и два боевых вертолета AC-130 Spectre. Перед атакой грузовиков самолеты совершили несколько пролетов на малой высоте, «демонстрируя силу». [177]
2 декабря 2015 года парламент Соединенного Королевства проголосовал за (397 против 223) разрешение на авиаудары по Сирии . [178] В течение нескольких часов самолеты Tornado Королевских ВВС нанесли свои первые авиаудары, нацелившись на нефтяные месторождения Омар на востоке Сирии, которые находились под контролем ИГИЛ. [179] Самолеты Tornado GR-4 использовались для разведки, а еще шесть Typhoon покинули базу ВВС Лоссимаут в Шотландии , чтобы присоединиться к силам на базе ВВС Акротири на Кипре . [180]
4 декабря 2015 года Германия вмешалась в ответ на атаки в Париже в ноябре 2015 года , отправив в регион фрегат Augsburg (F213) и разведывательный самолет Panavia Tornado. [181] Augsburg завершил свое первое развертывание в марте 2016 года, передислоцировался в сентябре и завершил свою миссию 14 ноября 2016 года. [182]
29 января 2016 года Нидерланды объявили о намерении расширить свои операции по нанесению авиаударов в Сирии . [183]
11 сентября 2015 года сирийский военный источник упомянул о российских войсках, присутствующих в Сирии для оказания помощи сирийскому правительству в его борьбе с ИГИЛ в рамках операции «Спасение». [184] [185] 17 сентября сирийские военные самолеты нанесли серию авиаударов по удерживаемому ИГИЛ городу Ракка с использованием российского оружия, поставленного Вооруженными силами России . [186] 20 ноября Россия заявила, что уничтожила более 600 террористов с помощью крылатых ракет в ходе одной миссии. [187]
ИГИЛ подозревается в причастности или ответственности за террористические атаки в Турции в мае 2013 года в Рейханлы и марте 2014 года на турецкую полицию , похищение 49 турецких дипломатов в июне 2014 года , взрыв на митинге в Диярбакыре 5 июня 2015 года и взрыв в Суруче 20 июля 2015 года, в результате которого погибли 32 молодых активиста. До июля 2015 года турецкое правительство атаковало ИГИЛ только один раз, в январе 2014 года. В сентябре 2014 года Турция присоединилась к возглавляемой США коалиции «по борьбе с ИГИЛ» .
По сообщениям различных турецких новостных агентств, 23 июля 60 бойцов элитных сил специального назначения (ÖKK) проникли в деревню Эльбейли-Айясе, расположенную в 9 километрах от границы Сирии и Турции в Сирии , и отбили ее у боевиков ИГИЛ. [188] [189] [190] Турецкие танки обстреляли деревню в тот же день, когда началась наземная операция. [191] По сообщениям, операция длилась более часа и унесла жизни более 100 боевиков ИГИЛ. [189] Турецкий генеральный штаб не подтвердил и не опроверг факт нападения спецназа, но подтвердил факт обстрела деревни. [192] [193]
В тот же день Турция разрешила Соединенным Штатам использовать авиабазы Инджирлик и Диярбакыр на юге Турции для нанесения авиаударов по ИГИЛ в Сирии , а после предполагаемого нападения ИГИЛ на турецкий пограничный форпост в провинции Килис, в результате которого погиб один турецкий солдат, турецкая армия обстреляла боевиков ИГИЛ в Сирии, в результате чего один боевик был убит и несколько транспортных средств ИГИЛ были уничтожены.
24 июля на сайте турецкой газеты появилось анонимное сообщение о том, что США договорились с Турцией о «частичной бесполетной зоне» на севере Сирии .
24 и 25 июля началась военная операция под названием « Операция «Мученик Ялчин »» против ИГИЛ в Сирии и Рабочей партии Курдистана (РПК) в Ираке , в которой было задействовано не менее 70 истребителей F-16 .
Рожава является основным театром военных действий в войне против Исламского государства в Сирии. Во время гражданской войны в Сирии курдские силы во главе с Отрядами народной самообороны (YPG) взяли под контроль Северную Сирию и начали кампании по взятию под контроль территорий, контролируемых исламистами. Сирийские демократические силы продолжили отвоевывать значительную территорию у Исламского государства и сыграли важную роль в освобождении Ракки и битве за Дейр-эз-Зор , положив конец правлению Исламского государства в Сирии.
В июне 2015 года лидер «Хезболлы» Хасан Насралла заявил, что ИГИЛ и «Нусра» закрепились в Ливане и что между ними и «Хезболлой», а также друг с другом идут ожесточенные бои. [194]
После начала полетов пилотируемых самолетов над Ираком и отправки части войск в июне, в августе 2014 года американские военные начали снабжать иракских курдов Пешмерга оружием, сбрасывать продовольствие беженцам, спасающимся от ИГИЛ, и наносить авиаудары по ИГИЛ в Ираке .
9 августа, говоря об авиаударах США в Ираке , президент Барак Обама заявил, что «это будет долгосрочный проект». [195] С тех пор девять стран [196] , являющихся союзниками США, также наносили авиаудары по ИГИЛ в Ираке, а различные страны оказывали военную и гуманитарную помощь иракскому правительству и сухопутным войскам иракских курдов.
16–19 августа, по данным США, курдские и иракские правительственные силы с помощью американских авиаударов вернули себе плотину Мосуль , самую большую плотину в Ираке . (Для получения дополнительной информации о победах и поражениях в Ираке против ИГИЛ см. Гражданская война в Ираке (2014–2017) ). Президент Обама объявил 10 сентября 2014 года, что количество авиаударов в Ираке увеличится, и что он направил туда еще 500 американских солдат. [163]
10 сентября 2019 года истребители F-35 и F-15E Strike Eagle ВВС США сбросили бомбы весом 36 000 кг на иракский остров, «наводненный» ИГИЛ. [197]
5 августа 2014 года Залмай Халилзад , бывший посол США в Ираке и ООН , написал в Washington Post , что Соединенные Штаты участвуют в «прямых поставках боеприпасов курдам и , с согласия Багдада, в поставках курдам некоторого количества оружия по программе Foreign Military Sales (FMS)». [198] [199] Соединенные Штаты перешли от непрямых поставок Курдистану стрелкового оружия через ЦРУ к прямым поставкам им такого оружия, как переносные противотанковые комплексы . [200]
В рамках скоординированных усилий под руководством США многие страны-союзники, включая членов НАТО и партнеров на Ближнем Востоке, поставляли или планируют поставлять иракским и/или курдским силам тяжелую военную технику, стрелковое оружие, боеприпасы, нелетальное военное снаряжение и поддержку в обучении.
Программа Building Partner Capacity (BPC) призвана помочь иракскому правительству подготовить силы для контратаки против ИГИЛ и возвращения своей территории. По данным Министерства обороны США , к маю 2015 года дюжина стран взяли на себя обязательства по программе BPC: Австралия , Бельгия , Канада , Дания , Франция , Германия , Италия , Нидерланды , Новая Зеландия , Норвегия , Испания , Великобритания и США, и 6500 иракских военнослужащих прошли подготовку в рамках BPC.
Соединенные Штаты , Великобритания и Австралия при поддержке международных партнеров начали масштабную гуманитарную акцию по оказанию помощи беженцам, застрявшим на севере Ирака. Это включало в себя сброс десятков тысяч порций еды и тысяч галлонов питьевой воды езидам, застрявшим в горах Синджар и находящимся под угрозой наступления сил ИГИЛ, в период с 7 по 14 августа 2014 года, что позже было описано как «первая массовая доставка гуманитарного груза по воздуху с момента вспышки насилия в Восточном Тиморе в 1999 году». [201] [202] [203] [204] [205]
Тысячи езидов и других иракских мирных жителей бежали в этот район после нападений на их деревни и город Синджар в конце июля и начале августа 2014 года.
Несколько правозащитных и наблюдательных организаций в регионе сообщили, что те, кто бежал в горы, были подвергнуты голоду и лишены чистой питьевой воды и медицинской помощи в течение нескольких месяцев, поскольку боевики ИГИЛ окружили их. Сотни мужчин, женщин и детей были похищены и убиты.
В ответ на непосредственную угрозу примерно 30 000 человек, оказавшихся в ловушке на горе, коалиционные самолеты начали сброс гуманитарной помощи. Эти сбросы включали основные предметы снабжения, такие как еда, вода и жилье, и проводились на низких высотах полета коалиционными транспортными самолетами под угрозой атак ИГИЛ земля-воздух.
В рамках прямой поддержки сброса гуманитарной помощи CF-18 обеспечили верхнее прикрытие для транспортного самолета Королевских австралийских ВВС (RAAF) C-130 Hercules 20 ноября, обеспечив экипажу транспорта возможность безопасно сбрасывать парашютами грузы ожидающим внизу беженцам. Канадские истребители оставались в непосредственной близости от транспортного самолета, чтобы защитить его от угроз или атак ИГИЛ земля-воздух . [206]
В отличие от своих партнеров по коалиции и в отличие от предыдущих боевых операций Америки, правительство США изначально не дало названия интервенции 2014 года против ИГИЛ . [207] Решение не называть конфликт вызвало значительную критику в СМИ. [208] [209] [210] [211] [212] Военнослужащие США по-прежнему не имеют права на получение медалей за кампанию и других наград из-за сохраняющейся двусмысленности продолжающегося участия США в Ираке. [213]
15 октября 2014 года Центральное командование США объявило, что возглавляемая США воздушная операция против ИГИЛ в Ираке и Сирии отныне будет называться операцией «Непоколебимая решимость» . [214] В пресс-релизе Центрального командования отмечалось:
«По словам официальных лиц CENTCOM, название INHERENT RESOLVE призвано отразить непоколебимую решимость и глубокую приверженность США и стран-партнеров в регионе и во всем мире ликвидации террористической группировки ИГИЛ и угрозы, которую она представляет для Ирака, региона и более широкого международного сообщества. Оно также символизирует готовность и преданность членов коалиции тесно сотрудничать с нашими друзьями в регионе и применять все имеющиеся необходимые измерения национальной мощи — дипломатические, информационные, военные, экономические — для ослабления и, в конечном счете, уничтожения ИГИЛ». [214]
В июне 2014 года американские войска начали проводить разведывательные миссии на севере Ирака. [215] [216] [217]
7 августа президент Обама выступил с речью в прямом эфире, в которой рассказал об ухудшении условий в Ираке и о том, что бедственное положение езидов , в частности, убедило его в необходимости военных действий США для защиты жизней американцев, защиты меньшинств в Ираке и остановки возможного наступления ИГИЛ на Эрбиль , столицу Курдского автономного региона . [218] 8 августа Соединенные Штаты начали бомбить объекты ИГИЛ в Ираке. [219] [220] К 10 августа при поддержке этих воздушных атак курдские силы заявили, что отбили города Махмур и Гвейр [221] у Исламского государства. Сообщалось, что в результате дополнительных иракских авиаударов, проведенных в Синджаре, погибло 45 боевиков ИГИЛ и было ранено еще 60 боевиков. [222] 11 августа представитель Пентагона заявил, что авиаудары замедлили продвижение ИГИЛ на севере Ирака, но вряд ли ухудшат возможности или операции ИГИЛ в других районах. [223] В период с 8 по 13 августа авиаудары США и курдских сухопутных войск позволили 35 000–45 000 беженцев-езидов бежать или быть эвакуированными из гор Синджар . [224]
On 16 August, U.S. air power began a close air campaign aimed at supporting the advance of Kurdish fighters moving toward the Mosul Dam. Kurdish sources commented that it was the "heaviest US bombing of militant positions since the start of air strikes".[225][226] President Obama on 17 August defended this usage of U.S. Forces as support of the Iraqi and Kurdish fight in general against ISIL—which indeed went beyond Obama's reasoning for launching airstrikes on 7 August.[227]
On 8 September, the Iraqi Army, with close air support from the U.S., retook the key Haditha Dam, and recaptured the town of Barwana, killing 15 ISIL fighters.[228] ISIL responded with the public execution of David Haines.[229] By the end of September 2014, the United States had conducted 240 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, as well as 1,300 tanker refueling missions, totaling 3,800 sorties by all types of aircraft. A tactical arrangement with Kurdish and Iraqi forces, and drone videos are being used to coordinate close air support without needing U.S. troops in ground combat.[230]
On 19 December 2014, US General James Terry announced that the number of US airstrikes on ISIL had increased to 1,361.[231]
On 25 December 2014, Hassan Saeed Al-Jabouri, the ISIL governor of Mosul, who was also known as Abu Taluut, was killed by a US-led Coalition airstrike in Mosul. It was also reported that the US planned to retake the city of Mosul in January 2015.[232]
On 15 January 2015, it was reported that over 16,000 airstrikes had been carried out by the Coalition. The U.S. Air Force has carried out around 60 percent of all strikes. Among them, F-16s performed 41 percent of all sorties, followed by the F-15E at 37 percent, then the A-10 at 11 percent, the B-1 bomber at eight percent, and the F-22 at 3 percent. The remaining 40 percent has been carried out by the US Navy and allied nations.[233]
On 20 January 2015, the SOHR reported that al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIL, had been wounded in an airstrike in Al-Qa'im, an Iraqi border town held by ISIL, and as a result, withdrew to Syria.[234]
On 21 January 2015, the US began coordinating airstrikes with a Kurdish launched offensive, to help them begin the planned operation to retake the city of Mosul.[235]
On 21 July 2015, it was reported that nearly 44,000 sorties have flown since August 2014.[236]
Throughout 2015, the vast majority of bombs and missiles launched by the US (approximately 22,000 of 23,000 total) were directed at targets in Iraq and Syria, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.[237]
In 2019 U.S military carried out an airstrike in Baghuz town in Syria leading to death of 64 women and children, marking the largest civilian casualty incidents of the war against the Islamic State. The incident was concealed by the U.S. military[238] and it was reported by the New York Times for the first time on November 14, 2021.[239]
In June 2020, coalition aircraft destroyed three ISIL camps in northern Iraq.[240]
In July, President Obama announced that due to the continuing violence in Iraq and the growing influence of non-state organizations, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the United States would be elevating its security commitment in the region. Approximately 800 U.S. troops secured American installations like the Embassy in Baghdad and the Consulate in Erbil as well as taking control of strategic locations like the Baghdad airport in cooperation with Iraqi troops.[241]
U.S. forces also undertook a mission to "assess and to advise [Iraqi security forces] as they confront [ISIL] and the complex security situation on the ground."[242] Reports from these American units about the capabilities of the Iraqi military have been consistently grim, viewing them as "compromised" by sectarian interests.[243][244][245]
On 13 August 2014, the U.S. deployed another 130 military advisers to Northern Iraq[246] and up to 20 U.S. Marines and special forces servicemen landed on Mount Sinjar from V-22 aircraft to coordinate the evacuation of Yazidi refugees joining British SAS already in the area.[247]
On 3 September 2014, Obama announced increase of U.S. forces in Iraq to 1,213.[248] On 10 September, Obama gave a speech reiterating that U.S. troops will not fight in combat, but about 500 more troops will be sent to Iraq to help train Iraqi forces.[163]
In early November 2014, Obama announced that he would be doubling the U.S. ground presence inside Iraq to around 3,000 men.[249] By early December 2014, the number of U.S. ground troops in Iraq had increased to 3,100.[250]
On 9 December 2014, the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations authorized U.S. military force against ISIL. However, it limits military force to three years, requires the administration to report to Congress every 60 days, and prohibits the deployment of U.S. combat troops, except in specific cases, such as those involving the rescue or protection of U.S. soldiers, or for intelligence operations.[251]
During the early morning hours of 14 December 2014, U.S. ground forces allegedly clashed with ISIL alongside the Iraqi Army and Tribal Forces near the Ain al-Assad Airbase, west of Anbar, in an attempt to repel them from the base of which includes about 100 U.S. advisers in it, when ISIL attempted to overrun the base. According to a field commander of the Iraqi Army in Al Anbar Governorate, said that "the U.S. force equipped with light and medium weapons, supported by F-18, was able to inflict casualties against fighters of ISIL organization, and forced them to retreat from the al-Dolab area, which lies 10 kilometers from Ain al-Assad base." Sheikh Mahmud Nimrawi, a prominent tribal leader in the region, added that "U.S. forces intervened because of ISIL started to come near the base, which they are stationed in so out of self-defense," he responded, welcoming the U.S. intervention, and saying "which I hope will not be the last."[252][253][254] This was said to be the first encounter between the United States and the Islamic State, in four years. However, this claim has been stated to be "false" by The Pentagon.[255]
On 5 January 2015, The Pentagon acknowledged that ISIL had been ineffectively mortaring the base.[256]
In late February 2015, another 1,300 US soldiers were deployed to Iraq, increasing the number of US ground troops in Iraq to 4,400.[257]
On 9 March 2020, the Pentagon released a statement claiming that two American Marines were killed on 8 March 2020 during an anti-ISIS operation in a mountainous area of north central Iraq.[258] Col. Myles B. Caggins III, a spokesman for the OIR coalition, later identified the Marines as Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, 34, of Simi Valley, California, and Capt. Moises A. Navas, 34, of Germantown, Maryland, who were also MARSOC Raiders, and that they died during an operation which also claimed the lives of four ISIS fighters during an American-led operation which involved clearing an ISIS cave complex in the Makhmur Mountains, south of Erbil.[259]
The coalition officially concluded its combat mission in Iraq on 9 December 2021, but U.S. troops remained in Iraq to advise, train, and assist Iraqi security forces against the ongoing ISIL insurgency, including providing air support and military aid.[260][261]
On 3 October 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the Australian Cabinet approved for RAAF Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter bombers to begin airstrikes against Islamic State militants. Abbott said "It is in our national interest that we do so, it is in the interests of civilisation that we do so. It is in everyone's best interests that the murderous rage of the ISIL death cult be checked and rolled back and that's what we're determined to do."[262]
On 6 October, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin announced two Super Hornets had conducted armed combat missions over Iraq although no armaments were expended. An Australian Air task Group KC-30A and an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft have also been flying in support to fighter bombers belonging to coalition forces. The KC-30A performs airborne refueling for coalition aircraft.[263] Binskin said "One of our Super Hornet packages on the first night ... had an identified target which it was tracking and that particular target moved into an urban area where the risks of conducting a strike on that target increased to a point where it exceeded our expectations of collateral damage, so they discontinued the attack at that point."[264]
On 9 October, Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed that RAAF Super Hornets had been involved in a "strike missions on an ISIL position in Iraq".[265] The aircraft dropped two bombs onto an isolated building which ISIL was using as a command and control center.[266]
As of 17 October, the Royal Australian Air Force had conducted 43 combat sorties over Iraq.[267] Recent strikes had targeted equipment facilities, with "at least two" resulting in ISIL casualties after Australian aircraft had increased the number of missions flown to allow U.S. and coalition forces to assist Kurdish fighters around Kobanî, in northern Syria.[268][269]
After more than 2 years of involvement in the coalition, Australia announced the end of its airstrikes in Iraq, after informing Iraq and other allies.[270]
On 12 August 2014, the United Kingdom deployed six Tornado GR4 strike aircraft to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to help coordinate its humanitarian aid airdrops in Northern Iraq.[271] On 16 August 2014, following the completion of humanitarian aid airdrops, the Tornado GR4s, along with an RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, were re-tasked to provide aerial surveillance to coalition forces.[272]
In early September 2014, British Prime Minister David Cameron began voicing his support for British airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq.[273] Weeks later, Parliament was recalled and Members debated whether or not to authorise airstrikes. The seven-hour debate resulted in overwhelming support for airstrikes, with 524 votes in favour and 43 votes against.[274]
On 27 September 2014, the first armed sortie took place over Iraq. A pair of Tornado GR4s left Cyprus armed with laser-guided bombs, supported by a Voyager aerial refueling tanker. Ultimately, the aircraft did not locate any targets requiring immediate air attack and so gathered intelligence for coalition forces instead.[275] The Royal Air Force (RAF) conducted its first airstrike on 30 September 2014. A pair of Tornado GR4s engaged an ISIL heavy weapon position and an armed pickup truck using a laser-guided bomb and air-to-surface missile.[276]
On 3 October 2014, the RAF deployed two additional Tornado aircraft to bring its deployed fleet up to eight aircraft.[277] During the same month, it was also confirmed that the Royal Navy was involved in anti-ISIL operations in a support role, with air defence destroyer HMS Defender providing escort to U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush as she launched aircraft into Iraq and Syria.[278] Nick Clegg, then Deputy Prime Minister, also disclosed during an interview that there was a nuclear attack submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles deployed to the region.[279]
On 16 October 2014, the Ministry of Defence announced it would deploy MQ-9 Reaper drones to assist with surveillance, although, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon stated that the drones could also conduct airstrikes if required.[280] The first Reaper drone strike occurred weeks later in Bayji, north of Baghdad, against a group of ISIL militants which had been laying improvised explosive devices.[281] As of September 2015, a year after operations first began, more than 330 ISIL fighters had been killed by British airstrikes in Iraq, without any civilian casualties.[282][283]
In addition to operations over Iraq, the United Kingdom had also intervened in Syria by 21 October 2014, making it the first Western country, other than the United States, to do so.[146] However, British aircraft were not permitted to carrying out airstrikes until Parliament had voted to give its authorization. Despite this, the Royal Air Force carried out a drone strike in Syria on 21 August 2015, against two UK-born ISIL fighters which had been plotting attacks against the United Kingdom. Prime Minister David Cameron insisted that it was a lawful act of self-defense.[284]
Since the authorization of airstrikes in Iraq, Prime Minister David Cameron had made persistent calls for airstrikes in Syria; however, he affirmed that no airstrikes would take place until after a vote in Parliament.[285] On 2 December 2015, following the November 2015 Paris attacks and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2249, David Cameron opened a ten-hour debate in Parliament on Syrian airstrikes, which ended with a final vote. 397 MPs voted in favour of airstrikes, whilst 223 voted against.[286] Airstrikes commenced two hours after the vote, taking place in eastern Syria against the ISIL-held Oman oilfield.[281] Defence Secretary Michael Fallon also subsequently announced that the UK's "strike force" based in Cyprus would double, with the addition of six Eurofighter Typhoons and two Tornado GR4s.[286]
In addition to airstrikes, the United Kingdom has also made significant contributions towards the coalition's ISTAR capabilities. The Royal Air Force has deployed Sentinel R1, Sentry AEW1, RC-135W Rivet Joint and Shadow R1 aircraft to gather surveillance, in addition to Tornado GR4 and MQ-9 Reaper strike aircraft. In September 2015, the United Kingdom was responsible for a third of all coalition surveillance flights over Iraq and Syria, with the Tornado GR4s RAPTOR reconnaissance pod accounting for 60% of the coalition's entire tactical reconnaissance in Iraq alone.[287][288]
In December 2016, the Telegraph reported that Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon said "The British Army have trained over 31,000 Iraqi and Peshmerga who are taking the fight to Daesh"[289] It was also reported that the Royal Air Force is operating at its most intense for 25 years in a single theatre of operation which far outstripped the UK involvement in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014), with RAF jets having dropped 11 times more bombs on Syria and Iraq in the preceding 12 months than they had in the busiest year of action in Afghanistan a decade previously.[289]
Canada took part in airstrikes against ISIL from 2 November 2014 until 22 February 2016 when following the election of Justin Trudeau to Prime Minister withdrew its CF-18s fighter jets and ended all airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.[290]
The Canadian contribution was code-named Operation Impact by the Canadian Department of National Defence.[291][292] Canadian aircraft left for the Middle East to join in airstrikes on 21 October 2014. In total, six CF-18 fighter jets, an Airbus CC-150 Polaris air-to-air refueling tanker and two CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft were sent, along with 700 military personnel.
Canadian CF-18 fighter jets completed their first operational flights departing from Kuwait on 31 October.[293] The first Canadian airstrikes began on 2 November.[294] Canada also flew an extra CF-18 to Kuwait to be used as a spare if the need arises, however a maximum of six are authorized to fly with the coalition missions.[295]
On 4 November 2014, Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18s destroyed ISIL construction equipment using GBU-12 bombs. The construction equipment was being used to divert the Euphrates River to deny villages water, and to flood roads, diverting traffic to areas with IEDs.[296]
On 12 November 2014, Canadian jets destroyed ISIL artillery just outside the Northern Iraqi town of Baiji.[297] Airstrikes continued throughout December and into January, 2015, totaling 28 strike missions.[298] It was then reported that Canadian special forces troops, which had been highlighting targets for airstrikes, had engaged in fighting after coming under attack.[298][299]
On 19 January 2015, Canadian special operations forces came under ISIL attack for the first time in Iraq, and returned sniper fire to "neutralize" the threat. Canadians are "enabling airstrikes from the ground," meaning they are actively finding targets for jets flying overhead.[300]
On 29 January 2015, Canadian special forces in Iraq came under fire from ISIL forces, causing the Canadian troops to return fire, killing some ISIL militants.[301] On 6 March, a Canadian soldier was killed in a friendly fire incident by Kurdish forces while returning to an observation post.[302]
On 8 April 2015, two CF-18s carried out their first airstrike against ISIL in Syria, hitting one of the group's garrisons.[303]
From 2 Nov 2014 to 13 May 2015 the Canadian armed forces struck 80 ISIL fighting positions, 19 ISIL vehicles, and 10 storage facilities.
On 21 October 2015, Canadian Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau informed U.S. President Barack Obama that he intended to withdraw Canadian aircraft from operations over Iraq and Syria but increase training missions on the ground.[304][305]
On 8 February 2016, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the CF-18s would be withdrawn from the bombing mission no later than 22 February 2016. However, the surveillance aircraft and air-to-air jet refueller would continue. In addition, the amount of training troops would triple.[306]
The Canadian Government would extend the Operation until 31 March 2025.[307]
On 24 September 2014, the Dutch government announced its participation in "the military campaign" against ISIL which, as they claimed, had been started by the United States, and sent six F-16 fighter jets to Iraq to bomb ISIL. Their motivations to join this war: ISIL's advance in Iraq and Syria, while displaying "unprecedented violence" and "perpetrating terrible crimes against population groups", formed "a direct threat for that region"; ISIL's advance in Iraq and Syria "causes instability at the borders of Europe" which threatens "our own [Dutch] safety". Figures requested by RTL Nieuws in August 2015 showed that the Netherlands was among the most active countries within the coalition, third behind only the United States and the United Kingdom.[308] In January 2016, the Netherlands extended their bombings of ISIL to Syrian territory. By the end of July 2016 the Dutch Air Task Force flew more than 2100 missions and carried out over 1800 air strikes.[309] At the end of the Dutch contribution to the Air Task Force, in December 2018, the Royal Netherlands Air Force had flown over 3000 missions and conducted approximately 2100 air strikes.[310]
On 19 September 2014, the French Air Force used its Rafale jets to conduct airstrikes on ISIL targets in Mosul. The airstrikes were approved by French President François Hollande, which indicated that France was committed to fighting ISIL using air power alongside the United States.[311] Hollande mentioned that no ground troops would be used in the conflict. To conduct its airstrikes, France deployed 9 Rafale fighters to the United Arab Emirates, 6 Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters to Jordan, in addition to an Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, a Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft, and a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling tanker.[312]
On 23 February 2015, the French Navy also deployed its Task Force 473 carrier strike group to the Persian Gulf with the intent on conducting airstrikes from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The Charles de Gaulle contributed 12 Rafale fighters, 9 Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard strike aircraft, and 2 E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft. The task force also included the French frigate Chevalier Paul (D621), a Rubis-class submarine, a Durance-class tanker, and the British frigate HMS Kent.[313] After eight weeks of operations, the task force left the Persian Gulf on its way to India, heralding the end of its contribution to Operation Chammal.[312]
On 5 November 2015, it was announced that the Charles de Gaulle would resume operations in Syria to fight ISIL.[314]
On 15 November 2015, after the November 2015 Paris attacks, the French Air Force launched its largest airstrike of the bombing campaign sending 12 planes, including 10 fighters, that dropped 20 bombs in training camps and ammunition facilities in Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS.[315]
After the downed Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh was executed by ISIL by being burned to death, King Abdullah II vowed revenge and temporarily took the lead in the bombing raids on ISIL during February 2015. On 8 February, Jordan claimed that during the course of 3 days, from 5–7 February, their airstrikes alone had killed 7,000 ISIL militants in Iraq and Syria, and also reportedly degraded 20% of the militant group's capability.[316]
In December 2014 Morocco sent 4 F-16s to bomb ISIL positions, initially in the outskirts of Baghdad and other undisclosed locations.[317] The planes operated under the command of the UAE and suspended operations in February 2015.[318]
See overview in section Turkish intervention.
In mid-June 2014, according to American and British sources, Iran sent Qasem Soleimani, commanding general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force (IRGC-QF), to Iraq to help the government organize against ISIL.[319] Later that month Iran started flying drones over Iraq,[320] and by August, according to sources like Reuters, Iranian soldiers were in Iraq fighting ISIL.[321] One war correspondent suggested that Iran "joined the air war" against ISIL on 21 June.[322]
In July, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Iran sent several Su-25 aircraft to Iraq,[323] supported by Iranian/Iraqi ground crews trained in Iran.[1] In early August, those Su-25s began combat against ISIL, according to Business Insider.[1]
By September, according to Business Insider, Iranian Quds Force personnel were deployed to Samarra, Baghdad, Karbala, and the abandoned U.S. military post formerly known as Camp Speicher.[1] At the end of November 2014, an Israeli website claimed to have seen Iranian F-4 Phantom II jet-fighters bombing ISIL in eastern Iraq;[324] a claim the U.S. army verified.[325]
In March and May 2015, American commentators indicated Qasem Soleimani was "leading Iraq's military strategy against ISIL".[326][327]
Already "for a long time" before June 2014, Hezbollah had a presence in Iraq of advisers offering guidance to Shia fighters, according to a Hezbollah commander interviewed by The National.[328]
In June 2014, Hezbollah reportedly set up a dedicated command center in Lebanon to monitor developments in Iraq.[329] On 17 June, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that the party was "ready to sacrifice martyrs in Iraq five times more than what we sacrificed in Syria in order to protect shrines."[330]
In July 2014, Hezbollah sent more technical trainers and advisers to Iraq, to monitor ISIL's movements, according to a Hezbollah commander.[328] Shortly thereafter, Hezbollah commander Ibrahim al-Hajj was reported killed in action near Mosul.[328]
An August Reuters story reported there were "dozens" of Hezbollah "battle-hardened veterans" in Iraq, while the Christian Science Monitor reported the party had deployed a 250-man unit "responsible for advising, training, and coordinating the Iraqi Shia militias."[331][332]
In February 2015, Nasrallah confirmed that he had sent troops to fight in Iraq.[333]
After ISIL killed 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya,[334] Egypt conducted airstrikes on ISIL targets in Libya on 16 February 2015, killing a total of 64 ISIL militants (50 in Derna).[335] Warplanes acting under orders from the "official" Libyan government also struck targets in Derna, reportedly in coordination with Egypt's airstrikes.[336] A Libyan official stated that more joint airstrikes would follow.[336]
Concern over ISIL activities in Derna District in Libya in December 2014 led to U.S. drones and electronic surveillance planes making "constant flights" from Italian bases, over the district of Derna.[337]
On 15 November 2015, the United States launched an airstrike in Derna, Libya. Two U.S. F-15E fighter jets targeted senior ISIL leader Abu Nabil al-Anbari in the airstrike, who was the top ISIL commander in Libya.[338][339] In January 2016, ISIL's Libyan faction confirmed Abu Nabil's death in a eulogy to him.[340]
Administration officials are weighing a new campaign plan for Libya that would deepen the United States' military and diplomatic involvement, on yet another front against ISIL. The United States and its allies are increasing reconnaissance flights and intelligence collecting there—and even preparing for possible airstrikes and raids, according to senior American officials. Special Operations forces have met with various Libyan groups over the past months to vet them for possible action against ISIL.[341]
On 19 February 2016, US warplanes carried out an airstrike on multiple ISIL targets in Libya, hitting an Islamic State training camp and a senior extremist leader, the training camp was near Sabratha, Libya, 60 people were present at the camp at the time of the strike, more than 40 people were killed with more wounded, some critically, On 14 February 2016, a U.N.-designated council presented a new 18-member Libyan cabinet in the Moroccan city of Skhirat, weeks after an earlier lineup was rejected. The internationally recognized parliament has to endorse the new unity cabinet. If approved, the new unity government could eventually seek international military intervention against Islamic State extremists who have taken advantage of the country's political vacuum since 2014.
On 1 August 2016, U.S. crewed and uncrewed aircraft carried out airstrikes on ISIL targets in Libya, responding to the U.N.-backed government's request to help push the militants from their stronghold of Sirte, in what U.S. officials described as the start of a sustained campaign against the extremist group in the city. President Barack Obama authorized the airstrikes after a recommendation by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter; the strikes hit an ISIL tank and two vehicles that posed a threat to forces aligned with Libyan GNA (Government of National Accord). This was the third U.S. air strike against Islamic State militants in Libya, but this time U.S. officials said it marked the start of a sustained air campaign rather than another isolated strike, U.S. airstrikes will continue to target ISIL in Sirte in order to enable the GNA to make a decisive, strategic advance. U.S. AFRICOM command is overseeing the US effort, which is known as Operation Odyssey Lightning, AV-8B Harrier II assigned to the 22nd MEU flying off USS Wasp conducted the airstrikes and uncrewed aircraft launched from undisclosed locations.[342][343][344][345][346][347][348][349] Airstrikes continued, on 2 August, airstrikes hit a rocket launcher, an excavator and a pickup truck with a mounted recoilless rifle and on 3 August airstrikes struck a pickup truck with a mounted recoilless rifle; by 9 August the U.S. conducted 28 strikes against ISIL in Libya, with more than half of the strikes being conducted from uncrewed aircraft.[343][347] By 16 August, U.S. airstrikes hit an ISIL vehicle and 4 militant positions in Sirte, bringing the number of U.S. airstrikes in Libya to 48.[350] On 17 August, U.S. Africa Command officials announced on 16 August airstrikes on ISIL targets in Sirte struck 7 enemy fighting positions, 4 vehicle-borne bombs, 1 pickup truck with a mounted recoilless rifle, 12 enemy fighting positions and 1 command-and-control vehicle, bringing the total number of airstrikes in support of Operation Odyssey Lightning to 57.[351] On 22 August, Stars and Stripes reported that U.S. Marine AH-1W SuperCobra helicopters participated in strikes against ISIL militants in Sirte on 20 and 21 August; a small detachment of US special forces in Sirte provided most of the targeting information for the airstrikes which were then relayed to U.S. forces through Libyan government troops.[352] On 31 August, Stars and Stripes reported that in the past month, the U.S. military conducted 104 airstrikes against IS targets in Libya.[353]
On 22 September, Stars and Stripes reported that the pace of US airstrikes against IS militants in Libya slowed in September as the number of insurgents holed up in a hard-to-target section of Sirte had shrunk, (the US conducted 50 airstrikes against IS targets, compared with 108 in August) with about 200 militants remaining.[354] On 28 September, Fox News reported that as of 26 September, U.S. Marine Corps Harrier jets and attack helicopters as well as drones conducted 175 airstrikes against ISIL in Libya, according to the U.S. military's Africa Command. According to a U.S. official the number of ISIL fighters in Sirte was estimated to be "under 100" and that "ISIS is only in three neighborhoods."[355]
On 3 October, Stars and Stripes reported that on 2 October the US conducted 20 airstrikes (bringing the total number of strikes to 201) in Libya: knocking out a command and control facility, nearly 70 IS fighting positions and several other sites in what was the heaviest day of bombing since the operation began, according to U.S. Africa Command data. The strikes were in support of an offensive by ground forces aligned with the internationally backed Libyan government.[356] On 11 October, Stars and Stripes reported that U.S. warplanes conducted 51 airstrikes against ISIL targets in Libya, particularly in and around Sirte, between 7 and 10 October, marking it as some of the heaviest bombing since the start of the Operation; bringing the total number of U.S. airstrikes in Libya to 261.[357] On 17 October, Fox News reported that US airstrikes against ISIS in Libya doubled in less than a month (bringing the number of airstrikes up to 324).[358] On 21 October 2016, Stars and Stripes reported that USS San Antonio deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Operation Odyssey Lightning to replace USS Wasp that was carrying out operations against ISIS. San Antonio will carry UH-1Y Hueys and AH-1W Cobras from the 22nd MEU's Aviation Combat Unit, VMM-264; Marine Harrier fighters were part of the operation aboard Wasp, however San Antonio does not host fighter jets.[359]
On 4 November 2016, Fox News reported that the U.S. military ended its bombing campaign against ISIS in Sirte after three months of round-the-clock airstrikes the U.S. military conducted a total of 367 airstrikes since 1 August 2016, according to officials, no American airstrikes took place since 31 October; units taking part in the operation received orders on 1 November from AFRICOM to end offensive and collective self-defence airstrikes. A senior defense official said the U.S. military would "continue to provide military support to the GNA ... ISIL-held territory in Sirte is down to a few hundred square meters. We'll continue to discuss with the GNA leadership what additional support they may need moving forward including air strikes."[360]
Sirte was liberated by GNA forces in early December; on 20 December 2016, ABC news reported that AFRICOM said that it carried out 495 airstrikes against militant vehicles and positions in the former IS stronghold of Sirte,[361] Operation Odyssey Lightning concluded on 19 December, following an announcement from the Libyan government of the end of offensive military operations in Sirte.[362]
On 18 January 2017, ABC News reported that two USAF B-2 bombers struck two ISIL camps 28 miles south of Sirte. The airstrikes targeted between 80 and 100 ISIS fighters in multiple camps, an uncrewed aircraft also participated in the airstrikes. One official called the airstrikes "a huge success," with more than 80 ISIL fighters killed, one counterterrorism official told ABC News there were "zero survivors" at the camps. Many of the ISIS fighters in the camps had fled Sirte during the battle, according to another official; Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement ISIS fighters had fled to the remote desert camps "in order to reorganize and they posed a security threat to Libya, the region, and U.S. national interests;" The militants were carrying weapons, wearing tactical vests and standing in formation. The airstrikes were authorised by President Obama and were carried out in coordination with GNA; they are considered to be an extension of Operation Odyssey Lightning.[363] BBC News reported that the B-2s flew a round-trip of around 34 hours from Missouri and dropped around 100 bombs on their targets, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said those targeted were "actively planning" attacks in Europe.[364] NBC News later reported that the number of ISIL fighters killed was revised upward to 90; a U.S. defense official said that "This was the largest remaining ISIS presence in Libya," and that "They have been largely marginalised but I am hesitant to say they've been completely eliminated in Libya."[365]
On 22 September 2017, the US military conducted 6 airstrikes with unmanned aircraft on an ISI: camp 150 miles southeast of Sirte, killing 17 militants and destroying three vehicles. CNN reported an AFRICOM statement that the strikes took place "In coordination with Libya's Government of National Accord and aligned forces" and that "The camp was used by ISIS to move fighters in and out of the country; stockpile weapons and equipment; and to plot and conduct attacks". The strikes marked the first time airstrikes had been carried out in the country under the Donald Trump administration.[366]
The U.S. military has been closely monitoring ISIL movements in Libya, and small teams of U.S. military personnel moved in and out of the country over a period of months in early 2016. British, French, Italian and Jordanian special forces as well as the British RAF were also in Libya helping with aerial surveillance, mapping and intelligence gathering in several cities, including Benghazi in the east and Zintan in the west, according to two Libyan military officials who were coordinating with them.[367][368][369] British and American special forces were also carrying out intelligence-gathering operations around Sirte.[370]
Since the beginning of 2016, British Special forces have been escorting teams of MI6 agents to meet with Libyan officials and organise the supplying weapons and training to the Libyan Army and to militias fighting against ISIL.[371][372] On 27 February 2016, The Telegraph reported that British special forces had deployed alongside its U.S. counterparts in the city of Misrata to stop Islamist militants progress, their main role is to give tactical training to local militias and to build an army to fight ISIL.[373] In May 2016, it was reported that British special forces engaged in frontline combat against ISIL in Libya; in particular they destroyed two ISIL suicide vehicles that were targeting Libyan fighters. On 12 May, at the Shaddadah Bridge, 50 miles south of Misrata, the approach of a suicide vehicle sent Libyan forces fleeing in panic, British special forces intervened and destroyed the vehicle with a missile.[374][375] An estimated dozen U.S. special forces operated out of a base near Misrata and were in action near Tripoli.[376]
In a plan disclosed in late 2015, Britain was to offer the Libyan government 1,000 troops as part of a 5,000-strong combined with Italy, to train and equip the Libyan forces rather than take part in frontline fighting.[373] In addition, British defence minister Michael Fallon announced that Britain is sending 20 troops from the 4th Infantry Brigade to Tunisia to help prevent Islamic State fighters from moving into the country from Libya.[377]
In June 2016, it was reported that ISIL militants were retreating from Sirte and some fighters reportedly cutting off their beards and long hair to blend in with civilians as militia fighters allied to the unity government pushed into the city in tanks and armed trucks. The militias, mostly from Misrata, are allied to and are the main fighting force for the U.N.-brokered unity government installed in Tripoli the previous year.[378] On 11 June, the BBC reported that Libyan forces claimed they retook control of part of Sirte after fierce fighting against ISIL militants.[379] In July 2016, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said ISIL fighters in Libya were facing the "distinct possibility" of defeat in their last stronghold and are likely to scatter elsewhere in the country and the region;[349][380] At the beginning of 2016, ISIL was believed to have more than 5,000 fighters in Libya, by August 2016, estimates said there could be less than 1,000 left,[344] and by 9 August, only 350 ISIL fighters remained alive in Sirte.[343] U.S. and British special forces were involved in the battle for Sirte: U.S. troops were operating out of a joint operations center on the city's outskirts, their role was limited to supporting forces unity government forces, providing direct, on-the-ground support.[381] On 22 September, Stars and Stripes reported that Since the start of the battle, many ISIL members fled the city, "looking to hide among the population, relocate to other Libyan towns or attempting to leave Libya altogether."[354]
The BBC reported that ISIL's announcement of the establishment of its Afghanistan/Pakistan-based Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP) in January 2015, it was the first time that ISIL had officially spread outside the Arab world. Within weeks, the group appeared in at least five provinces in Afghanistan: Helmand, Zabul, Farah, Logar and Nangarhar-trying to establish pockets of territory from which to expand. In the first half of 2015, ISIL-KP managed to capture large parts of territory in eastern Nangarhar province. This became the de facto "capital" principally for two reasons: its proximity to the tribal areas of Pakistan, home of ISIL-KP's top leaders; and the presence of some people who follow a similar Salafi/Wahhabi interpretation of Islam to ISIL. ISIL-KP is also trying to get a foothold in northern Afghanistan, where it aims to link up with Central Asian, Chechen and Chinese Uighur militants; IS's numerical strength inside Afghanistan vary, ranging from 1,000 to 5,000.[382]
In February 2015, ISIL-KP deputy commander Mullah Abdul Rauf Khadim was killed in a U.S. drone strike along with 5 others, his successor met the same fate a month later, and since then, the Islamic State has been absent from the southern Afghanistan.[383][384]
A report says that, according to a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson, in July 2015, a U.S. drone strike killed Shahidullah Shadid, a senior leader of ISIL-KP and 24 other militants, in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan.[385]
In January 2016, President Obama sent a directive to the Pentagon to make it easier for the military to get approval for strikes in Afghanistan, targeting militias that have sworn allegiance to ISIL.[386] For 3 weeks in that month, the United States military carried out at least a dozen operations, including commando raids and airstrikes, many of these raids and strikes taking place in the Tora Bora region of Nangarhar Province. American commanders in Afghanistan said they believed that between 90 and 100 ISIL militants had been killed in these recent operations.[341]On 1 February 2016, U.S. airstrikes in Nangarhar province eastern Afghanistan killed 29 ISIL fighters and struck the terrorist group's FM radio station.[387] On 21 February, it was reported that just over a week before, Afghan forces supported by U.S. airstrikes pushed ISIL militants out of their stronghold in Nangarhar province in a military operation that had killed a total 43 ISIL militants by 22 February.[388][389][390] On 6 March 2016, Afghanistan's president announced that the ISIL-KP had been defeated in the eastern parts of the country, Afghan forces claimed victory following the 21-day operation in 2 districts in Nangarhar province, claiming at least 200 militants killed.[391] following this operation, an official confirmed that ISIL-KP militants had moved into Kunduz province and into Kunar province.[392][393]
In early April 2016, it was reported that US and Afghan forces had killed 1,979 suspected militants, 736 others wounded and 965 detained between April 2015 and March 2016, ISIS militants have also been trying to flee into Ghazni and Nuristan province, whilst there has been a rise in defections from the group to the government and the Taliban.[394][395] U.S. commanders in Kabul have scaled back their threat assessment for ISIL-KP, since January, the U.S. and its allies launched between 70 and 80 airstrikes on ISIL militants in Afghanistan.[396]
In late June 2016, IS militants attacked police checkpoints in the Kot area of Nangarhar province and heavy fighting ensued, as many as 36 IS militants were killed in the assaults, at least a dozen Afghan security forces and civilians were killed, with another 18 wounded. The latest attacks indicate the group remains a potent threat to a government.[397][398]
On 8 July 2016, The Guardian reported that Prime minister David Cameron increased the number of British troops deployed to Afghanistan from 450 to 500, and that 21 of these additional troops would reinforce the counter-terrorism mission.[399]
On 23 July 2016, following the Kabul bombing, Afghan forces and U.S. special forces backed by U.S. airstrikes began an operation to retake parts on Nangarhar province from ISIL-KP militants. Over 24 and 25 July whilst clearing areas of southern Nangarhar with Afghan special operations troops, 5 U.S. special forces troops were wounded by small arms fire or shrapnel, making it the first reported instance of U.S. troops being wounded in fighting ISIL in Afghanistan. On 26 July, one of the most important leaders of ISIL in the region and one of the founders of the ISIL-KP, Saad Emarati, was killed along with 120 other suspected militants in Kot District, Afghan troops pushed into Kot District, meeting little resistance due to heavy air and artillery bombardment that forced ISIL fighters to flee into nearby mountain areas, Afghan forces found an already destroyed training camp. Overall, the operation reclaimed large and significant parts of eastern Afghanistan, forcing ISIL militants back into the mountains of southern Nangarhar with hundreds of IS militants killed; the estimated size of the ISIL-KP in January 2016 was around 3,000, but by July 2016 the number has been reduced to closely 1,000 to 1,500, with 70% of its fighters come from the TTP. In the operation, Afghan forces, backed by the US, killed an estimated 300 ISIS fighters.[400][401][402][403][404][405]
Between January and early August 2016, U.S. aircraft conducted nearly 140 airstrikes against ISIL targets in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. military.[405]
On 4 October 2016, a US soldier from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 10th SFG was killed by a roadside bomb blast in Achin, Nangarhar province, he was on a patrol with Afghan forces during an operation against ISIL-KP militants.[406] This marked the first time a U.S. serviceman was killed in combat against IS militants in the country.[407]
On 24 December 2016, Military.com reported that Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said that ISIL-KP's presence in the country has been pushed back from nearly a dozen districts to just two or three, the number of its members in Afghanistan had been reduced to about 1,000 from an estimated strength of between 1,500 and 3,000 members the previous year. Overall, U.S. troops in Afghanistan conducted more than 350 operations against the IS and al-Qaeda this year. In early December, General John Nicholson, the international coalition's top military commander in Afghanistan, said U.S.-led counter-terrorism operations and Afghan government forces had killed 12 of the organization's top leaders in the country. U.S. officials have said IS fighters are primarily located in Nangarhar and Kunar Province's.[408] Military.com reported that Nicholson estimated that his forces had killed about 500 ISIS fighters throughout 2016 (including the 12 most senior leaders), these losses accounted for about 25 to 30% of ISIL-KP's total number of fighters and reduced its foothold in the country from 9 districts to 3.[409]
In February 2017, the Washington Post reported that U.S. forces conducted more than 1,000 strikes in Afghanistan in 2016, including 267 against IS-K and 57 targeted al-Qaeda.[410] The BBC also reported that ISIL-KP has largely been eliminated from southern and western Afghanistan by the Afghan Taliban and military operations conducted by Afghan and US/NATO forces. Several hundred ISIL-KP fighters have been killed in clashes with the Afghan Taliban.[382]
In early April 2017, the Washington Post reported that Captain Bill Salvin, a spokesman for NATOs' mission to Afghanistan that Afghan and international forces have reduced ISIL-KP controlled territory in Afghanistan by two-thirds and killed around half of their fighters in the previous 2 years. Since the beginning of 2017, there have been 460 airstrikes against terrorists (with drone strikes alone killing more than 200 IS militants); he added that the affiliate has an estimated 600 to 800 fighters in two eastern Afghan provinces.[411]
The Army Times reported that in early March 2017, American and Afghan forces launched Operation Hamza to "flush" ISIL-KP from its stronghold in eastern Afghanistan, engaging in regular ground battles.[412] Stars and Stripes reported that General Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for Afghanistan's Defense Ministry, said that for four weeks before the 13 April Nangarhar airstrike (which was part of the operation), Afghan special forces unsuccessfully attempted to penetrate the area because of the difficult terrain and improvised explosive device (IEDs) planted by ISIL-KP militants.[413] On 13 April, the Nangarhar airstrike took place, Stars and Stripes reported that 94 ISIL-KP militants, including 4 commanders were killed by a GBU-43/B MOAB bomb that was dropped on an ISIS tunnel complex in Achin District;[413] the Huffington Post reported that the bomb was dropped from a U.S.Lockheed MC-130.[414] In late April Military Times reported that Captain Bill Salvin said an estimated 400 to 700 fighters are active throughout Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.[409]
Sky News reported on 3 September 2018 that British special forces were also targeting IS-K in Afghanistan alongside US special forces.[415]
On 19 November 2019, Stars and Stripes reported that 243 ISIS fighters and nearly 400 family members surrendered to government forces in Nangarhar Province during the previous two weeks. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared that "the result is Daesh's backbone was broken".[416]
On 26 August 2021 during the American evacuation from Afghanistan, a member of IS-K detonated a bomb near a gate at Kabul International Airport, killing at least 183 civilians and 13 US soldiers.[417] In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the US conducted a retaliatory strike on a vehicle in Nangarhar province which was believed to be carrying "high-profile ISIS targets" and "planners and facilitators."[418] Two days later, a US drone strike targeted what was believed to be a member of IS-K planning an attack, killing 10 civilians, including 7 children. The Pentagon later called the strike "an honest mistake" and announced that none of the military personnel involved would be subject to any disciplinary actions.[419]
In October 2015, with the approval of the Cameroonian government, the U.S. military deployed 300 personnel to Cameroon, their primary missions will revolve around providing intelligence support to local forces as well as conducting reconnaissance flights.[420][421]
On 1 September 2017, the US Secretary of Defence Mattis designated Operation Pacific Eagle – Philippines (OPE-P) as a contingency operation to support the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in their efforts to isolate, degrade, and defeat the affiliates of ISIS (collectively referred to as ISIS-Philippines or ISIS-P) and other terrorist organisations in the Philippines.[422]
CNN reported that on 16 October 2017, US forces conducted airstrikes against two ISIL training camps located in al Bayda Governorate, Yemen, containing an estimated 50 fighters; a US defence official said that this is the first U.S. strike specifically targeting ISIL in Yemen,[423] the strike disrupted the group's attempts to train more fighters. CNN reported that on 23 October that two U.S. airstrikes in al Bayda Governorate, the first strike killed 7 ISIL terrorists travelling in pickup trucks, a second strike (5 miles west) killed a further 2 ISIL terrorists.[424] Military Times reported that on 25 October, two US airstrikes in al-Bayda Governorate killed 9 ISIL fighters, a CENTCOM statement said that "In the last ten days, U.S. forces have targeted and killed approximately 60 ISIS terrorists in Yemen." Maher Farrukh, an al-Qaida analyst for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute said that "AQAP and ISIS cooperate on a tactical level in central Yemen against al Houthi-Saleh forces, they often co-claim attacks and likely share some militants," and that "ISIS' continued presence in Yemen is likely sustained by its cooperation with AQAP, but it does not appear to be growing at this time."[425]
The Islamic Emirate of Rafah was a short-lived militant state established by the Jund Ansar Allah, an Islamist group, in the town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. It was declared on August 14, 2009, by Abdul Latif Moussa, also known as Abu Noor al-Maqdisi, during a sermon at the Ibn Taymiyyah Mosque. The emirate aimed to impose strict Islamic law and was aligned with the ideology of al-Qaeda and is believed to have been aided by ISIS.[426]
Jund Ansar Allah, translated as "Soldiers of the Followers of God," was founded by Abdul Latif Moussa in 2008. The group quickly garnered attention due to its extreme interpretation of Islam and its opposition to the ruling Hamas government in Gaza. Tensions between Jund Ansar Allah and Hamas escalated when Moussa declared the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Rafah, challenging Hamas's authority.[427]
The proclamation of the Islamic Emirate of Rafah was seen as a direct threat to the Hamas government, which had been the de facto authority in Gaza since 2007. In response, Hamas launched a military operation against Jund Ansarf Allah. The confrontation culminated in a fierce battle at the Ibn Taymiyyah Mosque, where Abdul Latif Moussa and several of his followers were killed many of whom were either Isis operatives. The emirate was dismantled, and Hamas reasserted its control over Rafah.[428]
Military.com reported that on 3 November 2017, that a U.S. drone conducted two airstrikes against Islamic State in Somalia, at least six missiles were used which struck in Buqa, 37 miles north of Qandala, AFRICOM said in a statement that "several terrorists" were killed and that the strikes were carried out in coordination with Somalia's government; the strikes marked first time that the US has conducted airstrikes against ISS terrorists in Somalia.[429] CNN reported that US drone aircraft conducted 5 strikes against al-Shabaab and ISS-linked militants between 9 and 12 November, killing 36 al-Shabaab and 4 ISIS terrorists. The US now estimates there are between 3,000 and 6,000 al-Shabaab fighters and less than 250 ISS operatives in Somalia.[430] The US conducted a three strikes in al Bayda Governorate targeting ISIL in Yemen between 10 and 12 November 2017, killing 5 suspected militants.[431]
On 22 January 2015, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones stated that the coalition airstrikes had degraded ISIL, including killing off half of their leaders in Iraq and Syria.[432]
In early February 2015, the Australian Defence Minister, Kevin Andrews, stated that more than 6,000 ISIL fighters had been killed in coalition airstrikes since they began, and that over 800 square kilometres (310 sq mi) had been recaptured; yet ISIL strength was estimated to have grown during this period to around 31,500 core fighters, including 3,000 fighters from Western nations.[433]
On 23 February 2015, U.S. General Lloyd Austin stated that over 8,500 ISIL militants had been killed by Coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.[434] In early March 2015, General Lloyd repeated this statement, saying that "ISIS has assumed a defensive crouch" in Iraq, and that "We are where we said we would be," in relation to the airstrikes.[435] This was in contrast to Jordan's claim that its airstrikes alone had killed 7,000 ISIL militants in Iraq and Syria over the course of 3 days, from 5 to 7 February 2015.[316][436]
In June 2015, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that over 10,000 ISIL fighters had been killed by Coalition airstrikes against the Islamic State.[437]
On 21 January 2016, France's defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated that over 22,000 ISIL fighters had been killed by Coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.[438]
In August 2016, U.S. Army Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland told reporters at a news briefing "Although it's no measure of success and its difficult to confirm, we estimate that over the past 11 months we've killed about 25,000 enemy fighters. When you add that to the 20,000 estimated killed prior to our arrival, that's 45,000 enemies taken off the battlefield."[439]
In December 2016, a senior US military official told CNN that as many as 50,000 ISIL fighters have been killed since the war against the terror group began.[440]
In 2023, the US Central Command issued a statement announcing that it had killed IS leader Khalid Aydd Ahmed al-Jabouri. According to the statement, al-Jabouri had been involved in planning attacks in the Middle East and Europe. The statement also claimed that no civilians were killed in the strike.[441]
According to Airwars, a team of independent journalists, by August 2015, 450 civilians had been killed by the U.S.-led coalition air campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria (of whom roughly 60% in Syria, 40% in Iraq). By that time, the U.S.-led coalition officially acknowledged only two non-combatant deaths.[442] According to Airwars, by January 2016, "between 815 and 1,149 civilian non-combatants appear likely to have been killed in 135 incidents where there is fair reporting publicly available of an event, and where Coalition strikes were confirmed in the near vicinity on that date."[443]
According to Airwars, about 1000 civilians had been killed by the U.S.-led coalition air campaign in March 2017 alone, gathering controversy and concern relating to the presidency of Donald Trump.[444]
According to Airwars, the air strikes and artillery of U.S.-led coalition killed as many as 6,000 civilians in Iraq and Syria in 2017.[445][446] According to Airwars, "In 2017 the war against ISIS [Islamic State] moved into the most densely-populated urban centres controlled by the group, with dire results for civilians."[446]
Amnesty International and monitoring group Airwars report said, more than 1,600 civilians were killed in US-led coalition include, United States, Britain and France, during the four-month airstrike campaign against ISIL group from the Syrian city of Raqqa in 2017. The Coalition states have conducted 34,464 strikes against ISIL targets between August 2014 and end of March 2019, and killed at least 1,291 civilians.[447][448][449][450]
On 1 February 2015, Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari stated that the War on ISIL was effectively "World War III", due to ISIL's proclamation of a worldwide caliphate, its aims to conquer the world, and its success in spreading the conflict to multiple countries outside of the Levant region.[451] Speaking of ISIL's destruction of pre-Islamic sites in the region, Syria's head of antiquities, Maamoun Abdul Karim, stated that "this is the entire world's battle".[452] In June 2015, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that ISIL "stands for nothing and depends on people who will fall for anything."[453]
The table below summarizes each country's level of involvement in the overall international intervention against the Islamic State. Several countries that are militarily involved also provide humanitarian aid.
The Taliban has declared the Islamic State affiliate ISIS-K a corrupt "sect" and forbidden Afghans from contact with it.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Oliver Colvile, Tory MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, tabled a question to the Deputy Prime Minister asking about the likelihood of Royal Navy involvement in the campaign. "He said there was already a submarine in the Persian Gulf," Mr Colvile told The Herald.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)A drone strike in Afghanistan has killed a militant commander who recently swore allegiance to Islamic State (IS), officials say. The police chief of Helmand said that former Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Rauf had died in the strike.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)They will join the 450 British troops already in the country - and will aid counter-terrorism efforts and provide leadership training.; "Better Canals, bigger harvests and more electricity in Bamyan". Department for International Development. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
The UK is a key donor to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), which supports reconstruction needs and the delivery of basic services across Afghanistan.