Iraq Military Forces 🇮🇶

The Iraqi Armed Forces (IAF) in the mid-2020s present a complex and evolving military entity, shaped by decades of conflict, foreign intervention, and persistent internal and regional pressures. Rebuilt from the ground up after 2003 with significant U.S. assistance, the IAF's primary focus has been counter-insurgency, a mission that continues to define its structure and operational posture.

Military Forces Structure

The formal structure of the Iraqi military includes the Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, and Air Defense Command. Currently, active personnel are estimated to be around 193,000. The Ground Forces, the largest component, are organized into several divisions with a mix of armored, mechanized, and infantry brigades. However, a critical component of Iraq's security architecture operates outside the direct control of the Ministry of Defence: the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The PMF, an umbrella organization of predominantly Shiite militias, was formed to combat ISIS and is now an officially recognized state institution with its own significant manpower and influence, at times challenging the state's monopoly on force.

Equipment and Defense Industry

Iraq's military equipment is a diverse mix of legacy Soviet-era hardware and more modern systems acquired from various foreign suppliers. In recent years, Baghdad has actively sought to diversify its arms imports beyond traditional reliance on the United States. Notable planned acquisitions include French Rafale fighter jets and CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, as well as a significant $2.63 billion deal for South Korean M-SAM II air defense systems. This move is part of a broader strategy to modernize the armed forces and enhance operational readiness. Concurrently, Iraq is attempting to revitalize its domestic defense industry, with recent inaugurations of facilities for producing light weapons, ammunition, and other military materiel, aiming to increase self-sufficiency.

Strategic Trends

Iraq's strategic environment is fraught with challenges. The persistent threat of ISIS remnants requires ongoing counter-terrorism operations, often conducted jointly by the IAF and Kurdish Peshmerga. Internally, the integration of the powerful and often politically aligned PMF into the state security apparatus remains a primary challenge, with some factions maintaining strong ties to Iran.

Regionally, Iraq is in a precarious position, striving to balance its relationships with the United States and Iran, both of whom have significant influence within the country. The presence of U.S. and coalition forces remains a point of internal political contention, while strikes by pro-Iranian militias against U.S. and Israeli targets highlight the risk of Iraq being drawn into a broader regional conflict.