Iraqi Navy 🇮🇶

The Iraqi Navy, since its reformation after 2003, has been rebuilt into a force primarily focused on coastal defense and maritime security within its territorial waters. Its fleet is composed of a modest number of patrol boats, offshore support vessels, and fast assault craft, reflecting its strategic priorities rather than aspirations for blue-water operations. Key assets include American-built patrol boats and Italian-made offshore patrol vessels, which form the backbone of its surface fleet. The navy also fields two marine battalions, tasked with point defense of critical infrastructure.

Naval capabilities are concentrated on maritime security operations within the Northern Persian Gulf. The core functions include anti-smuggling, counter-terrorism, and the crucial mission of safeguarding offshore oil terminals, which are the primary source of the nation's revenue. The navy's ability to conduct visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations is central to this mission. Lacking a significant anti-access/area denial capability or a naval aviation branch, its capacity for sustained combat operations against a peer competitor is limited. The force structure is not designed for power projection but for ensuring the secure flow of maritime commerce and protecting national economic assets at sea.

The maritime strategy of Iraq is almost entirely defensive and economically focused. Centered on the port of Umm Qasr, the navy's operational posture is geared towards maintaining sovereignty over its limited coastline and ensuring the security of the Khawr al-Amaya and Basra oil terminals. This strategy involves constant patrols within its territorial sea and designated exclusion zones around this vital infrastructure. Cooperation with coalition partners has been a key element in its development, historically shaping its operational procedures and training.

Major shipbuilding programs were undertaken in the late 2000s and early 2010s to recapitalize the fleet. This included the acquisition of Saettia Mk4 class patrol vessels from Italy and a larger number of patrol and coastal craft from the United States through Foreign Military Sales. Two larger offshore support vessels were also added to enhance logistical capabilities for the oil platforms. More recent large-scale acquisition programs have not been prominently reported, suggesting a focus on sustaining and maintaining the current fleet.

The operational reach of the Iraqi Navy is, by design, limited to its immediate maritime neighborhood in the Persian Gulf. Its vessels are suitable for patrols in this environment but are not intended for long-duration deployments. The navy's primary operational focus remains within its territorial waters, where it provides a persistent security presence.