Global Coalition ends Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq as UK forces depart

# What happened Iraq, known as Operation Inherent Resolve, has concluded and Coalition forces — including UK personnel — have left the country. The UK Ministry of Defence framed this as a transition to new security arrangements led by the Government of Iraq.

# Why the mission ended The government statement says Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the Kurdish Peshmerga have achieved the territorial defeat of Daesh in Iraq. With security forces described as strengthened, the Coalition judged its advising, training and enabling role complete and began withdrawing forces as part of handing over primary security responsibilities to Iraqi authorities.

# What the UK contributed Operation SHADER. The government lists concrete outputs:

• Training and assistance provided to more than 111,000 members of the ISF.
• Training and assistance to more than 21,000 Peshmerga personnel.
• Instruction in infantry skills, weapons maintenance, counter-IED, medical, and engineering disciplines.
• RAF support that included thousands of sorties, strikes on over 2,300 Daesh targets, and surveillance/reconnaissance to support ISF ground operations.

The MoD statement pays tribute to UK personnel involved and says the UK remains committed to the defeat of Daesh and its violent ideology.

# Immediate effects in Iraq

# What comes next for UK-Iraq cooperation

• Counter-terrorism cooperation.
• Military education and training.
• Capability development and defence industrial collaboration.
• Coordination of communications to counter Daesh propaganda and build resilience against terrorist messaging.

Iraq's security and stability through these non-deployable means.

# How to read the change

# Concrete numbers to remember

• 111,000 ISF personnel received UK-provided training and assistance.
• 21,000+ Peshmerga received UK training and assistance.
• RAF conducted thousands of sorties and struck more than 2,300 targets during the operation.

# Bottom line Coalition military operations in Iraq under Operation Inherent Resolve have ended and forces, including UK personnel, have departed. The UK will continue security cooperation with Iraq through a bilateral defence partnership emphasizing training, capability development, counter-terrorism, defence industry ties, and strategic communications to counter violent extremist propaganda.