Infographic: Details of the Coalition Fighting ISIL

MENASource
Jun 30, 2025

Balancing acts and breaking points: Iraq’s US-Iran dilemma

By
C. Anthony Pfaff

The future of US–Iraq relations is neither as dim as it may first appear, nor as promising as one might hope.

Geopolitics & Energy Security
Iran

Infographic: Details of the Coalition Fighting ISIL

MENASource
Jun 4, 2025

Why Iraq should build bridges with its ‘new’ neighbor, Syria

By
Shermine Serbest

Iraq’s position on the Syria transition is split between two camps: the official government, and that of the powerful non-state actors.

Iraq
Middle East

Infographic: Details of the Coalition Fighting ISIL

MENASource
Apr 17, 2025

Trump must clarify his Iraq policy. Washington’s Middle East investment hangs in the balance.

By
Sarkawt Shamsulddin

Contradictory signals from the US president on Iraq’s Iran-connected Popular Mobilization Forces risks derailing hard-won progress.

Iraq
Middle East

Programs

The Iraq Initiative provides transatlantic and regional policy makers with unique perspectives and analysis on the ongoing challenges and opportunities facing Iraq as the country tries to build an inclusive political system, attract economic investment, and encourage a vibrant civil society.

EXPLORE THE Iraq INitiative

Top experts

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Kirsten Fontenrose


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs
Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Middle East
National Security


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Abbas Kadhim


Resident Senior Fellow, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Iraq
Middle East


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David Mack


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

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Masoud Mostajabi


Former Deputy Director, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative
Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Energy & Environment
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C. Anthony Pfaff


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Andrew L. Peek


Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Conflict
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Ahmed Tabaqchali


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Thomas S. Warrick


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative
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Content

NATOSource

Dec 3, 2014

Infographic: Details of the Coalition Fighting ISIL

By Jorge Benitez and Gabriel Maletta

Which nations are conducting air strikes in Syria, but not Iraq? Are allies conducting an equal number of the air strikes against ISIL? Which Pacific power is participating in military operations in Iraq? The following chart answers these and many more questions about the international coalition fighting ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq NATO
Iraqi National Security Advisor Falih Al Fayyadh and Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow, Nov. 25, 2014

NATOSource

Dec 1, 2014

NATO Offers Resources to Iraq in Fight Against ISIS

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

Nato, the world’s largest military alliance, is preparing to add its weight to the international campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, known as Isis, after discussions with senior Iraqi government officials in recent weeks.

Iraq NATO

Event Recap

Nov 20, 2014

Ex-US Officials Urge Broadened US Strategy in Syria, Iraq Wars

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Ground Forces Will Be Needed, General James Jones Says Ground troops, perhaps even Special Forces, will ultimately be required to defeat the Islamist militant army of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, General James L. Jones told the Atlantic Council’s Energy & Economic Summit in Istanbul today. Jones, a former national security advisor in the Obama […]

Iraq Syria
US and Iraqi soldiers, Camp Ramadi, Nov. 15, 2009

NATOSource

Nov 7, 2014

Strengthening the Nordic Military Contribution to the International Effort Against ISIL

By Sigurd Neubauer, Magnus Nordenman, Erik Brattberg, and Alex Vatanka

The rapid and brutal advance of the Islamic State, a self-proclaimed caliphate, holding onto territory in eastern Syria and western Iraq, is not only threatening the stability of Iraq’s semi autonomous Kurdistan and its religious minorities, but threatens to establish a hub of jihadism

Iraq Northern Europe

Defense Industrialist

Nov 4, 2014

A Phalanx of Pashto-Speaking Armed Intellectuals

By James Hasik

 What makes us think our militaries have the human and organizational capital for counterinsurgency?   “Counterinsurgency,” John Nagl commented the other day, “can’t be dead as long as insurgency is alive and well — and it is, and is likely to be for some time.” Indeed we may find ourselves, as former Chief of the Australian Army Peter […]

Afghanistan Iraq
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Sept. 27, 2012

NATOSource

Nov 4, 2014

French Foreign Minister: Anti-ISIL Coalition Must Also Save 300,000 Lives In Aleppo

By Laurent Fabius, Washington Post

Syria’s second-largest city and part of humanity’s ancient heritage, Aleppo is the martyred center of the resistance to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad,

France Iraq

In the News

Oct 23, 2014

Mardini on Challenges Facing Iraq’s Prime Minister

By Ramzy Mardini

Bloomberg Businessweek quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on the limits of Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi’s power:

Iraq

In the News

Oct 20, 2014

Itani: Doubling Down on Disaster in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani cowrites for Politico on the different policy prescriptions outlined by political pundits such as CNN’s Fareed Zakaria: 

Iraq Syria
US and Iraqi soldiers in Diyala province, Feb. 13, 2008

NATOSource

Oct 15, 2014

Washington Wants NATO Allies to Help Retrain the Iraqi Military

By Gopal Ratnam, Foreign Policy

The difficult and dangerous task of retraining Iraqi security forces to take on the Islamic State militants who’ve made impressive gains in the north and west of Iraq will require large numbers of trainers from the United States and NATO nations

Iraq NATO

New Atlanticist

Oct 15, 2014

The US Fight Against ISIS: An Exercise in Futility?

By James Rupert

Fred Hof: US Policy Needs a Ground Game, and Here Are Two Ways to Build It The US military has escalated air strikes against the Islamist militant ISIS fighters who have been closing in on the Syrian town of Kobani and the nearby Turkish border, in large part because the Syrian civil war is now […]

Iraq Syria
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Experts

Fellow

Rich Outzen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Arabic Central Asia

Fellow

C. Anthony Pfaff

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Alex Plitsas

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan Crisis Management

Advisory Council member

Arnold Punaro

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Daniel E. Mouton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Jonathan R. Cohen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Greece Iraq
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