Iraqi Ground Forces
The Iraqi Ground Forces (Arabic: القوات البرية العراقية), or the Iraqi Army (Arabic: الجيش العراقي), is the ground force component of the Iraqi Armed Forces. It was formerly known as the Royal Iraqi Army up until the coup of July 1958.
| Iraqi Ground Forces | |
|---|---|
| القوات البرية العراقية | |
Iraqi Ground Forces' insignia | |
| Founded | 1921 |
| Country | Iraq |
| Type | Army |
| Role | Ground warfare |
| Size | "190,000 Army/Aviation Command/Special Forces" (2023) est. 180,000, inc CTS |
| Part of | Iraqi Armed Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Baghdad |
| Colors | Red |
| Anniversaries | Army Day (January 6) |
| Equipment | List of current equipment of the Iraqi Ground Forces |
| Engagements |
|
| Decorations | Military awards and decorations |
| Commanders | |
| President of Iraq | Abdul Latif Rashid |
| Prime Minister of Iraq | Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol | |
| Flag | |
The Iraqi Army in its modern form was first created by the United Kingdom during the inter-war period of de facto British control of Mandatory Iraq. Following the invasion of Iraq by U.S. forces in 2003, the Iraqi Army was rebuilt along U.S. lines with enormous amounts of U.S. military assistance at every level. Because of the Iraqi insurgency that began shortly after the invasion, the Iraqi Army was later designed to initially be a counter-insurgency force. With the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2010, Iraqi forces have assumed full responsibility for their own security. A New York Times article suggested that, between 2004 and 2014, the U.S. had provided the Iraqi Army with $25 billion in training and equipment in addition to an even larger sum from the Iraqi treasury.
The Army extensively collaborated with Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces during anti-ISIL operations.