Multi-National Force – Iraq
The Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF–I), often referred to as the Coalition forces, was a military command during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and much of the ensuing Iraq War, led by the United States of America (Operation Iraqi Freedom), United Kingdom (Operation Telic), Australia, Italy (Operation Ancient Babylon), Spain and Poland, responsible for conducting and handling military operations.
| Multi-National Force – Iraq | |
|---|---|
Multi-National Force-Iraq Shoulder Sleeve Insignia with the Star of Ishtar and Lamassu symbols | |
| Leaders | Raymond T. Odierno (2008–2009) David Petraeus (2007–2008) George W. Casey Jr. (2004–2007) Ricardo Sanchez (2003–2004) |
| Dates of operation | 14 May 2004 – 31 December 2009 |
| Headquarters | Baghdad, Iraq |
| Size | 112,000 (December 2009) |
| Allies | NATO Training Mission – Iraq U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq Republic of Iraq |
| Opponents | Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad al-Qaeda in Iraq 1920 Revolution Brigades Mujahideen Shura Council Kata'ib Hezbollah Islamic State of Iraq Mahdi Army |
| Battles and wars | Global War on Terrorism |
| Distinctive unit insignia | |
| Flag | |
| Flag | |
| Website | http://www.mnf-iraq.com/ |
The MNF-I replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on 15 May 2004, and was later itself reorganized into its successor, United States Forces – Iraq, on 1 January 2010. The Force was significantly reinforced during the Iraq War troop surge of 2007. As of May 2011, all non-U.S. coalition members had withdrawn from Iraq, with the U.S. military withdrawing from the country on December 18, 2011, thus, bringing about an end to the Iraq War.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, which does humanitarian work and has a number of guards and military observers, has also operated in Iraq since 2003. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq was not a part of the MNF-I, but a separate entity. The NATO Training Mission – Iraq, was in Iraq from 2004 to December 2011, where it trained the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police.