Iraqi military still dependent on US, coalition military in ISIS fight: watchdog
By James R. Webb
Nov 5, 01:55 PM
The Iraqi military is still dependent on US, coalition help in ISIS fight, according to a report, which also notes Shia militias have paused attacks. (U.S. Army photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Curt Loter) (Staff Sgt. Michael West)
Iraqi forces remain incapable of operating without U.S. support while Iranian-backed militias who have targeted coalition forces are in a strategic pause, according to a report released by Lead Inspector General for Operation Inherent Resolve. Meanwhile, ISIS remains “entrenched as a low-level insurgency” as the U.S. military ends its combat role in Iraq by Dec. 31 of this year.
Released to the public Thursday, the 27th quarterly Lead IG report on OIR notes that although ISIS activity is down significantly from the same time last year, Iraqi Security Forces demonstrate poor operational security, a lack of reliable information on operations, and complacency. This lack of planning and operational control, in turn, leads to large-scale Iraqi Security operations being “forecast in advance.”
When conducting operations, ISF “consistently requested Coalition support for airstrikes,” leading the report to determine that “Iraqi Partner Forces remain dependent on Coalition support.”
https://www.armytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/11/05/iraqi-military-still-dependent-on-us-coalition-military-support-in-isis-fight-watchdog/
