Iraqi Security Forces

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Iraqi Army soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division. Photo by Spc. George Welcome, 2nd BCT PAO, 101st Abn. Div.

Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) is the Multi-National Force-Iraq name for forces that serve under the Government of Iraq. I.e. the Military of Iraq, which is administered by the Ministry of Defense, and the Iraqi Police, which is administered by the Ministry of Interior. The Iraqi Security Forces are officially trained by the Iraqi Government with assistance from Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq. Though as of 2006, MNSTC-I appears to be responsible for most of the developing, organizing, training, equipping, and sustaining the Iraqi Security Forces.

The number of trained and equipped ISF is an often cited benchmark of progress in the Iraq War. As of November 2006, there were 323,000 ISF trained and equipped. ^[1] Prime minister Maliki announced October 31th, 2006, that the size of the Iraqi Security Forces will increase from 325,000 to 355,000 members. This will provide three additional division headquarters and a reformed leave policy.^[1]

[edit] Assuming responsibilities for security

Iraqi territory where ISF lead counter-insurgency operations as of December 1st, 2006. Green color represents Iraqi Army in the lead and gray color represents Coalition forces in the lead. Green-white stripes represent Provincial Iraqi Control. Source: MNF-I

As of December 2006, there were 91 battalions of the ISF in the lead in counter-insurgency operations in their respective territories.^[2] Geographically, the ISF control almost 70 % of Iraq, including most populated areas. By the end of 2006, MNSTC-I expects that ISF will control 75 % of the country.^[3] As the performance of the Iraqi units in the field is assessed, responsibilities will be transitioned to the ISF. First, ISF will assume responsibility for counter-insurgency operations, with coalition help in medical evacuations and logistics. In the next step, ISF will develop capacity to sustian themselves.

The Iraqi Army will have nine motorized transportation regiments (MTR). The 9th Iraqi Mechanized Division does not require an MTR. The 5th MTR became the first to transition to Iraqi chain of command November 1st, 2006. ^[4]MNSTC-I believes that all nine MTRs will have transitioned to their assigned Iraqi divisions by the spring of 2007.^[5]

As of June 2006, there were 254 out of 258 border forts completed, 25,000 of 28,000 border police trained and equipped and 6,000 customs police trained and equipped.^[6]

September 7, 2006, MNF-I transferred operational responsibility for the 8th Iraqi Army division, the Iraqi Navy and the Iraqi Air Force to an all-Iraqi chain of command. The transfer shows that the Iraqi command and control-structure is ready to assume responsibility for counter-insurgency operations in vast areas of Iraq. In the 8th IA division area of operations, the coalition soldiers, airmen and marines serve as advisors only. The Iraqi chain of command is level by level (i) Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief, (ii) Ministry of Defense, (iii) Iraqi Joint Headquarters, (iv) Iraqi Ground Forces Command, (v) Division Headquarters.^[7] The transfer was hailed as a milestone in the transfer of responsibilities from the coalition to the government of Iraq. The IA 4th division transferred to Iraqi chain-of-command September 2006^[8] and the 3rd division was transfered December 1st, 2006.^[9]

[edit] Process of achieving security self-reliance

MNF-I and Iraqi government assessment of whether conditions on the ground permit transitioning responsibility for security to provincial governments. Source: US DoD

MNF-I have proclaimed the year 2007 as the year of transition. During 2007, the Iraqi government will assume full responsibility for sustaining security operations and providing security for the Iraqi people.^[2]

In a report to U.S. Congress, the Pentagon reports that its plans for security transition is broken down into four phases:

• Implement Partnerships — MNF-I establish and maintain partnerships across the entire spectrum of Iraqi Security Forces units, from battalion through to ministerial level.
• Iraqi Army Lead (IAL) — Process during which Iraqi Army units progress through stages of capability from unit formation to the ability to conduct counter-insurgency operations.
• Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) — Iraqi civil authorities satisfy the conditions required to assume control and exercise responsibility for the security of their respective provinces.
• Iraqi Security Self-Reliance — The Government of Iraq achieves PIC (or a combination of PIC and IAL) throughout Iraq; and the Government, through its security ministries, is capable of planning, conducting, and sustaining security operations and forces.^[10]

The first phase was completed in May 2006. The second phase is well under way (see figure). MNF-I commander Gen Casey said August 30, 2006 that the phase is almost 75 % complete.^[11] Muthanna was the first province to enter the third phase July 2006.^[12] Dhi Qar province achieved PIC in September 06.^[8] Britain's foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said in a parliament session November 22, 2006 that she expects Najaf to achieve PIC in December and Maysan to achieve PIC Januray 2007.^[13] The third phase is to a large extent dependent upon the readiness of local police and local governance. Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT), with personnel from the US Department of State, US Department of Justice and MNF-I are active in Ninawa, Babil, Tamim, Baghdad, Al Anbar, Salah ad Din, Diyala, Basra and Dhi Qar provinces, to assist in developing governance capabilities.^[14] MNF-I expects that more provinces will enter phase three before the end of 2006.

The phases are not stricty sequential, for example Muthanna went from phase one directly to phase three. The Iraqi government and MNF-I form the Joint Committee to Transfer Security Responsibility (JCTSR), which assesses when conditions permit handing over security responsibilities to the ISF. JCTSR assesses conditions in four areas: security situation, readiness of the ISF, readiness of local governance and working relations with MNF-I.^[10]

[edit] Equipment

Most of the ISF equipment is supplied by allied forces, namely the United States.

• Humvee - loaned from US Army
• machine guns
• pistols
• assault rifles - including AK-47
• RPG
• Nissan pickups - used by the Iraqi Police

[edit] External links

• Iraqi Force Development in 2006, by Anthony H. Cordesman and William D. Sullivan
• Fact Sheet: Training Iraqi Security Forces, The White House

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Multi-National Force-Iraq
• Iraqi Army
• Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq