Justification for Overseas Contingency Operations Iraq Train and Equip Fund

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses a clear threat to our National Interests, the people of Iraq and Syria, and ultimately, if 

unchecked, a growing threat to the region and U.S. homeland. Earlier this year, ISIL expanded its reach into large sections of Iraq resulting in 

the collapse of Iraq security forces in Western Iraq. Together with our Coalition partners, we provided material support and airstrikes to 

counter ISIL’s advances and provide time and space for Iraq government reforms. The U.S., Coalition, and Government of Iraq (GoI) 

military actions collectively prevented further large scale humanitarian catastrophes and mass atrocities.

 

Currently, the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and affiliated Kurdish Security Forces have stemmed the ISIL advance and stopped or reversed 

encroachment on Baghdad. Iraqi and Kurdish forces have begun to retake territory threatened or captured by the ISIL with the aid of U.S. 

and Coalition air strikes; however, to successfully take major offensive operations, Iraq requires assistance to counter the ISIL threat.

The initial setbacks and subsequent losses absorbed by the ISF have resulted in a critical requirement to rebuild ISF capabilities to conduct 

offensive operations to liberate ISIL-held territory. Based on the U.S. assessment and in support of the GoI counter ISIL plan, the 

requirement to resource ISF counter-offensive capabilities includes building three Iraqi Army Divisions (9 Brigades), three Kurdish Brigades, 

and an initial Tribal Force that could serve as the basis for developing an Iraqi National Guard (ING) . This effort is focused on critical 

ground forces needed to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL in Iraq, secure its national borders, and prevent ISIL from developing safe havens 

from which they can threaten and destabilize the region.