Military Intervention Against the Islamic State (2014-)

The 2014 military intervention against ISIS began after a year of minimal conflict with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS/ISIL/Islamic State) in which fighting intensified between the Syrian Arab Army and ISIS forces following a major ISIS offensive in northeastern Syria. ISIS gains resulted in the capture of Syrian army equipment and a general strengthening of its position both in Syria and in neighboring Iraq.

In response to the rapid advance of ISIS forces, Iran began in June deploying ground troops and aircraft to Iraq. The US followed in August when United States President Barack Obama began to deploy US military forces to Iraq, to defend American assets and to advise Iraqi government forces. In August 2014, the US military began an aerial campaign against radical Islamists in northern Iraq, followed by a similar campaign against Islamic State and Al Qaeda militants in Syria. In addition to military efforts, the United States also mounted a considerable humanitarian effort to assist ethnic minorities in northern Iraq who are under the threat of genocide by ISIS.

In August, speaking about US involvement in Iraq, President Barack Obama said "this is going to be a long-term project". The military effort subsequently expanded to protect Iraqi infrastructure and provide air cover to Iraqi troops. Since the commencement and expansion of American airstrikes against the Islamic State, Kurdish and Iraqi forces have been able to reverse significant extremist advances and retake control of the Mosul Dam, the largest dam in Iraq. In late August, when asked by reporters about his plans regarding military options in response to gains made by ISIS, President Obama replied “we don’t have a strategy yet”. President Obama announced on 10 September 2014 that he would begin to pursue airstrike

Syrian Democratic Forces Armored Vehicle in Raqqa, Syria; June 2017

Taken on: 2017-06-08
Source: Qasioun News Agency / Uploaded on Wikipedia

US Marine Fires Howitzer in Support of Syrian Democratic Forces Operation; Syria, June 2017

Taken on: 2017-06-03
Source: US Department of Defense

Iraqi Special Operations Forces in Sniper Training; Baghdad, Jan 2016

Taken on: 2016-01-07
Source: U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Iraqi Armed Forces Clash with ISIS; North Ramadi, Iraq, Nov 2015

Taken on: 2015-11-15
Source: TheRealBTL/twitter

Police Presence in Paris After Terror Attack; France, Nov 2015

Taken on: 2015-11-14
Source: Maya-Anaïs Yataghène/Wikipedia

Aftermath of ISIS Detonated Car-Bomb; Al Zubayr, Iraq, Oct 2015

Taken on: 2015-10-05
Source: beyondthelevant/twitter

Russian Aircraft at Latakia Airbase, NW Syria, Oct 2015

Taken on: 2015-10-03
Source: Russian Military via Wikipedia

Kurdish Peshmerga Staging Point; Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq, Sept 2015

Taken on: 2015-09-30
Source: thomasvanlinge/twitter

Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd Al Shaabi) Battle ISIS; Baiji, Iraq, Sept 2015

Taken on: 2015-09-17
Source: thomasvanlinge/twitter

Libyan National Army Tank in Battle with ISIS; Adjabiya, Libya, August 2015

Taken on: 2015-08-01
Source: thomasvanlinge/twitter

Egyptian Military Bulldozer Destroyed by ISIS; South Rafah, Sinai, Egypt, July 2015

Taken on: 2015-07-24
Source: Beyondthelevant/twitter

Abandoned Hashd Al Shabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) Vehicle Captured by ISIS; Fallujah, Iraq, Ju

Taken on: 2015-07-23
Source: RamiAlLolah/twitter

Saraya Ansar Al-Qeeda (Supporters of the Creed Brigades) Shia Militiamen; Iraq, July 2015

Taken on: 2015-07-20
Source: greenlemon/twitter

Iraqi Popular Mobilization Artillery Unit Shelling ISIS Positions; Fallujah, Iraq, July 2015

Taken on: 2015-07-15
Source: Iraqi National Army/Twitter

Iraqi Popular Mobilization Unit Launching Mortar Attack on ISIS positions; Fallujah, Iraq, July 2015

Taken on: 2015-07-15
Source: Iraqi National Army/Twitter

Aftermath of Improvised Explosive Device Explosion in Beirut Square; Baghdad, Iraq, June 2015

Taken on: 2015-06-24
Source: Iraqism/Shakwmakw/twitter

Sorties From U.S. Aircraft Carrier Against Islamic State Positions; Persian Gulf, May 2015

Taken on: 2015-05-28
Source: (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josh Petrosino/Released)

ISIS Fighters Pose in Front of Captured Iraqi Military Vehicle, Iraq, May 2015

Taken on: 2015-05-04
Source: ISIS/RamiAILolah

Islamic State Car Bomb in Al-Mansour Neighborhood; Baghdad, Iraq, Apr 2015

Taken on: 2015-04-27
Source: RamiAlLolah

Bystanders Observe the Damage Caused by an Islamic State Car Bomb, Al-Manour Neighborhood - Baghdad

Taken on: 2015-04-27
Source: RamiAlLolah

Aftermath of a Car Bomb Attack Near US Consulate; Irbil, Iraq, April 2015

Taken on: 2015-04-17
Source: Conflict News/Twitter, Syndicalist/Twitter

Pro - Government Sunni Abu Assaf Tribesman, Ramadi - Iraq, Apr 2015

Taken on: 2015-04-15
Source: Aymenn J Al-Tamimi/twitter

Canadian Fighter takes off for Operation Impact, Kuwait, 2014

Taken on: 2014-10-31
Source: ForcesImages website

Coalition Airstrike, Kobane, October 2014

Taken on: 2014-10-26
Source: CA/ShoutWiki

F-22 Strike, Raqqa Syria, September 2014

Taken on: 2014-09-23
Source: US Airforce

FA-18 Launch Against IS, Persian Gulf, September 2014

Taken on: 2014-09-23
Source: US Navy

Tomahawk Missiles Launched Against IS, Persian Gulf, September 2014

Taken on: 2014-09-23
Source: US Navy

F15 Refuels over Iraq, Northern Iraq, September 2013

Taken on: 2014-09-23
Source: Matthew Bruch/US Airforce

Tomahawk Missile Launch Against Islamic State from USS Arleigh Burke; Red Sea, September 2014

Taken on: 2014-09-23
Source: Wikipedia/United States Navy