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Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) is ajoint task force established by a U.S.-led international coalition against theIslamic State. Its stated aim is to "degrade and destroy" the Islamic State.[15] Led byUnited States Army Central (ARCENT), it is composed of military forces and personnel from over 30 countries.[16][1][17]
Formed in October 2014 byUnited States Central Command, CJTF-OIR was intended to replace thead hoc arrangements that had been established to coordinate operations against ISIL, following its rapid gains inIraq in June.[7][1][18]Operation Inherent Resolve included theUS-led intervention in Iraq (2014–2021) and theAmerican-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War. The current commander of the coalition is U.S. ArmyBrigadier General Kevin J. Lambert and the current Command Senior Enlisted Leader is U.S. ArmyCommand Sergeant Major Robert M. Preusser Jr.
The bulk of CJTF-OIR's operations wereairstrikes against Islamic State. Various ground forces have been deployed including special forces, artillery, training, and military advisors. In 2017 the United States carried out 75-80% of the airstrikes, with the remainder conducted byAustralia,Canada,Denmark,France,Jordan,Belgium, theNetherlands,Saudi Arabia,Turkey, theUnited Arab Emirates, and theUnited Kingdom.[19] All of 32NATO members (as of 2025) were contributing to the Combined Joint Task Force in 2019.[20]
By the end of 2017, the Task Force stated that its airstrikes had killed over 80,000 ISIL fighters.[21] The coalition also provided $3.5 billion in military equipment to theIraqi Armed Forces, and billions more to thePeshmerga.[22] It has also provided significant support to theSyrian Democratic Forces, with which it coordinates various operations.[23]
The coalition ended its combat mission in Iraq in December 2021, but U.S. troops remain in the country in a training and advisory role.[24][25] In September 2024, theUnited States Department of Defense announced a "two-phase transition plan" for CJTF-OIR operations in Iraq. In the first phase, finishing in September 2025, the coalition's military mission in Iraq would end, meaning coalition forces would withdraw from certain locations in Iraq as mutually determined. The two-phase transition period in Iraq began in September 2024 and will end in September 2026.[26]
As of September 2019, U.S. Army Lieutenant General Robert "Pat" White commanded CJTF-OIR[27] in an appointment which consolidated three commander's tasks. White is also the commander of theU.S. III Corps, which assumed authority over CJTF-OIR from ARCENT on 22 September 2015, turned over its command toXVIII Airborne Corps in August 2016, and then resumed command on 5 September 2017.[28] White has two deputies, a British Army officer, Major General Gerald Strickland, who is currently serving as CJTF-OIR Deputy Commander-Stability, and aU.S. Air Force officer, Major General Alexus G. Grynkewich, who is currently serving as CJTF-OIR Deputy Commander-Operations and Intelligence.[29] CJTF-OIR's headquarters is atCamp Arifjan in Kuwait and includes approximately 700 personnel from 27 nations who are involved in coordinating operations in Iraq and Syria.[30]
Lt. Gen. White handed over operational control to Lt. Gen.Paul Calvert on 9 September, 2020.[31] Command was subsequently passed to Maj. Gen. John Brennan on 9 September 2021.[32]
A dozen countries not involved in combat operations still contribute to the Building Capacity Mission (BPC) in Iraq. Those who have announced their participation in the program, which trains theIraq Armed Forces andIraqi Police, include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand,Norway,Slovenia, and Spain.[33]
CENTCOM announced in May 2015 that nearly 6,500 Iraqi personnel completed training, with approximately 5,400 currently in training.[34]
On 15 March 2019, aTweet from the Combined Joint Task Force announced that 189,000 Iraqi soldiers, police, border guards, and air force personnel had received training from CJTF-OIR.[35]
Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (SOJTF-OIR) was formally created in January 2016 by1st Special Forces Command to spearhead the overall force's campaign.[36] The task force's job was to coordinate, train, accompany and advise partner forces in Syria and Iraq against ISIS forces.[37] Major GeneralJames E. Kraft led the new task force of about 2,000 troops. By 2017, the task force had helped lead local forces to liberate 70 cities including Ramadi, Fallujah and Mosul.[37]
Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve was restructured asCombined Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant (CSOJTF-L) on 1 July 2022. SOJTF-Levant serves underSpecial Operations Command Central and has trained special operations units in the region.[36][38] CSOJTF-Levant was to oversee a broader, regional approach to special operations, including activities inJordan,Lebanon, andEgypt, commanded by Brigadier General Isaac J. Peltier. According to retired army SOF GeneralJoseph Votel, the reshaped task force was "a maturing of our overall approach in the region", adding that CSOJTF-L combines "multiple SOF headquarters and units that were conducting a variety of missions across" thearea of responsibility.[36][38]
| SOJTF-OIR Commanders | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Start | End | Service | Ref. |
| MGJames E. Craft | 2016 | 2018 | U.S. Army | [37] |
| MGPatrick B. Roberson | 2018 | 2019 | U.S. Army | |
| MGEric T. Hill | 2019 | 2020 | U.S. Air Force | [39] |
| SOJTF-L Commanders | ||||
| BGIsaac J. Peltier | 2021 | 2022 | U.S. Army | [40] |
| BGClaude K. Tudor Jr. | 2022 | 2023 | U.S. Air Force | [41] |
| BGPhilip J. Ryan | 2023 | 2024 | U.S. Army | [42] |
| BGMichael A. Brooks | 2024 | 2025 | U.S.M.C. | [43] |
| BGMason R. Dula | 2025 | incumbent | U.S. Air Force | [44] |
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From August 2014 to August 2015, coalition aircraft flew a total of 45,259sorties, with theU.S. Air Force flying the majority (67%) and dropped more than 5,600 bombs, theRoyal Air Force conducted 30% of the airstrikes.[45] At the time,The Guardian reported that a team of independent journalists had published details of 52 airstrikes which killed more than 450 civilians. The coalition acknowledged only 2 non-combatant deaths.[46]
On 3 October 2015,Tunisia announced it would join CJTF–OIR.[47]
By April 2017, CJTF-OIR estimated that it had killed 70,000 Islamic State fighters since 2014, with Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve killing "over 21,000".The War Zone magazine estimated that SOJTF-OIR was responsible "for around 30 percent of all dead terrorists in Iraq and Syria", adding "we don't know whether SOJTF-OIR counts terrorists who died in air or artillery strikes its personnel called in among the task force's final count."[48]
On 14 April 2017, members of SOJTF-OIR's headquarters element received new, distinctive patches, replacing the interim1st Special Forces Group unit patch.[48]
On 22 December 2018, three days afterDonald Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw all its troops from Syria,Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the coalition against ISIL, announced his resignation from his post.[49]
In April 2019, a joint investigation byAmnesty International andAirwars reported that 1,600 civilians were killed by coalition airstrikes and U.S. artillery shelling during thefour-month battle to capture the Syrian city ofRaqqa from ISIL in 2017.[50][51] The Coalition states it conducted 34,464 strikes against ISIL targets between 8 August 2014 and end of March 2019, and unintentionally killed at least 1,291 civilians.[52][53][54][55]
Estonia will end its contribution to Operation Inherent Resolve by September 2025. At the time, it was Estonia's largest foreign military operation, with up to 110 troops (one infantry company) participating.[56][57] Estonia will continue participating in the NATO Mission Iraq.[58]
On 11 November 2025, Syrian Minister of InformationHamza al-Mustafa stated that theSyrian transitional government had joined the U.S.-led global coalition against ISIS, but would not join the coalition’s military operations.[59]
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Asia portalParticipants commended the efforts of the Lebanese Armed Forces in fighting ISIL/Daesh, and noted that ISIL/Daesh's finances and recruitment are also increasingly being challenged through international cooperation. Participants affirmed, however, that a successful campaign against ISIL/Daesh will take time, and will require a sustained, united, and coordinated response. Participants reiterated their long-term commitment to this effort.
Army Lt. Gen.Stephen J. Townsend, commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, assumed command of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve during a transfer of authority ceremony on Monday August 21.
