This article is about the insurgency in Iraq after the defeat of the Islamic State. For the previous IS insurgency after the withdrawal of US troops in 2011, seeIraqi insurgency (2011–2013). For the insurgency in Iraq after the US invasion in 2003, seeIraqi insurgency (2003–2011).
The insurgency is a direct continuation of theWar in Iraq from 2013 to 2017, with IS continuing armed opposition against the Shia-ledIraqi Government. Along with the Islamic State, other insurgents fighting the government include a group known as theWhite Flags which is reportedly composed of former IS members and Kurdish rebels and is believed by the government of Iraq to be part ofAnsar al-Islam and possibly affiliated withal-Qaeda.[16] The group operates mostly in theKirkuk Governorate and has used an assortment ofguerilla tactics against government forces. In September 2017,Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of IS, called on IS supporters around the world to launch attacks on Western news media and continued in his message the IS must focus on combating the two-pronged attack on the MuslimUmmah; these statements marked a departure from previous rhetoric which was focused on the state building of IS and heralded a shift in IS's strategy toward a classical insurgency.[17]
Since IS'sloss of all territory in Iraq in late 2017 which was declared as Iraq's victory over IS and widely seen as an end to the war, and declared as such by Iraq's Prime MinisterHaidar al-Abadi,[18] multiple incidents of violence have occurred being carried out by the conflicting sides, in spite of Iraq's declaration of victory over IS the group is widely seen as far from gone and continues to retain a presence throughout Iraq, and still capable of carrying out attacks and skirmishes with pro-government forces.[19] IS has been waging aguerrilla war with a strong presence in the governorates ofKirkuk,Diyala,Saladin, andSulaymaniyah, with local forces largely ill-equipped and inexperienced, IS has also taken advantage of the areas' rough terrain to carry out operations. IS has also made a notable presence in the cities ofKirkuk,Hawija andTuz Khurmato and has carried out attacks at night in rural areas.
IS fighters also reportedly move through villages during the day without interference from security forces, and locals have been asked by IS to give fighters food and give information on the whereabouts of Iraqi personnel, locals have also stated that IS fighters will frequently enter into Mosques and ask forZakat to fund the insurgency. Among IS's operations include assassinations, kidnappings, raids and ambushes.[20]
As of 2021, U.S. officials warned that IS "remains capable of waging a prolonged insurgency” but also described IS in Iraq as "diminished”. Iraqi intelligence estimated that IS has 2,000–3,000 fighters in Iraq.[21][22]
Following IS's defeat in December 2017, they have been greatly weakened and violence in Iraq has been sharply reduced. 20 civilians lost their lives from violence-related incidents during October 2024, the lowest figure in 21 years.[23] By 2024, attacks claimed by IS have gone down by 94% compared to 2019.[24] In 2025, a UN report submitted to theUnited Nations Security Council, assessed that the status of ISIS in Iraq is “at its weakest”, with fewer than five claimed attacks.[25]
In 2018, 3,643 IS militants, 937 Iraqi security forces, 11 American service members, 1 British service member were killed. The death toll in this year was noted to be the lowest since 2003, when the United States invaded the country.[11]
2018 Asdira funeral bombing: On 12 April 2018, a bombing killed 25 people and wounded 18 others. The attack took place at a funeral for Iraqi fighters who had been killed by IS.
2019 Karbala bombing: On 20 September, 2019, a bomb exploded on a minibus nearKarbala, Iraq, killing 12 civilians and injuring at least five others. The bombing was one of the worst attacks against civilians since the end of theWar in Iraq of 2013 to 2017.
2019 K-1 Air Base attack: A rocket attack was carried out on theK-1 Air Base inKirkuk province inIraq on 27 December 2019. The air base was one of many Iraqi military bases that hostOperation Inherent Resolve (OIR) personnel and, according to the coalition, was attacked by more than 30 rockets. The identity of the perpetrators is disputed.
2022 Kirkuk bombing: At least nine police officers were killed when a convoy hit a roadside bomb nearKirkuk,Iraq. The bombing was followed by a gun fight. OneIslamic State militant was reported killed.
In 2024, 235 IS militants, 58 Iraqi security personnel and 42 civilians were killed. A further 166 IS militants were executed in prisons across Iraq.[29]
2025 Duhok axe attack: On 1 April 2025, aSyrian national[30] went on a short-lived spree of attacks againstAssyrians celebrating the annualKha b-Nisan festival inDuhok. Two people are confirmed to have been injured from the attacks,[31] while other sources suggest that an additional third person was from theAsayish was injured. A source close to Iraqi Shafaq News stated that the attacker had conducted the attack as a terrorist operation linked to IS, but investigations have so far failed to uncover a specific motive.[32]
This list includesWorld War I and later conflicts (after 1914) of at least 100 fatalities each Prolonged conflicts are listed in the decade when initiated; ongoing conflicts are marked italic, and conflicts with +100,000 killed with bold.
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Iran
Islamic State
White Flags (2017–2018)
Iraq:
3 killed[14]
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