Lead Inspector General for Operation Inherent Resolve Releases Quarterly Report

On Feb. 9, the Lead Inspector General for Operation Inherent Resolve released its latest quarterly report on the progress of Operation Inherent Resolve, which seeks “to advise, assist, and enable partner forces until they can independently maintain the enduring defeat of ISIS in Iraq and designated areas of Syria, in order to set conditions for long-term security cooperation frameworks.” 

According to the report, although the Islamic State “remained incapable of mounting large, complex attacks locally or externally,” its forces continued to carry out attacks against civilians and U.S. partner forces in Iraq and Syria, and against pro-regime forces in Syria. The Islamic State conducted most of its attacks in Iraq against Shia communities, and the group concentrated its attacks in Syria in the Syrian Desert. Additionally, the Islamic State ramped up its attacks on checkpoints overseen by the Syrian Democratic Forces. 

The inspector general reveals in the report that Iran-affiliated militias conducted at least 134 attacks against “U.S. interests in Iraq and Syria” during this period “to exert pressure on U.S. and Coalition forces as tension rose in the region following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack in southern Israel and Israel’s ongoing airstrikes and ground offensive in Gaza.” The inspector general notes that these attacks limited the number of U.S. and Coalition engagements with the Iraqi Security Forces over the last quarter. 

You can read the report here or below.