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Non-US Forces in Iraq - 20 May 2004

The size and capabilities of the Coalition forces involved in operations in Iraq has been a subject of much debate, confusion, and at times exageration. The Bush Administration and Central Command maintain that that there are roughly 34 countries involved in Coalition efforts, including Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

In fact, there are only 33 countries participating in the coalition, as Canada, while listed on the CJTF-7 page has not made a contribution to Operation Iraq Freedom, though it has supported operations in Afghanistan and the Global War on Terrorism. However, Armenia has pledged to bring in 50 peacekeepers at some point during 2004, though no specific date has been provide.

On April 27, 2004, Spanish troops from the Plus Ultra II brigade, Spain's main force in Iraq, completed their withdrawal from Iraq. Following this, one news agency reported that only approximately 900 Spanish troops from a special unit tasked with support and logistics would be left in-country to complete the withdrawal. A new contingent of about 150 Spanish troops, composed mailnly of legionnaires, left Spain that same day for Iraq to support the withdrawal. These soldiers were to be out of the country by May 27, 2004. Norway is scheduled to withdraw its 150 soldiers by June 30.

Agence France Presse reported on May 18, 2004 that all 369 Honduran troops deployed to Iraq will have returned to Honduras by May 21, 2004. The report indicated that some 312 soldiers had already departed Iraq and that some 57 were still in the country awaiting transportation out of Iraq. On May 20, 2004, AFP reported that all of the Honduran troops had left Iraq and were waiting to depart Kuwait on May 21, 2004.

On June 11, 2004, the Dutch government extended the stay of its troop contingent in Iraq through at least March 2005. Their mandate was due to expire on July 15.

Georgia will deploy to Iraq two companies of the 16th Sachkhere mountain-rifle battalion in July under UN aegis. They were originally scheduled to deploy in mid-June. They will supplement an existing contingent of 159 Georgian troops already there and will be followed by an additional unit composed of troops from the Commando battalion

Estonia deployed on June 18, 2004 a contingent of troops to Iraq numbering 45. The units, Estpla-9 and CT-3, are respectively composed of 32 and 13 men. Seven Estonian troops were already at Tallil AB, Iraq, paving the way for this deployment meant to replace the Estpla-8 and CT-3 units who returned from Iraq on June 15. The Estonian parliament had extended on April 14 the mission of its contingent of up to 55 men until June 20, 2005.

South Korea officially announced on Jun 18, 2004 the deployment of 3,660 troops to the Iraqi province of Irbil. Half of the roughly 600 Korean Army engineers and medics already positioned in S. Iraq are to be redeployed to Irbil early that same month. Plans reportedly call for troops to build the necessary facilities before the arrival of 900 additional troops in August, to be followed by the rest of the contingent in multiple batches. AOR's will be in the towns of Rashikin and Shwarash and the Ninawa Province.

Interfax reported on June 24, 2004, that Georgia would increase the size of its contingent in Iraq to a battalion-sized unit during the planned September 2004 rotation.

The Bulgarian 3rd Infantry Battalion, 61st Stryam Mechanized Brigade, composed of about 485 troops, departed in the evening of June 28 for a six-month deployment to Iraq. It will replace a 454-member infantry battalion.

As of late June 2004, it was still unclear whether El Salvador would send a new contingent of troops to replace the 380 troops from the Cuscatlan Battalion stationed in Najaf, Iraq. That contingent's mandate was due to expire in July.

As of June 30, 2004, the bulk of the Norwegian troop contingent in Iraq was set to leave teh country. Plans called for it to cross into Kuwait before flying home on July 5, 2004. Approximately 10 staff officers were to remain in-country to serve as liaisons with the British and Polish troops.

On July 4, MNF-I/MNC-I reported that approximately 45 Royal Marines from the Kingdom of Tonga had arrived in Iraq to augment the I Marine Expeditionary Force in the Al Anbar Province