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Iraq Coalition Troops

Non-US Forces in Iraq - 16 August 2005

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. As of July 1, 2005, there were 26 non-U.S. military forces participating in the coalition and contributing to the ongoing stability operations throughout Iraq. These countries were: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

Countries taking part in the training of Iraqi Security Forces as part of the NATO Training Mission are not being counted as part of the Coalition

The Kingdom of Tonga's contingent of 40+ troops returned home on December 17, 2004. Hungary completely pulled its troops out of Iraq by December 22, 2004. Portugal withdrew its contingent of policemen after having been in Iraq for 15 months in February 2005. Moldova withdrew its contingent of 12 in February 2005. Fiji initially deployed 150 troops to Iraq, and later an additioanl 90, but they are there under UN banner (UNAMI) and are therefore not be counted in the coalition. Singapore deployed a ship to the Persian Gulf on Nov. 27, which returned home in March 2005 but since the country does not actually contribute troops on the ground in Iraq, it was not included in the coalition count. Armenia deployed 46 troops to Iraq in mid-January 2005. A new arrival to the list is Bosnia and Herzegovina which deployed an EOD platoon to Iraq in June 2005.

Countries which had troops in or supported operations in Iraq at one point but have pulled out since: Nicaragua (Feb. 2004); Spain (late-Apr. 2004); Dominican Republic (early-May 2004); Honduras (late-May 2004); Philippines (~Jul. 19, 2004); Thailand (late-Aug. 2004); New Zealand (late Sep. 2004); Tonga (mid-Dec. 2004) Hungary (end Dec. 2004); Portugal (mid-Feb. 2005); Moldova (Feb. 2005);

Countries planning to withdraw from Iraq: Poland (starting Jan.05 and completed by end.05(?)); Bulgaria (end of 2005, depending on circumstances); Ukraine (entire contingent, in stages until ~ Oct. 2005)

Countries which have reduced or are planning to reduce their troop commitment: Ukraine (-200 during Fall04 rotation); Moldova (reduced contingent to 12 around mid-2004); Norway (reduced from ~150 to 10 late-Jun.04, early Jul.04); Bulgaria (-50, Dec.04); Poland (-700, Feb.05); Italy (-300 expeted in Sept. 05(decrease appearently began in mid-Aug. 05)); Netherlands (reduced from ~1,345 to 4; ~Mar. 2005)

Countries supporting UNAMI: Fiji (150+); Georgia

Recent developments

• Japan's opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, announced on August 16, that if elected to power as a result of the schedule September 11, 2005 elections, it would pull out japan's entire contingent from Iraq at the term of its mandate set to expire in December.
• On August 13, 2005, the Italian daily La Stampa, reported that Italy had begun its pullout from Iraq earlier than expected. Affected were ~ 130 sailors along with a squadron of CH-47 helicopters and accompanying ~100 army personnel. It was reported that half of these troops would not be replaced.
• On August 11, 2005, the UN Security Council renewed for one year the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)
• As of early August 2005, Albania had ~120 troops in Iraq.
• As of early August 2005, The Czech Republic had ~90 troops in Iraq. The mandate approved by the Czech parliament allowed for up to 100 troops to be deployed to Iraq until at least the end of the year, depending in part on the status of UN Security Resolution 1546. The troops are located in Basrah under British command. The Czech contingent, mostly made up of police trainers, also includes a small logistical element. The Czech Republic also has 5 personnel deployed to Iraq as part of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq.
• As of late July 2005, Japan had ~~600 ground self defense forces in Iraq. These troops were tasked with providing medical assistance and engineering work pertaining to water facilities. The troops were initially stationed with Dutch troops, but were now being located with Australian troops. In addition, Japan also had ~200 troops stationed in Kuwait providing air transport in support of the contingent deployed to Iraq.
• Reuters reported on July 29, 2005, that El Savalador still had 380 troops in Iraq and would continue to do so for at least a year following a vote the previous day by its Congress to send a fifth contingent in August which would itself be rotated out and replaced the following February. The Cuzcatlán Batttalion is due to rotate out of Iraq in August. Numbering 380, it replaced in February 2005 a unit that had 360 troops.
• As of July 27, 2005, the Netherlands still had 4 troops in Iraq, as part of SFIR(Stabilization Force IRaq). In addition, it also had 14 troops in the country as part of the NATO Training Mission Iraq(NTM-I)
• While on a visit to Iraq, Australia's PM Howard was said to have declared that Australia would keep its troops in Iraq until the Iraqi government no longe needed them. The article also mentioned that Australia had about 750 troops in Iraq.
• Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty reported on July 21 that the first contingent of Armenian troops deployed in Iraq the previous January had returned home the day prior after a six-months rotation. The unit was reported to be composed of "doctors, demining experts and military truck drivers" and had been statitioned in the Polish-led multinational division-controlled area of south-central Iraq.
• On July 21, 2005, Italy's Lower House approved funds to extend the deployment of Italian troops in Iraq until the end of the year. The measure still required the approval of Italy's Upper House.
• As of mid-July 2005, Slovakia had a 100-soldier engineering unit serving with the Multinational Division Central South, based in Hillah, Iraq
• The 4th Macedonian contingent to serve in Iraq returned home in mid-July. They were replaced by another contingent of 33 Special Forces troops, in addition to a high-level liaison officer and a logistics officer who left on June 8, 2005 for Iraq for a period of six months. Macedonia also has two officers asigned to US CENTOCM HQs in Tampa, Florida. for a yearlong assignment.
• On July 17, 2005, British Defense Secretary John Reid was reported as saying that a transitional handover process could start during the next 12 months allowing for the return of British troops.
• As of August 3, 2005, the Netherlands had 13 military personnel for the NATO Training Mission Iraq (NTM-I) and 4 troops in the Irak region for SFIR
• As of July 4, 2005, Australia had approximately 1370 personnel in the region. Its contribution to coalition operations in Iraq consisted 568 personnel divided among the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) with 450 personnel; an ADF medical team of 20 specialist medical personnel based at the Balad Military Hospital; An Australian Army Training Team of 55 personnel that provides logistic training to the Iraqi Army; an Australian contribution to the MNF HQ of 35 personnel; a small group of RAAF air traffic controllers at the Balad Air Base (approximately 6) plus the Australian Defence Attaché on the staff of the Australian Embassy in Baghdad and the Senior Australian military officer working in the British HQ in Basra. In addition, Australia also maintained a security detachment of about 100 personnel equiped with Australian LAVs and an explosive ordnance detachment to provide protection and escort for Australian Government personnel working in the Embassy in Baghdad. That security detachment is not being counted as part of the coaltion but is included in the total tally for the region. As of July ne 15, 2005, Australia also had in the region, an RAAF C-130 Hercules detachment, likely based in Qatar with about 160 personnel providing intra-theatre air lift and sustainment support in the Middle East, with two transport aircraft, ground crew and other support elements. It also had an RAAF AP-3C Orion detachment of about 160 personnel conducting maritime patrol operations, itself also not based in Iraq with two aircraft and associated command and support elements; HMAS Newcastle about 220 personnel deployed to the region; and an Australian Joint Task Force HQ of about 100 personnel, though it was not clear where the Australian JTF HQ was based out of.
• As of mid-July S. Korea's contingent of troops to Iraq stood at a strength of 3,300. The contingent was reduced from an initial strength of 3,600 following reorganization to avoid duplication of effort and relocation of units present on the ground. The contingent it mainly tasked with a reconstruction and peacebuilding mission, but does provide assistance to Iraqi forces, in the form of training. Though there were no plans to either increase or decrease the size of the contingent, the S. Korean National Assembly initially authorized the deployment for a period of a year, leaving the door open for a decision at the end of the year.
• Bulgaria, as of mid-July 2005 was believed to have approximately ~400-450 troops from the 5th Bulgarian Infantry Battalion in Iraq as part of the coalition under Polish Command. On March 30, 2005, the Bulgarian Cabinet decided that it would end its commitment to the mission in Iraq by December 31, 2005. The decision called for a reduction of troops assigned to the infantry battalion deployed there from 500 to 400, following approval by the Bulgarian Parliament, which did so on May 5, 2005. Bulgaria deployed in May 2005 its fifth rotation of troops to Iraq, with a strength of 400 troops as ooposed to 500 in previous rotations. Bulgaria elected a new government on June 25, 2005, but was, as of mid-July 2005 still in the process of forming a cabinet which might result in a possible change in policy. The policy still left open a possible extension of troops tobelieved to also be contingent on whether the UN mandate set forth in United Nations Resolution 1546 would expire at the end of 2005 or whether it would be renewed.
• As of mid-July 2005, Norway still had approximately 10 staff officers deployed to Iraq. These Norwegian personnel form part of the British and Polish divisional headquarters staff.
• As of mid-July 2005, Azerbaijan has 1 infantry company deployed to the Al Anbar region in Iraq with 151 troops. There were no immediate plans to either increase or decrease the size of the contingent.
• As of mid-July 2005, Lithuania had ~120 personnel in Iraq, evenly split between a Danish Battalion near Basrahm and the Polish Division in Al Hillah, in addition to several officers assigned to the MNF Headquarters in Baghdad.
• Poland completed in mid-July 2005 the rotation of its contingent in Iraq. A farewell ceremony had been held on July 4, 2005 in Rzeszowie in Eastern Poland for the 5th contingent of troops. The contingent drawn from the 1st Warsaw Division and reportedly numbering 1,500 troops would be deployed for a period of 6 months. Poland also maintains a quick-reaction force, battalion-sized, in a ready-state for deployment to Iraq. With UN Security Resolution 1546 set to expire at the end of 2005, Poland's repotedly contemplated withdrawal was officially nevertheless contingent on situation and events in Iraq.
• As of July 9, 2005, the Estonian unit deployed to Iraq was the 34-strong light infantry platoon ESTPLA-11; operational control of which rested with US CENTCOM. In addition, at least one Estonian Officer was known to be serving with the coalition forces' information department. On April 20, 2005, the Estonian Parliament extended the mission of its contingent in Iraq until December 31, 2005, with the option left open of revisiting that deadline pending any extension by the United Nations of the mandate set in UN Security Council Resolution 1546. The unit deployed in June 2005 to Iraq. Prior units were the Estonian light infantry unit (ESTPLA-8) based in Baghdad and a cargo handling team (CT-2) which operated at Tallil Airfield near An-Nasiriyah; both units were deployed in Iraq for six months and returned home on June 15, 2004. They were replaced by ESTPLA-9 with 32 troops and CT-3 with 13 troops for a period of six months. This rotation was followed by the ESTPLA-10. ESTPLA-8 and ESTPLA-10 are understood to have served under the 1st Cavalry Divison.
• As of early July 2005, Latvia had 136 troops in Iraq.
• As of July 2005, Romania had ~863 troops in Iraq. This included an infantry company numbering between 120-130 tropps assigned to UNAMI. Its contingent of troops assisting the coalition was made up of 1 infantry Battalion, 1 Engineer unit, probably company-sized, 1 MP company, 1 Infantry company, 1 medical group, 1 reconnaissance group in addition to officers and NCO assigned to HQs.
• Italy announced on July 8, that it would withdraw 300 troops from Iraq in September 2005. As of July 1, 2005, Italy had 3,038 troops committed to Operation "Antica Babilonia", its name for operations in Iraq. Of these, 8 were being assigned to locations in United States, while 30 troops were being stationed in Kuwait with 2,945 troops were in Iraq. 55 personnel from the Italian Red Cross were also in the region.
• During an interview with BBC's Newsnight programme on July 1, 2005, Jordan's King Abdullah said that his country would consider sending troops to Iraq if tha country's interim government asked.
• The Xinhua New Agency reported on June 20 that Italy's Defense Minister had that day commented that the country would likely withdraw its contingent from Iraq once a new Iraqi government takes power and is capable of securing the country.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina deployed on June 10, 2005, a contingent of 36 troops to Iraq. The unit is Explosiive Ordnance Disposal unit was to be subordinated to a US Marine Engineer unit in the Fallujah area. Bosnian contingent are set to rotate to Iraq for a period of six-months each.
• As of June 8, 2005, Kazakhstan still had 27 engineers in Iraq serving with the Ukrainian contingent and taked with UXO duties
• As of late-May 2005, Fiji was set to deploy an additional 90 troops to Iraq to support UNAMI
• As of late May 2005, S. Korean troops in Iraq were drawn from the Zaytun Division who had assumed operational authority for the northeastern province of Irbil, Iraq, on Oct. 1, 2004.
• On May 25, 2005, UK Secretary of State for Defence John Reid announced the latest rotation of UK Forces to Iraq to the Multinational Division (South-East) (MND(SE)) As part of the plan, 4 Armoured Brigade, formerly the lead UK formation, was being replaced by 12 Mechanised Brigade; a transition to be mostly complete by 30 May 2005. The rotation would account for approximately 8,500 troops or an increase of a 400+ UK troops to Iraq.
• As of April 21, 2005, Italy's contingent of troops in Iraq was led by a Maneuver regiment based on the 187th Parachutist Regiment and composed of two task groups: a battalion of "Tarquina" parachutists with a company of the from the San Marco Regiment; and one battalion made up of one armored reconnaissance squadron from the 4th Cavalry and one Mechanized Company using Centauro and Dardo vechicles.
• On April 15, 2005, Bosnia and Herzegovina announced that it would deploy in June 2005 a Explosive Ordnance Disposal platoon to Iraq. The unit would number 36 troops
• As of early April 2005, the 13th Infantry 'Shavnabada' Battalion (also identified as the 3rd Battalion of the 11th Brigade) from Georgia had been attached to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division in Baghdad. The unit, with 550 troops would be responsible for security at the al-Rasheed Hotel and the Iraqi Convention Center, the home to the newly-elected Iraqi National Assembly, in addition to providing security for United Nations convoys in Baghdad. There are conflicting reports as to whether the Shavnabada is deployed as part of UNAMI or as part of the coalition but assisting UNAMI. They joined a contingent of 300 commnado troops already in Iraq near Baquba.
• An early April 2005, 4th BCT, 3rd ID PAO article mentioned that the Estonian and Macedonian contingent deployed to Iraq were supporting Multi-National Division-Baghdad.
• On March 15, 2005, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced that Italy would begin to withdraw its troops from Iraq in September 2005. Berlusconi later seemed to backtrack from this comment with his spokesman downplaying the announcement as being consistent with prior Italian policy and thus contingent upon the ability of the Iraqi Government to assume responsibility for itself. As such, it is unclear whether Italy will in fact withdraw its contingent from Iraq.
• Ukraine witdrew 500 troops from Iraq on May 15, 2005. This followed the 150 or so who left on March 15, 2005. The rest of the Ukrainian contingent, numbering ~950, is set to leave the country by the end of 2005, possibly by mid-October.
• The UB Post reported on March 10, 2005, that Mongolia's third rotation of more than 130 troops to Iraq returned home on March 4 after six months spent in-country. They were under Polish command. The first rotation of Mongolian contingent, which was composed of an infantry company and construction platoon, was deployed to Iraq from mid-August 2003. As with the second and third rotations of Mongolian troops to Iraq, only infantry companies were deployed.
• Singapore Landing Ship Tank (LST) RSS Resolution, with a crew of 180, returned home on March 19, 2005, after a three month deployement to the Northern Arabian Gulf as part of Singapore's contribution "to the multinational effort in support of the reconstruction in Iraq". It was not clear if another ship had been dispatched to replace it.
as part of Singapore's contribution "to the multinational effort in support of the reconstruction in Iraq". RSS Resolution had.
• On February 22, 2005, the Government of Australia announced that is had decided to send a new Australian Task Force to Iraq. The Task Group would be sent to the Al Muthanna province in S. Iraq and it would be tasked with 1) providing a secure environment for Japanese engineering and support forces there; and 2) being involved in the further training of Iraqi security forces. The new Australian Task Group was to consist of a headquarters, a cavalry squadron, an infantry company, and a training team. The total numbers would be approximately 450, and it would have some 40 ASLAV armoured vehicles. The great bulk of the Task Group was to be drawn from the Darwin 1st Brigade, and it would take some 10 weeks from that announcement for the Task Group to be ready. The unit deployed in late April 2005.
• The fifth Danish Contingent was dued to rotate out of Iraq sometime in August, after arriving in Kuwait on February 10, 2005. The contingent is made of ~540 troops, or an increase from the 496 that made up the fourth rotation. The unit is deployed in Basrah, Iraq. They are taksed with providing security around their camp and to convoys traveling through the supply routes in Southern Iraq. The contingent is made up of infantry, military police officers, medics, in addition to a civil affairs team.
• As of early Januuary 2005, Kazakhstan had rotated in three contingent of 27 engineers to Iraq with another scheduled to follow.