The Iraq Conflict
A neutral, source-attributed briefing on Iraq's low-level insurgency, militia activity, and political instability.
Last updated: 2026-09-20 · Evergreen briefing — the live map and the headlines below carry the latest developments.
Key locations: Iraq Conflict
Iraq Conflict map: control status, coordinates and every tracked location →
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Baghdadcity33.3152, 44.3661
Capital of Iraq and seat of the federal government, currently led by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
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Mosulcity36.3489, 43.1189
Iraq's second-largest city, captured by the Islamic State in June 2014 and recaptured by Iraqi forces in July 2017.
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Kirkukcity35.4681, 44.3922
Oil-rich city that sits along the fault line between Iraq's Kurdistan autonomous region and areas administered by the federal government, a longstanding source of Arab-Kurdish tension.
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Erbilcity36.1911, 44.0092
Capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq.
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Basraport30.5085, 47.7804
Iraq's main port city and oil-export hub on the Persian Gulf.
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Al-Asad Airbasebase33.7756, 42.4411
Major air base in western Anbar province used by U.S. forces in an advisory role against Islamic State remnants.
Control: Iraqi government, hosting roughly 2,500 U.S. troops in an advisory capacity — Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker, as of 2026-08-03
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Fallujahcity33.3489, 43.7869
Anbar province city recaptured from the Islamic State in June 2016 after months of fighting.
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Ramadicity33.4200, 43.3000
Anbar province's capital, recaptured from the Islamic State in December 2015.
Key facts
- The Iraq Conflict is an insurgency / instability in the Middle East, currently Active (Medium intensity).
- Iraq faces a residual Islamic State insurgency, the influence of armed militias, and recurring political instability, even as large-scale conventional fighting has subsided.
- Key actors: Iraqi security forces, Islamic State remnants, Armed militias.
- What's at stake: ISIS resurgence, Sovereignty, Sectarian stability.
Reported deaths
UCDP best estimate, summed by the month each event began, across Iraq. UCDP's high and low estimates for the same period are 259 and 245. A further 55 could not be attributed to a side or to civilians. Candidate data is preliminary and is revised in UCDP's annual release; it counts deaths from organized violence only, not hunger or disease. See how this is counted, including how theaters map to countries, or compare the civilian share across every theater.
Latest developments
Headlines pulled automatically from Google News and linking to primary reporting; last refreshed 2026-09-20.
- Today
- YesterdayYazidi armed group YBS to disarm, integrate into Iraqi security forcesFoundation for Defense of Democracies
- TodaySix French ISIS suspects face trial in Iraqiraqinews.com
- 2d ago
- Today
- 3d agoIraq at the crossroads of arms and investmentWashington Times
- 3d agoEditorial: Iraq’s security deal with the USarabnews.com
- 4d ago
Overview
Iraq faces a residual Islamic State insurgency, the influence of armed militias, and recurring political instability, even as large-scale conventional fighting has subsided.
This page is an evergreen orientation. Figures and control change continually — confirm the latest with the primary sources listed below.
Key actors
- Iraqi security forces — the national military and police.
- Islamic State remnants — conducting a low-level insurgency.
- Armed militias — including Iran-aligned groups.
- Kurdish authorities — governing the autonomous north.
What's at stake
- ISIS resurgence: preventing a return of large-scale insurgency.
- Sovereignty: balancing foreign influence and militia power.
- Sectarian stability: managing political and sectarian tensions.
- Regional spillover: links to Syria and the Iran–Israel confrontation.
Iraq Conflict explained: the key dynamics
A contained ISIS insurgency
Iraq no longer faces large-scale conventional war, but Islamic State remnants sustain a low-level insurgency, particularly in rural and contested areas between federal and Kurdish control.
Militias and sovereignty
Powerful armed militias, including Iran-aligned groups, operate alongside the state, complicating questions of sovereignty and occasionally drawing Iraq into the regional confrontation.
Fragile political stability
Periodic political crises, protests, and disputes between Baghdad and the Kurdistan region shape a tense but largely contained security environment.
Timeline: how the Iraq conflict unfolded
- 2003 — A US-led invasion topples the government and triggers years of insurgency.
- 2014 — The Islamic State seizes Mosul and much of northern and western Iraq.
- 2017 — Iraqi forces and partners declare military victory over the Islamic State.
- 2018–26 — A residual ISIS insurgency and militia influence persist amid political instability.
How this conflict is mapped and tracked
Iraq's violence is now lower-intensity and episodic, captured by ACLED as scattered attacks and security operations. UCDP records the residual insurgency dyads. Because incidents are sporadic, trend lines matter more than any single month; figures are estimates.
For how these datasets differ, see ACLED vs UCDP vs CFR and our guide to conflict-tracking tools.
Insurgency in Iraq
Despite the territorial defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS) caliphate in Iraq in 2017, the group maintains a residual insurgency in rural and desert areas of Diyala, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, and Anbar provinces. ISIS cells conduct periodic ambushes, assassinations, and improvised explosive device attacks on security forces. Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga conduct regular counterterrorism operations.
Iraq's domestic political environment remains fragmented between Arab Shia political blocs, Arab Sunni interests, Kurdish autonomous institutions, and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) — a coalition of predominantly Shia militias with significant Iranian ties. PMF-linked groups have conducted attacks on U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Syria, raising bilateral tensions with Washington.
The U.S. maintains approximately 2,500 military personnel in Iraq under the framework of the anti-ISIS coalition. Negotiations over the mission's future status are ongoing, with Iraqi political pressure to modify or end the formal U.S. military presence. ISIS remains a tier-2 security threat in Iraq but is not assessed as capable of large-scale territorial seizure under current conditions.
How it fits the global picture
This is one of 29 active armed conflict theaters tracked on the Global Armed Conflicts Map. Explore related and concurrent conflicts:
Frequently asked questions
Is Iraq still at war in 2026?
Iraq faces a low-level insurgency and militia-related violence rather than large-scale conventional war. Confirm the current status with primary sources such as ACLED, UCDP, and the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
Is ISIS still active in Iraq?
Islamic State remnants continue a low-level insurgency, contained but not eliminated.
How can I follow it live?
Use the interactive conflict map to see this theater alongside 28 other active conflicts, filter by intensity and region, and open intelligence briefings for each.
Is Iraq safe in 2026?
Iraq is far more stable than during the peak of the war against ISIS, but it still faces a low-level insurgency, militia activity, and political tension. Security varies sharply by region.
Are there still US troops in Iraq?
Foreign forces and the question of their presence remain a live political issue tied to militia activity and the regional confrontation; consult current reporting for the latest status.
Source provenance
- Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker 48 days · as of 2026-08-03
- News feed 0 days · as of 2026-09-20
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-20 | Headlines refreshed | News feed |
| 2026-08-03 | Al-Asad Airbase control updated | Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker |