Section 3. Situation of Iraq
1. Security Situation after the Establishment of New Iraqi Government
Even after the establishment of a new Iraqi government in May 2006, the public security situation in Iraq is as
challenging as before. Attacks against multinational forces and Iraqi security units are common, particularly in
the “Sunni Triangle”29 and parts of northern Iraq, and sectarian conflicts have been severe. Especially, the
February 2006 bombing of a Shiite mosque in Samarra in central Iraq triggered fierce sectarian violence,
resulting in a rapid increase in Iraqi civilian victims, particularly in Baghdad, and creating major problems for
the country’s security and stability.
In the backdrop to this violence are radical Islamists, who apparently are continuing terrorist attacks both to
create the impression in Iraq and abroad that the Iraqi government is unable to govern and the multinational
forces incapable of maintaining order, and to create political chaos by fueling sectarian and ethnic disputes.
This gives rise to a “chain of retaliation,” with sects that have been attacked calling on private militia
organizations to exact revenge.
Attacks against multinational forces, Iraqi security forces and civilians continue in Iraq, by a variety of
means such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices
(VBIEDs).
The influence of nearby countries has also been noted with regard to the security situation in Iraq. In
particular, it has been reported that Iran has been providing weapons and financial support to militia
organizations within Iraq, and that the remnant of supporters of the Hussein regime and Islamic radicals are
pouring into Iraq from Syria30.
2. Security and Other Measures by Iraqi Security Forces and Multinational Forces
With the increasingly fierce sectarian rivalry
described above producing a deteriorating security
situation in Baghdad and elsewhere and becoming a
serious obstacle to political and economic progress,
President Bush implemented a review of the United
States’ Iraq policy. After discussions with the Iraqi
government, he announced a new strategy with
regard to Iraq in January 2007. Positing the
restoration of order in Baghdad as the key to success,
this new policy seeks to tackle head-on the issue of
ensuring the security of local residents, as opposed to
the focus of the previous policy on transferring the
responsibility for security to the Iraqis. As the strengthening of the Iraqi security forces’ capabilities, which is
the premise of the strategy, may not prove sufficient on its own, the United States decided to send more than
20,000 additional combat troops. The dispatch of an additional carrier strike group to the Middle East and the
deployment of Patriot air defense systems were among other steps taken to bolster the security of Iraq and
protect U.S. interests in the Middle East31.
Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki then initiated a new security policy for Baghdad in February 2007 that called
for approximately 90,000 Iraqi security and U.S. forces to be dispatched to Baghdad to crack down on all
illegal behavior regardless of affiliation.
Transfers of responsibility for security from multinational forces to Iraqi authorities are proceeding in the
provinces in which the capabilities of Iraqi security forces have been enhanced and local conditions have
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Part I Security Environment Surrounding Japan
improved. Thus far, authority for security has been transferred in seven provinces, including southeastern
Iraq’s Muthanna Province, in which the GSDF was engaged in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance
activities. (See Fig. I-1-3-1)
Fig. I-1-3-1 Countries Dispatching Forces to Iraq and Primary Areas of Operation
ROK (Erbil)
26 countries (including the US, the UK and Japan)
have forces (about 162,000 personnel) in Iraq
About 12,000 personnel deployed from countries
other than US (As of April 2007)
Dahuk
Erbil
Ninawa
Provinces in which security
responsibility has been
transferred to Iraqi authorities
Jul 2006 Muthanna
Sep 2006 Dhi Qar
Dec 2006 Najaf
Apr 2007 Maysan
May 2007 Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Dahuk
Anbar
Tamim
Sulaymaniyah
Salah ad Din
Diyala
Baghdad
Babil
Wasit
Karbala
US-led multinational division members
Australia (Baghdad and other areas)
Albania (Niniwa)
Estonia (Baghdad)
Macedonia (near Baghdad)
Bulgaria (near Baghdad)
Georgia (Baghdad)
Azerbaijan (Karbara)
Fiji (Baghdad)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (Anbar)
Mongolia (Babil)
Latvia (Babil)
Armenia (Babil)
Rumania (Babil)
Quadisiyah
Maysan
Najaf
Dhi Qar
Basrah
Muthanna
UK-led multinational division members
Denmark (Basrah)
Rumania (Dhi Qar, Basrah)
Australia
Czech Republic
Poland-led multinational division members
Rumania (Quadisiyah)
Kazakhstan (Wasit)
El Salvador (Wasit)
Ukraine
As of May 2007, military units from 26 countries, including approximately 150,000 U.S. troops, are
deployed within Iraq and are given responsibility for security and reconstruction assistance, but changing
circumstances have led to changes in the scale of some of the multinational forces. For instance, the United
Kingdom, citing progress in handing over the responsibility for security in southern Iraq, announced in
February 2007 that it would be reducing the British contingent in Iraq from 7,100 to about 5,500 within a few
months.
The basic idea underlying the activities of the multinational forces is that the presence of such forces is
necessary until Iraqi security forces are able to maintain security on their own. Consequently, the multinational
forces assert that they cannot set out in advance a deadline for terminating their activities, even while insisting
that their involvement in Iraq is not unlimited. They say that more time will be needed until the Iraqi security
forces are able to maintain order and stability in Iraq on their own.
3. Efforts by the Iraqi Government and International Community toward Reconstruction
Breakthroughs in the situation in Iraq will require not only security measures but also political efforts by the
Iraqi government on its own initiative to promote national reconciliation. Prime Minister Maliki in June 2006
devised a national reconciliation plan, and held a national reconciliation conference in Baghdad in December.
Thus Iraq is continuing efforts to build a democratic and stable state on the basis of national reconciliation.
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Many countries have contributed to Iraqi
reconstruction through the dispatch of troops and
bilateral and multilateral assistance programs. Since
2005, the United States and others have deployed
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) made up of
military and civilian personnel to provide support to
local governments in Iraq, and the United States
decided in the previously mentioned new Iraq
strategy to double the number of PRTs in giving
greater emphasis to both military and non-military
cooperation. The United Nations has been
coordinating reconstruction, development and
humanitarian assistance through the United Nations
Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
In the mean time, the Iraq Compact was launched in May 2007 by an international framework co-chaired
by the Iraqi government and the United Nations to build a new partnership between the Iraqi government and
the international community. In this Iraq Compact, the Iraqi government has presented its policy objectives for
the next five years in the areas of governance, security, and economic recovery, and the international
community has promised assistance for such efforts by the Iraqi government.
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