Iraq War order of battle, 2009

Sgt. Karl King and Pfc. David Valenzuela lay down cover fire while their squad maneuvers down a street from behind the cover of a Stryker combat vehicle to engage gunmen who fired on their convoy in Al Doura, Iraq, on March 7, 2007. The soldiers are from Company C, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

In military terms, the description of units involved in an operation is known as the order of battle (ORBAT). NATO and the U.S. Department of Defense define the order of battle as the identification, strength, command structure, and disposition of the personnel, units, and equipment of any military force. Below is a brief order of battle for the major units currently deployed with the Multinational force in Iraq.

Overall chain of command

The overall military commander in Iraq is General David H. Petraeus, Commander, Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I) who reports to United States Central Command. MNF-I replaced Combined Joint Task Force 7 in May 2004. MNF-I consists of Multi-National Corps Iraq and Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I), as well as a logistical support element. The U.S. Army's III Corps headquarters, under Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, provides command and control for Multi-National Corps Iraq, which is divided into the following division-sized areas:

• Multi-National Division Baghdad

This division is headquartered by the 1st Cavalry Division, based at Camp Victory (primary component of the Victory Base Complex), north of Baghdad International Airport. The division controls those brigades in greater Baghdad that are responsible for areas within the city itself. Of the brigades currently controlled by the 1st Cavalry Division, one is north of the city at Taji another is in the northeastern part in Adhamiya, two more on the eastern and southern outskirts, and the fifth and sixth are on large forward operating bases near the heart of the city. Most of the brigades' troops are dispersed at battalion- and company-level outposts.

• Multi-National Division Center

Headquartered by the 3rd Infantry Division, this is a new division responsible for operations in the "belt" areas south of Baghdad. It is thought to control one brigade on the southwest outskirts of Baghdad, another to the southeast on a newly built forward operating base, and a third south of the city near Iskandariya.

• Multi-National Division North

This division is headquartered by the 25th Infantry Division. It is based at Contingency Operating Base Speicher outside Tikrit, where one of its brigades is also stationed; its remaining three brigades are based in Mosul, Kirkuk, and Baqubah.

• Multi-National Force West

This force is headquartered by II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). It covers western Iraq, including Al Anbar Governorate and the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, the area where Iraq's Sunni insurgency has been at its strongest. Headquartered at Camp Fallujah, where one of its two regiments is also stationed, it has another regiment at Camp Ripper near Al Asad and a brigade in Ramadi.

• Multi-National Division - Central South

This division is headquartered by the Polish military and covers the area south of Baghdad, including the cities of Kut and Al Hillah. As the contingent allied units departed over the course of 2006, MND-CS all but disappeared, and will dissolve officially in 2007. Iraqi Army units are taking over the division's area of responsibility.

• Multi-National Division South East

The British military commands this division, which covers southern Iraq, including the city of Basra. It is a division only in name, as it is manned with a reinforced brigade which is itself expected to be drawn down from its current strength of 7,000 to 5,500 in the spring of 2007.

• Logistics Support Area Anaconda

The U.S. 13th Corps Support Command is in charge of LSA Anaconda, which is responsible for providing logistics support throughout Iraq. It has operational control over one combat brigade, based at Tallil Airbase near Nasiriyah. This brigade provides convoy security across much of the country.

Multinational Force Iraq: complete current order of battle

In the summer of 2006, units from the fourth rotation of forces in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07, or OIF 05-07) began to be replaced by units from the fifth rotation, OIF 06-08, and in January 2007, some units began to deploy early as part of a "surge" or forces into Anbar and Baghdad. As of April 2007, there were approximately 145,000 American troops in Iraq. Many brigade combat teams (BCTs) lend battalions to other BCTs during the course of their deployments, giving them "operational control" of those units. In such cases, the battalion's name is followed by "OPCON." Many higher-echelon units have two or more designations, often the formal unit around which the formation is based and then the name of the provisional task force; in these cases, both names are included, separated by a slash. Unless otherwise noted, all units are American. This order of battle extends to battalion level and lists maneuver units only; artillery, support, special operations, and advisory units are not listed.

Multinational Force Iraq (Gen. David Petraeus) -- Camp Victory, Baghdad

• • • • 1st Battalion 185th Infantry Regiment (California NG) -- rear area security, Camp Bucca, Kuwait
      • 3rd Battalion 297th Infantry Regiment (Alaska NG) (Lt. Col. Duff Mitchell) -- rear area security, Camp Buehring, Kuwait
    • 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Col. Gregg A. Sturdevant) -- MNF-I call-forward force at Camp Udairi, Kuwait
      • 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines (Lt. Col. Christopher C. Starling) -- Camp Udairi, Kuwait
    • 1st BCT, 34th Infantry Division (Col. David Elicerio) (Minnesota NG) -- Logistical Support Area (LSA) Adder, Tallil
      • 1st Battalion 133rd Infantry Regiment (Mechanized) (Iowa NG) (Lt. Col. Ben Corell) -- Camp Ripper, Asad
      • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion 136th Infantry Regiment (Minnesota NG) (Lt. Col. Gary Olson) -- Camp Taqaddum
      • 1st Armored Recon Squadron 167th Cavalry Regiment (Nebraska NG) (Lt. Col. Martin Apprich) -- LSA Anaconda, Balad

• Multinational Corps Iraq/III Corps (Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno) -- Camp Victory, Baghdad
  • • Stryker Readiness Force Iraq/3rd SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division (Col. Steven Townsend) -- Camp Liberty, Baghdad
      • 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry Regiment (Stryker) -- QRF recently in Mansur, Baghdad
      • 1st Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment (Stryker) (Lt. Col. Avanulas Smiley) -- QRF recently in Ghaziliya, Baghdad
  • Multinational Division Baghdad/1st Cavalry Division (Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil) -- Camp Victory, Baghdad
    • • 33rd Light Infantry Battalion (Republic of Georgia) -- FOB Prosperity, Baghdad
    • 1st BCT, 1st Cavalry Division (Col. Paul E. Funk II) -- Camp Taji
      • 1st Armored Recon Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment -- Camp Taji
      • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion 8th Cavalry Regiment -- Camp Taji
    • 2nd BCT, 1st Cavalry Division (Col. Bryan Roberts) -- FOB Prosperity, International Zone
      • 4th Armored Recon Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment -- around Haifa Street, Baghdad
      • 2nd Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment (Lt. Col. Stephan Michael) (OPCON from 2nd BCT, 2nd Infantry Division) -- Dora, Baghdad
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 14th Cavalry Regiment (Stryker) (Lt. Col. Jeffrey Peterson) (OPCON from 3rd SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division) -- FOB Union III, International Zone
      • 1st Battalion 18th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized) (Lt. Col. George Glaze) (OPCON from 2nd BCT, 1st Infantry Division) -- southwest Rashid, Baghdad
    • 2nd BCT, 1st Infantry Division (Col. J. B. Burton) -- Camp Liberty, Baghdad
      • 1st Combined Arms Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment (OPCON from 2nd BCT, 1st Cavalry Division) -- Khadra, Baghdad
      • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment (OPCON from 1st BCT, 1st Cavalry Division) -- vicinity of Abu Ghraib
      • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion 12th Cavalry Regiment (Lt. Col. James Nickolas) (OPCON from 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division) -- Ghazaliya, Baghdad
      • 1st Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (OPCON from 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division) -- Hurriya, Baghdad
    • 4th IBCT, 1st Infantry Division (Col. Richard Gibbs) -- FOB Falcon, Baghdad
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 4th Cavalry Regiment (Lt. Col. Jim Crider) -- area south of Dora, Baghdad
      • 1st Battalion 28th Infantry Regiment -- Amel, Baghdad
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) (OPCON from 4th BCT, 25th Infantry Division) -- between FOB Falcon and Mahmudiya
    • 2nd BCT, 2nd Infantry Division (Col. Jeffrey Bannister) -- FOB Loyalty, Baghdad
      • 1st Combined Arms Battalion 8th Cavalry Regiment (Lt. Col. Jeffrey Sauer) (OPCON from 2nd BCT, 1st Cavalry Division) -- New Baghdad
      • 2nd Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment (OPCON from 4th IBCT, 1st Infantry Division) (Lt. Col. Ralph Kauzlarich) -- Fedaliyah, Baghdad
      • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion 69th Armor Regiment (Lt. Col. Troy Perry) (OPCON from 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division) -- FOB Rustamiya, Baghdad
      • 1st Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (OPCON from 1st BCT, 82nd Airborne Division) -- Rusafa, Baghdad
    • 4th SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division -- U/I location, Baghdad
      • 4th Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment (Stryker)
      • 2nd Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment (Stryker)
      • 1st Battalion 38th Infantry Regiment (Stryker)
      • 2nd RSTA Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment (Stryker)
    • 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division (Col. Billy Don Farris) -- FOB Apache, Baghdad
      • 2nd Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment -- Sadr City, Baghdad
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 73rd Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) (Lt. Col. Ross Davidson) -- Sadr City, Baghdad
      • 1st Battalion 26th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized) (Lt. Col. Eric Schacht) (OPCON from 2nd BCT, 1st Infantry Division) -- Adhamiya, Baghdad

• • Multinational Division Center/TF Marne/3rd Infantry Division (Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch) -- Camp Victory, Baghdad
    • • 1st Battalion 149th Infantry Regiment (Kentucky NG) -- Camp Slayer, Baghdad
    • 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division (Col. Wayne Grigsby) -- FOB Hammer, Besmiya
      • 1st Combined Arms Battalion 15th Infantry Regiment -- FOB Hammer, Besmiya
      • 3rd Armored Recon Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment (Lt. Col. John Kolasheski) -- vicinity of Salman Pak
      • 3rd RSTA Squadron 61st Cavalry Regiment (OPCON from 2nd IBCT, 2nd Infantry Division) (Lt. Col. James Phillips) -- vicinity of Salman Pak
    • 2nd BCT, 10th Mountain Division (Col. Michael Kershaw) -- Camp Striker, Baghdad
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 89th Cavalry Regiment (Lt. Col. Mark Suich) -- Camp Striker, Baghdad
      • 2nd Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment (Lt. Col. John Valledor) -- Patrol Base Mahmudiya
      • 4th Battalion 31st Infantry Regiment (Lt. Col. Michael Infanti) -- Patrol Base Yusufiya
    • 4th BCT (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (Col. Michael X. Garrett) -- FOB Kalsu, Iskandariya
      • 1st Battalion 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment -- FOB Kalsu, Iskandariya

• • Multinational Division North/25th Infantry Division/TF Lightning (Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon) -- COB Speicher, Tikrit
    • 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (Col. David Sutherland) -- FOB Warhorse, Baquba
      • 6th Armored Recon Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment (Lt. Col. Keith Gogas) -- FOB Normandy, Miqdadiya
      • 1st Combined Arms Battalion 12th Cavalry Regiment -- Baquba and area to the west
      • 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Regiment (Stryker) (OPCON from 3rd SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division) (Lt. Col. Bruce Antonia) -- Baquba and area to the south
      • 5th RSTA Squadron 73rd Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) (Lt. Col. Andrew Poppas) (OPCON from 3rd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division) -- north of Baquba
      • 31st Light Infantry Battalion (Republic of Georgia) -- FOB Warhorse, Baquba
    • 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division (Col. Stephen Twitty) -- FOB Marez, Mosul
      • 3rd RSTA Squadron 4th Cavalry Regiment (Lt. Col. Malcolm Frost) (OPCON from 3rd BCT, 25th Infantry Division) -- FOB Sykes, Tel Afar
      • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion 7th Cavalry Regiment -- FOB Marez, Mosul
      • 1st Armored Recon Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment -- FOB Marez, Mosul
    • 3rd BCT, 25th Infantry Division (Col. Patrick Stackpole) -- FOB Warrior, Kirkuk
      • 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment (Lt. Col. Drew Meyerowich) -- FOB McHenry, Hawija
      • 2nd Battalion 35th Infantry Regiment -- FOB Warrior, Kirkuk
    • 3rd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division (Col. Bryan Owens) -- COB Speicher, Tikrit
      • 3rd Combined Arms Battalion 8th Cavalry Regiment (Lt. Col. Kevin Dunlop) (OPCON from 3rd BCT, 1st Cavalry Division) -- FOB Paliwoda, Balad
      • 1st Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Lt. Col. Scott Harris) -- FOB Summerall, Bayji
      • 2nd Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Lt. Col. Viet Luong) -- FOB Brassfield-Mora, Samarra

• • Multinational Force West/II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) (Maj. Gen. W. E. Gaskin -- Camp Fallujah
    • Regimental Combat Team 2 (Col. Herman Stacy Clardy III) -- Camp Ripper, Asad
      • 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion -- COP Rawah
      • TF Tarawa/1st Battalion 2nd Marines -- Camp Korean Village, Rutbah
      • 1st Battalion 3rd Marines -- Haditha Dam
      • 3rd Battalion 4th Marines (Lt. Col. Scott Shuster) -- Camp Al Qaim
      • 4th Reconnaissance Battalion -- Camp Ripper, Asad
      • 2nd Combined Arms Battalion 7th Infantry Regiment (Lt. Col. Doug Crissman) (OPCON from 1st HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division) -- FOB Eden, Hīt
    • Regimental Combat Team 6 (Col. Richard Simcock) -- Camp Fallujah
      • 1st Reconnaissance Battalion -- Camp Fallujah
      • 3rd Battalion 6th Marines -- Camp Habbaniya
      • 2nd Battalion 7th Marines -- Camp Fallujah
      • 5th Armored Recon Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment (OPCON from 1st HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division) -- vicinity of Fallujah
      • 3rd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (OPCON from 4th BCT, 25th Infantry Division) -- COP Karmah
    • 1st HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division (Col. John Charlton) -- Camp Ramadi
      • 2nd Battalion 5th Marines -- Camp Ramadi
      • 1st Battalion 6th Marines (Lt. Col. William Jurney) (OPCON) -- Camp Hurricane Point, Ramadi
      • 1st Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment (OPCON from 2nd BCT, 2nd Infantry Division) -- Camp Corregidor, Ramadi
      • 3rd Combined Arms Battalion 69th Armor Regiment (Lt. Col. Michael Silverman) -- Camp Ramadi
      • 1st Battalion 77th Armor Regiment (Lt. Col. Miciotto Johnson) (OPCON from 2nd BCT, 1st Infantry Division) -- Camp Ramadi

• • Multinational Division Southeast/3rd UK Infantry Division -- Basra airfield
    • • 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (UK) -- division reserve in Basra
      • 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Australia) (Lt. Col. Michael Mahy) -- Camp Terendak, Tallil
    • 19th Light Brigade (UK) -- Basra airfield
      • Queen's Royal Lancers (UK) -- Maysan, near Amarah
      • 1st Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment (UK) -- northern Basra
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets (UK) -- southern Basra
      • 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (UK) -- downtown Basra
      • U/I Danish battalion -- countryside north of Basra
      • The Yorkshire Regiment (UK) -- countryside south of Basra

• • Multinational Division Central South/11th Armored Cavalry Division (Poland) (Maj. Gen. Pawel Lamla) -- Camp Echo, Diwaniya
    • • U/I Polish battalion -- Camp Echo, Diwaniya
    • 17th Mechanized Brigade (Poland) (Brig. Gen. Miroslaw Rozanski) -- Camp Delta, Kut
      • Cuscatlan Battalion (El Salvador) -- Camp Delta, Kut

Upcoming deployments

Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08 rotation: All Army units from the Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07/OIF4 rotation have now redeployed to their home bases (Marine forces will not complete OIF 05-07 until March or later). In their place, units from the OIF 06-08 rotation have arrived in theater. To complete the OIF 06-08 rotation, the following units are scheduled to deploy in the coming months (although since Marine units serve seven-month tours, a new complement of battalions will arrive in September for technically the same rotation):

• • • 2nd Battalion 6th Marines
    • 1st Battalion 4th Marines

"Surge" units: On January 11, 2007, the Defense Department announced that three Marine battalions and one Army BCT would have their tours extended as part of the "surge" of forces to the Baghdad and Anbar areas of operations. It also announced that beginning in January, one new BCT would be added to the force in Iraq each month for five months. The surge brigades still preparing to deploy are:

• • 2nd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division -- to deploy in May to Baghdad
    • 3rd Armored Recon Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment
    • 1st Combined Arms Battalion 64th Armor Regiment
    • 3rd Combined Arms Battalion 15th Infantry Regiment

Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09 rotation: On November 17, 2006, the Pentagon announced the first of the major units scheduled to deploy as part of the OIF 07-09 rotation. Several of the units later had their deployments accelerated as part of the surge of troops to Baghdad. Another unit originally scheduled to deploy for OIF 07-09, the 173rd Airborne BCT, has been retasked to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Other units, including 13,000 National Guard soldiers, were alerted for deployment on April 9, 2007, for a forecast troop total of 160,000 by early summer. Still more were alerted on May 8, 2007. The major units on the basic OIF 07-09 rotation are:

• XVIII Airborne Corps

• • 1st Armored Division -- to replace 25th Infantry Division
  • 4th Infantry Division -- to replace 1st Cavalry Division
    • 1st IBCT, 10th Mountain Division -- to deploy in June
      • 2nd Battalion 22nd Infantry Regiment
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 71st Cavalry Regiment
      • 1st Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment
    • 1st IBCT, 82nd Airborne Division -- to deploy in June or July
      • 2nd Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
      • 3rd RSTA Squadron (Airborne) 73rd Cavalry Regiment
    • 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment -- to deploy in August
      • 1st Squadron 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
      • 2nd Squadron 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
      • 3rd Squadron 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
      • 4th RSTA Squadron 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
    • 4th HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division -- to deploy in September
      • 3rd Combined Arms Battalion 7th Infantry Regiment
      • 4th Combined Arms Battalion 64th Armor Regiment
      • 6th Armored Recon Squadron 8th Cavalry Regiment (possibly as 7th Armored Recon Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment)
    • 1st IBCT, 101st Airborne Division -- to deploy in September
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 32nd Cavalry Regiment
      • 1st Battalion 327th Infantry Regiment
      • 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry Regiment
    • 3rd IBCT, 101st Airborne Division -- to deploy in early October
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 33rd Cavalry Regiment
      • 1st Battalion 187th Infantry Regiment
      • 3rd Battalion 187th Infantry Regiment
    • 2nd IBCT, 101st Airborne Division -- to deploy in late October
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 75th Cavalry Regiment
      • 1st Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment
      • 2nd Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment
    • 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment -- to deploy in early November
      • 1st Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
      • 2nd Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
      • 3rd Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
    • 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Division -- to deploy in late November
      • 1st Battalion 6th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized)
      • 2nd Battalion 6th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized)
      • 1st Battalion 35th Armor Regiment
    • 4th IBCT, 10th Mountain Division -- to deploy in late November
      • 2nd Battalion 4th Infantry Regiment
      • 2nd Battalion 30th Infantry Regiment
      • 3rd RSTA Squadron 89th Cavalry Regiment (already partially deployed)
    • 2nd SBCT, 25th Infantry Division -- to deploy in early December
      • 1st Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment
      • 1st Battalion 21st Infantry Regiment
      • 1st Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment
      • 5th RSTA Squadron 14th Cavalry Regiment
    • 1st HBCT, 4th Infantry Division -- to deploy in late December
      • 8th Armored Recon Squadron 10th Cavalry Regiment
      • 1st Combined Arms Battalion 22nd Infantry Regiment
      • 1st Combined Arms Battalion 66th Armor Regiment
    • 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Ohio National Guard)(Columbus, Ohio) -- to deploy in 2008
      • unknown complement of Ohio and other National Guard battalions
    • 39th IBCT (Army National Guard)(Little Rock, Arkansas) -- to deploy in 2008
      • unknown complement of Arkansas and other National Guard battalions
    • 45th IBCT (Oklahoma National Guard)(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) -- to deploy in 2008
      • unknown complement of Oklahoma and other National Guard battalions
    • 76th IBCT (Indiana National Guard)(Indianapolis, Indiana) -- to deploy in 2008
      • unknown complement of Indiana and other National Guard battalions

In addition to the units that have been officially announced, the following units are training with the expectation of deployment in the late OIF 07-09 timeframe:

• • • 3rd HBCT, 4th Infantry Division
      • 1st Combined Arms Battalion 8th Infantry Regiment
      • 1st Combined Arms Battalion 68th Armor Regiment
      • 2nd Armored Recon Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment (possibly as 4th Armored Recon Squadron 10th Cavalry Regiment)
    • 58th IBCT HQ (Maryland National Guard)
      • 1st RSTA Squadron 158th Cavalry Regiment (Maryland National Guard)
      • 1st Battalion 160th Infantry Regiment (California National Guard)
      • 1st Battalion 175th Infantry Regiment (Maryland National Guard)
    • 116th IBCT HQ (Virginia National Guard)
      • 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry Regiment (Virginia National Guard)
      • 3rd Battalion 144th Infantry Regiment (Texas National Guard)
      • 2nd RSTA Squadron 183rd Cavalry Regiment (Virginia National Guard)

Other nations contributing to MNF-I

Division and brigade contributors: The British military commands the Multi-National Division (South-East) (Iraq), which included UK, Italian, Australian, Romanian, Danish, Portuguese, Czech and Lithuanian troops. As of February 2007, the Australians, Romanians, Danes, Portugues and Lithuanians remain (see Multinational force in Iraq and Operation Telic for further information). The UK itself has about 7,100 personnel serving in Iraq, making it the second-largest contributor of foreign troops to Iraq, behind the United States. Led by the 3rd UK Infantry Division, MND-SE is a division in name only, its one brigade being the British 19th Light Brigade. British troop levels are expected to be halved during 2007.

British troops are organized into six battalion-sized battlegroups, based around the Queen's Royal Lancers in Maysan province, the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in downtown Basra, the 1st Battalion of The Staffordshire Regiment in north Basra, the 1st Battalion of The Royal Green Jackets in south Basra, The Yorkshire Regiment south of the city, and the 2nd Battalion of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment as a divisional reserve. Within the battlegroups, battalions and regiments are mixed and matched on a task-oriented basis; companies from the 3rd and 7th Battalions of the Black Watch, the 2nd Battalion of The Light Infantry, the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, and the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers are alo deployed.

Fire support is provided by elements of the 5th and 40th Regiments of Royal Artillery, and engineering support by the 38th Engineer Regiment Group. Various military police and logistical support units are also attached.

South Korea is the third-largest contributor of foreign troops to MNF-I, with 3,200 troops from the provisional Zaytun Division originally stationed in the Kurdish city of Irbil, however the contingent was reduced to 2,300 in early 2006, with a full withdrawal expected by the end of the 2007. These troops are tasked with reconstruction and rebuilding only.

Since 2003, Poland (peak contingent: 2,500) and Ukraine (peak contingent: 1,650) have held command of Multinational Division Central South, but during 2006 all Ukrainian and many Polish troops were withdrawn. Poland retains command of a skeletal division structure which controls one Polish brigade and one Polish infantry battalion. Other Polish troops make up Military, Border, and Police Transition Teams; for a total of 900 troops as of February 2007. Poland currently commmands troops from El Salvador, Mongolia, Latvia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan.

An independent 1,345-man Dutch contingent was deployed from July 2003 to March 2005, one of its key responsibilities being the protection of a 600-member Japanese humanitarian unit which arrived in Iraq in 2004, for a two and a half year stay. (These duties were assumed by the Australians upon the Dutch departure).

A Spanish force of 1,300 (also commanding contingents from Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua; see Plus Ultra Brigade for further information) served in Iraq from April 2003 to April 2004.

Battalion contributors: Several nations continue to contribute battalion-sized combat task forces to MNF-I. The Republic of Georgia rotates two light infantry battalions (300 troops) into Iraq every six months, one to the city of Baquba and one to Baghdad's International Zone to provide security there (both under US command). Two nations provide battalions to Britain's MND-SE: Australia, which has deployed a 20-man training team and a task force of about 500 soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry and Royal Australian Regiment to Tallil Airbase (in addition to naval and air force contributions in the Gulf region, and an embassy protection team in Baghdad), and Denmark, which leads the battlegroup (460 men) north of Basra. El Salvador also contributes a rotating battalion-sized light infantry force of 380 troops to the Polish MND-CS. (See Operation Catalyst for fuller information on Australian deployments, and Multinational force in Iraq for further information about the Coalition in general).

Company and smaller contributors: A variety of nations contribute company-sized or smaller elements to MNF-I either for reconstruction, training, or combat. Mongolia and Romania each provide an infantry company to MND-CS, while 53 Lithuanian soldiers are attached to the Danish force and 100 Czech soldiers of the 11th Military Police Contingent are based near Basra. There are also Latvians, Moldovans, Kazakhs, Estonians, Macedonians, Armenians, Albanians and Azerbaijanis, and Bosnians.

References

• 15th MEU in Kuwait, training for move into Anbar province
• First Army Guard aviation brigade called to duty
• 1st Cavalry Division to take over Baghdad command
• DoD announces Iraq force adjustments
• Australian Defence Force: Operation Catalyst
• Mongolian change of command
• DoD announces units for next Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation
• 3,700 troops' stay in Iraq is extended
• 3rd Brigade to deploy to Iraq
• Fort Drum anticipates final redeployments of 1st Brigade Combat Team
• Details of British Forces
• 1,500 1st AD soldiers move from Kuwait to Iraq
• Czech military deployments in Iraq
• Lithuanian military personnel in international operations
• I MEF units deploying to Iraq
• DoD announces units for next Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation
• DoD announces units for next Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation (2005)
• V Corps assumes command mission in Baghdad
• 1/34th BCT receives big farewell at Camp Shelby
• 'Screaming Eagles' mark second Iraq deployment with ceremony
• ‘Ironhorse’ Division assumes responsibility for Baghdad
• Two 1st Cavalry brigades going back to Iraq
• OIF II rotation details
• Full order of battle for "major combat" through May 1, 2003

See also

• Iraq War
• Reconstruction of Iraq : the transitional period following the multinational forces invaded Iraq in March 2003.
• 2003 invasion of Iraq : Comprised the multinational forces entry into Iraq by force and the combat between the old Iraqi army and the Coalition forces.
• 2003 - 2004 occupation of Iraq timeline : Timeline of events during Multinational force's occupation of Iraq, following 2003 invasion of Iraq, and relevant quotations about nature of occupation from officials
• 2005 in Iraq : Events in Iraq during the year 2005.
• Casualties of the conflict in Iraq since 2003 : the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the ensuing 2003 occupation of Iraq, and the continuing coalition presence there have come in many forms, and the accuracy of the information available on different types of casualties varies greatly.
• Iraqi insurgency : the armed campaign being waged by various irregular forces, both Iraqi and external in origin, against the multinational force and the new Iraqi government.
• Iraq Survey Group : A fact-finding mission sent by the coalition after the 2003 Invasion of Iraq to find weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs developed by Iraq under the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
• Military rule : Military garrisons occupation of all or part of the territory of another nation or recognized belligerent during an invasion.
• Sectarian violence in Iraq : Events that could lead to an Iraqi civil war.