On its 97th Anniversary, Iraqi Army Avenges itself by Defeating ISIS

Iraqi army soldiers carry their weapons as they gather in the center of Falluja, Iraq. (Reuters file photo)
Iraqi army soldiers carry their weapons as they gather in the center of Falluja, Iraq. (Reuters file photo)
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On its 97th Anniversary, Iraqi Army Avenges itself by Defeating ISIS

Iraqi army soldiers carry their weapons as they gather in the center of Falluja, Iraq. (Reuters file photo)
Iraqi army soldiers carry their weapons as they gather in the center of Falluja, Iraq. (Reuters file photo)

The congratulatory cable sent by Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, on the 97th anniversary of the establishment of the Iraqi Army, indicates a radical shift in the stances of various officials, blocs, parties and forces regarding the military.

The Iraqi army is the oldest and most powerful in the region and it was classified as the fourth most powerful military in the world.

Although the army's situation began to deteriorate after the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and the subsequent repercussions resulted in the destruction of the infrastructure of this institution, the US 2003 invasion finished off what remained of its status. US administrator Paul Bremer's decision to disband the army ended any hope of keeping it united.

In an attempt to rebuild the army, the government of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi established in 2004 the so-called "National Guard". However, the issue of sectarian and ethnic quotas created problems for the military and it paid the price after ISIS occupied four Iraqi provinces in 2014.

Former army officer, Sarmad Abbas told Asharq Al-Awsat that "all indications showed that there is a will to avenge this army by destroying the morale of its members, whether they are commanders, officers or soldiers. Many political forces view the Iraqi army as the military of the former regime or Saddam's army. "

Although the army's image changed to a large extent, discrimination still exists even in laws and privileges enjoyed among those who belonged to the former army, and even some who now belong to the current one, and those who do not, according to Abbas.

During ISIS' occupation of Nineveh, Salah al-Din and Anbar and large parts of Diyala province, the Iraqi army was seen by residents of Sunni-majority areas as the army of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. This was based on financial and administrative corruption, in addition to sectarian discrimination that made many of the residents seek an alternative, which paved the way for ISIS.

Yet, the battles fought by the army since 2015 and until it defeated ISIS in late 2017 led to a significant change in the perception of the army among Iraqis.

Security expert Fadhil Abu Ragheef believes that despite all that's been said, the military is a long-established institution that has proven its worth in all the battles it fought and even in matters of public service.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said that Iraqi citizens now view the army differently, not only after it defeated ISIS, but even when the Salah al-Din flood occurred two years ago. The army played the most important role in protecting civilians and transporting them to safe areas, he explained.

Abadi on Saturday reaffirmed his government's commitment to establishing a national army to protect the integrity of Iraq and the unity of its people.

"We confirm our continuation to build a strong national army that defends Iraq's land and its citizens without exception and preserves the sovereignty of the state," he said in a statement.

"We are building an army that belongs to a single and unified Iraq. It does not represent a certain party or a sect. Our heroic army fought a fierce war to save its people and citizens and liberate its land from terrorism," the statement concluded.



What to Know about the Latest Effort to End Türkiye's 40-year Kurdish Conflict

FILED - 02 November 2041, Hesse, Frankfurt_Main: A man displays a flag with the image of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan at the Kurdish Newroz celebration in Frankfurt. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa
FILED - 02 November 2041, Hesse, Frankfurt_Main: A man displays a flag with the image of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan at the Kurdish Newroz celebration in Frankfurt. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa
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What to Know about the Latest Effort to End Türkiye's 40-year Kurdish Conflict

FILED - 02 November 2041, Hesse, Frankfurt_Main: A man displays a flag with the image of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan at the Kurdish Newroz celebration in Frankfurt. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa
FILED - 02 November 2041, Hesse, Frankfurt_Main: A man displays a flag with the image of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan at the Kurdish Newroz celebration in Frankfurt. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa

A group of 30 Kurdish fighters clad in camouflage fatigues burned their weapons in a large cauldron in northern Iraq on Friday, in a symbolic gesture marking the first concrete step in an effort to end one of the Middle East’s longest-running insurgencies.

The ceremonial laying down of arms by members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK -- including 15 women — comes months after the group’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, called on it to disarm and disband as part of a new peace effort with Türkiye. Ocalan repeated that call in a video message to his fighters this week.

The process in Türkiye was initiated in October by Devlet Bahceli, a firebrand ultranationalist politician who has usually opposed any concessions to Kurdish identity or rights.

While Turkish officials have welcomed the first step toward the PKK’s disarmament, questions remain about the future of Kurdish fighters in Syria.

What is the PKK? The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, has waged an armed insurgency against Türkiye since 1984, initially with the aim of establishing a Kurdish state in the southeast of the country. Over time, the objective evolved into a campaign for autonomy and rights for Kurds within Türkiye.

The conflict between militants and state forces, which has spread beyond Türkiye’s borders into Iraq and Syria, has killed tens of thousands of people. The PKK is considered to be a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union.

Who is Ocalan? Abdullah Ocalan, who as a student of political science in Ankara became deeply involved in leftist movements, formed the PKK in 1978 as a Marxist organization. He fled to Syria in 1979, along with other PKK members, where he remained until 1998, when Syria expelled him under intense pressure from Türkiye.

Ocalan was captured in Kenya in 1999 and imprisoned on Imrali island in the Sea of Marmara, where he remains to this day. His death sentence for treason was commuted to a life term in prison after Türkiye abolished the death penalty.

The 76-year-old endures as a symbol for Kurdish independence and rights and continues to wield influence over the Kurdish movement, with past messages relayed through family members or lawyers resonating beyond Türkiye, in Iraq and Syria.

Push for peace

In October, Bahceli, a close ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, suggested Ocalan could be granted parole if he renounces violence and disbands the PKK.

It was a major shift for the hardline politician who had previously strongly supported the state’s military action against the militant group and its affiliates in neighboring Syria and rejected any notion of negotiation.

In a message delivered through senior officials of the pro-Kurdish People's Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM, Ocalan called on the PKK leadership to take the decision to disband and disarm in February.

The PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire in March in response to Ocalan’s call and later announced its decision to disarm.

It was not immediately clear what concessions, if any, the Kurdish groups would get in return. PKK officials have said they expect former fighters to be given a path to integrate into the political system in Türkiye.

There are also concerns that some splinter groups may emerge within the PKK and that attacks may continue.

Soon after Bahceli's announcement, the PKK claimed an attack on Türkiye’s key aerospace company outside of Ankara that killed several people.

Previous attempts

There have been several peace efforts between the Turkish state and the PKK over the years, including secret negotiations held in Oslo, Norway from 2009 until 2011. However, none have yielded results.

The last attempt to reach a peace deal took place between 2013 and 2015 with a series of talks between Turkish officials and Ocalan, who declared a ceasefire and withdrew fighters to bases in northern Iraq.

Turkish officials took steps to improve Kurdish rights, including allowing Kurdish-language broadcasts. The process collapsed in July 2015, after a series of violent attacks, including one by the ISIS group that killed 33 pro-Kurdish activists.

Since then, Türkiye has cracked down on its pro-Kurdish movement and has jailed thousands of people, including the former leader of the main pro-Kurdish political party, Selahattin Demirtas, over alleged links to the PKK.

Reshaping the region

The latest peace effort comes at a time when Türkiye and the Kurds are both seeking security to face the challenges in the Middle East.

The renewed peace initiative unfolds amid fundamental changes reshaping the region, including the reconfiguration of power in Syria after the toppling of President Bashar Assad, the weakening of the Hezbollah militant movement in Lebanon, and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Türkiye strongly supports a deal reached between Syria’s new administration and the Kurdish-led and US backed Syrian Democratic Forces under which the SDF forces would merge with the new Syrian national army. The US envoy to Syria told The Associated Press this week that the sides remain at odds over the merger.

Hamish Kinnear, Senior Middle East and North Africa Analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, said Ocalan’s decision to abandon the armed struggle coincides with a period when the PKK’s leverage is weak due to military setbacks and regional isolation.

“The PKK’s armed struggle was already faltering in the face of advances by Türkiye’s military, while its popularity among its traditional base was in decline,” Kinnear said. ”Ultimately, the peace talks were a useful off ramp in which improvement of Kurdish rights could still be pursued."

However, some believe the main aim of the reconciliation effort is for Erdogan’s government to garner Kurdish support for a new constitution that would allow him to remain in power beyond 2028, when his term ends.

Bahceli has openly called for a new constitution, saying it was essential to keep Erdogan in power for Türkiye’s future. Erdogan and Bahceli are reportedly seeking parliamentary support from the DEM.