2.1. The Iraqi Federal State actors

COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: November 2024

The Iraqi Federal State actors comprise both the armed security forces as well as non-armed state authorities. The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) consist of military and security forces, including army’s ground forces, the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) and the Federal Police. The army’s ground forces together with the CTS, reportedly comprise approximately 180 000 troops, while the Federal Police has about 36 000 troops. The Federal Police has been trained in anti-ISIL ground combat, leading to a focus on a more paramilitary role at the expense of traditional policing duties. PMF are also generally considered State actors, see 2.2. Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).

During the reference period, the ISF conducted anti-ISIL operations in Kirkuk, Diyala, Anbar, Salah-al-din governorates and near Baghdad by carrying out airstrikes and engaging in clashes resulting in the killing of suspected ISIL militants.

The ISF have been involved in committing a wide range of human rights violations against different categories of individuals. For example, ISF have been reported to have conducted unlawful killings, forced disappearance, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, forced confessions against individuals with perceived ISIL affiliation (see 3.1. Individuals with perceived ISIL affiliation) Individuals with perceived ISIL affiliation and their family members (see  3.1.2. Family members of individuals with perceived ISIL affiliation) were also prevented from accessing civil documents necessary to access basic services and were restricted in their freedom of movement. Furthermore, persons perceived as critical of the authorities, such as political activists, protesters and journalists (see 3.3 Human rights and political opposition activists, protesters and other perceived critics of the authorities) have been subjected to different forms of mistreatment. The Iraqi authorities have further used legal provisions to silence criticism or combat behaviours deemed indecent, while law enforcement officers have perpetrated violence with impunity towards persons with diverse SOGIESC (see 3.7. Persons with diverse SOGIESC).