Multi-National Force Iraq

Multi-National Force – Iraq
Participant in the Iraq War and the Global War on Terrorism
Multi-National Force-Iraq Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Leaders	Raymond T. Odierno (2008–2009) David Petraeus (2007–2008) Lloyd J. Austin III (2008–2009) George W. Casey, Jr. (2004–2007) Ricardo Sanchez (2004-2004)
Originated as	Coalition Provisional Authority
Became	United States Forces – Iraq
Allies	NATO Training Mission – Iraq U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq  Republic of Iraq
Opponents	Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad al-Qaeda in Iraq Mujahideen Shura Council Islamic State of Iraq
Battles and wars	Global War on Terrorism Iraq War
Website	http://www.mnf-iraq.com/
Distinctive unit insignia
Flag
Flag

Global War on Terrorism

The Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF–I), often referred to as the coalition forces, was a military command during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and much of the ensuing Iraq War, led by the United States of America (Operation Iraqi Freedom), United Kingdom (Operation TELIC), Australia, Spain and Poland, responsible for conducting and handling military operations.

The MNF-I replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on 15 May 2004, and was later itself reorganized into its successor, United States Forces – Iraq, on 1 January 2010. The Force was significantly reinforced during the Iraq War troop surge of 2007. As of May 2011, all non-U.S. coalition members had withdrawn from Iraq, with the U.S. military withdrawing from the country on December 18, 2011, thus, bringing about an end to the Iraq War.

Also in Iraq, since August 2003, is the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, which does humanitarian work and has a number of guards and military observers. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq was not a part of the MNF-I, but a separate entity. The NATO Training Mission – Iraq, was in Iraq from 2004 to December 2011, where it trained the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi police forces.

The news media in the United States generally used the term "U.S.-led coalition" to describe Multi-National Force – Iraq, as the vast majority of military forces in MNF-I were contributed from the United States. The majority of countries that deployed military forces to Iraq as part of the MNF-I generally confined them to their respective military installations, due to widespread violence throughout the country.