The Danish efforts to defeat ISIL

The so-called Islamic State terrorist group has since 2014 exposed the civilian population in Iraq and Syria to systematic abuse and human rights violations which have resulted in millions of refugees and threatened stability throughout the Middle East.

Despite the fact that ISIL has lost control over its physical territory, the terrorist group still poses a threat to regional and international security. ISIL has also conducted terrorist attacks outside of Iraq and Syria and thus poses a more direct threat to other countries including Denmark.

The Danish military contributions

Denmark's military contribution to the coalition's fight against ISIL consists of contributions to Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and NATO Mission Iraq (NMI).
 

Denmark’s current contributes to OIR consist of radar operator personnel placed at Shaw Air Base in the USA and staff officers deployed to the coalition’s headquarters including in Iraq.

In regards to NMI, Denmark is currently contributing with staff officers, as well as civilian and military advisors.

Denmark regularly supports with other temporary elements, such as a Deployable Communications Module, deployed to Iraq and Kuwait in 2024-2025.

Mandate for the effort

The international legal basis for the Danish military contribution is consent from Iraq and the right to collective self-defence of Iraq against ISIL pursuant to Article 51 of the UN Covenant.

Through the UN Security Council on 25 June 2014, the Iraqi government has asked the international community for assistance to fight ISIL. The UN condemns ISIL and the serious abuse and human rights violations in violation of Resolution 2178 of 24 September 2014 and Resolution 2170 of 15 August 2014. Furthermore, in Resolution 2249 adopted on 20 November 2015, the UN Security Council has ruled that ISIL represents a global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security, and that ISIL has the ability and intent to carry out further terrorist attacks.

The Danish contribution to the fight against ISIL has been deployed on the basis of UN resolutions and an American request to Denmark to support US-led efforts. The Iraqi Foreign Minister has welcomed the Danish military assistance.

Previous Danish military contributions to OIR

• A F-16 combat contribution consisting of seven F-16 aircrafts and up to approx. 110 people. The contribution has been deployed two times; from October 2014 to October 2015 and from June to December 2016. 
• A C-130J (Hercules) airplane with crew who solved transport duties in support of the British training-forces in northern Iraq. Deployed from August 2014 until the end of 2014/15. 
• A C-130J transport flight contribution of up to approx. 60 people from June to December 2016 and from October 2018 to April 2019.
• A force contribution comprising special operations forces which was deployed in a training, advisory and support role in Iraq.
• A mobile radar deployed to Al Asad Air Base to support OIR’s air space surveillance deployed from January 2016 to December 2019. Danish radar operator personnel were deployed from January 2016 to April 2023. During the last part of their deployment, they were placed at Shaw Air Base in the USA.
• An emergency medical team in addition to the medical element already included in the capacity building contribution deployed from October 2018 to April 2019.
• A capacity building contribution focusing on advising, training and educating Iraqi security forces. The Danish contribution was placed at Al Asad Air Base and was deployed from February 2015 to June 2020.