Middle East | IHL in Action

A landscape image of the Mosul Dam in Iraq, among a background of mountains.

New | Iraq, Protection of the Mosul Dam

In August 2014, the United States coordinated its airpower with Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi Army ground forces to retake the highly fragile Mosul Dam in Iraq from the Islamic State, thereby respecting the heightened protections afforded to critical infrastructure under IHL and avoiding a potential humanitarian disaster.

Iraq, Computer Modelling in Collateral Damage Estimates and Choice of Weapons

In the planning of attacks in Iraq in 2003, the US and the UK Air Forces reduced the danger to civilians by resorting to computer modelling to assess collateral damage, by modifying their targeting and improving weaponry and technology.

Iraq, Availability of Legal Advisers

During the invasion of the US-led coalition in Iraq in 2003, legal advisers reviewed operational decisions and targeting procedures with the purpose of ensuring compliance with IHL.

Iraq, IHL Training Involving Kurdish Armed Groups

Soldiers and commanders of different Kurdish armed groups received training on IHL from different actors. Subsequently, Kurdish authorities issued a new Decree and amended the existing normative framework in order to enforce the compliance with IHL and the protection of civilians.

Syria, Training the Military and Civilians on the Rules of Armed Conflicts

Following the signature of three Deeds of Commitment, members of organized armed groups, law-enforcement actors and representatives of the civil society attended a series of training sessions and dissemination programs on the enforcement of the obligations contained in these documents and more generally international humanitarian norms.

Iraq, Peshmerga Forces’ First Code of Conduct

In 2014, immediately after the commencement of liberating ISIS controlled areas, a Presidential Decree was issued in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq which instructed Peshmerga armed forces to comply with IHL. This was followed by consultations between IHL experts and the commanders, capacity building activities for 40 individuals to conduct IHL trainings within the armed forces, as well as the distribution of manuals on IHL for Peshmerga armed forces. In 2018, Peshmerga forces adopted their first code of conduct.

Iran/Iraq, Cooperation in the Search for and Repatriation of Mortal Remains after the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)

In 2008 the governments of Iraq and Iran signed with the ICRC a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a clear framework for collecting and sharing information about missing persons and the returning of mortal remains. Accordingly, a series of measures aimed at improving searches, protect mass graves and establish a proper treatment of the dead in the armed conflict were launched.

Libya, Humanitarian Assistance Delivered in South Libya

An agreement facilitated by the humanitarian organisation “Community of Sant’Egidio” and concluded in Rome on 18 June 2016 by leaders of different ethnic and political groups from the southern part of the country led to the distribution of medicines and other humanitarian aid in the Fezzan area, South Libya.

Iraq, Reform in Iraqi Detention Facilities Leads to Family Visitation to Detainees in Camp Bucca

The U.S. military reformed their detention policies in Iraq’s detention facilities in order to allow an increased number of family visits to Iraqi prisoners at Camp Bucca in Umm Qasr.

US, UK, Medical Treatment and Care of Wounded Soldiers during the Persian Gulf War

United States/United Kingdom, Medical Treatment and Care of Wounded Soldiers during the Persian Gulf War

During the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91, the UK and US set up field hospitals and other medical facilities, organized evacuations and provided both Coalition and Iraqi combatants with medical care.