By Anas al-Bar | 2025-06-09

Years of joint work with the international coalition to push back the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) have seen the Iraqi air force develop into a lethal and more highly skilled and equipped force.

Iraq now boasts a fleet of fighter jets, reconnaissance and transport aircraft, including F-16s, Cessna Caravans, King Airs, T-50s and C-130s, as well as advanced surveillance and tracking systems.

Meanwhile, pilots and air traffic controllers have been undergoing training to improve their operational skills, with Iraqi officers on May 25 joining the Iraqi Joint Operations Command's second Air Controller Course.

Iraqi officers from the Special Forces, Counter-Terrorism Service, Air Defense, and Targeting Cell joined international coalition experts "to sharpen precision strike coordination and help keep any ISIS remnants from re-surging."

Air traffic controllers play a critical role in directing the movement of aircraft and ground forces in the area of operations, guiding pilots and steering them to enemy targets with precision.

They help pilots identify and avoid friendly forces and civilian buildings, and provide information and guidance in emergency situations.

Work in air traffic control "enhances the pace, speed and accuracy of security operations in combating terrorism and its failed remnant cells," Joint Operations Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Qais al-Muhammadawi said in a statement.

Training courses are vital, and also contribute to "reducing reliance on reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft," he said.

Critical role

During the battles to liberate Iraqi cities from ISIS, air traffic controllers played a critical role in identifying enemy positions, particularly within urban combat zones, sending data and orders to fighter jets and helicopters.

According to Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service, tactical air traffic control officers are currently tasked with providing guidance and support for air sorties targeting extremist hideouts in mountain caves, valleys and desert areas.

The controllers also secure and coordinate parachute landings carried out by Iraqi special forces and international coalition troops.

"Developing air skills and capabilities is a crucial part of directing the battle against ISIS remnants," security expert Ahmed al-Sharifi told Al-Fassel.

After the military defeat of ISIS, the battle to eliminate its remnants shifted to "a complex theater of operations, including environments where incursions or ground movement were difficult," he said.

Iraq had to update its strategy, engaging terrorist targets from the air, and "with the help of its international partners, it sought to build competent human resources in the fields of surveillance, reconnaissance and air traffic control."

"It also sought to equip the Air Force with the latest fighter jets and helicopters and incorporate technology into air operations to achieve greater effectiveness."