Iraq Victory Day

Iraq Victory Day, observed on December 10, commemorates Iraq’s victory over ISIS and honors the courage, sacrifice, and determination that helped defend the nation. The day recognizes the efforts of Iraqi security forces and the wider national struggle to protect communities, restore safety, and preserve Iraq’s sovereignty.

It is also a time to remember those who lost their lives and to express gratitude to the families and communities affected by the conflict. Through ceremonies, tributes, and messages of national pride, Iraq Victory Day offers an opportunity to reflect on resilience, celebrate hope, and look toward a more peaceful future.

Iraq Victory Day, observed on **December 10**, commemorates Iraq’s declared victory over the Islamic State (ISIS) after years of military conflict. The observance is associated with the Iraqi government’s announcement on December 10, 2017, that the country’s forces had regained control of Iraqi territory previously held by the militant organization. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi credited the Iraqi Army, federal police, Popular Mobilization forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and other security personnel whose campaigns helped defeat ISIS’s territorial presence.

The victory followed the rapid expansion of ISIS in 2014, when the group captured Mosul and large areas of northern and western Iraq. Its advance led to a prolonged national and international military campaign, including operations to retake major cities such as Tikrit, Ramadi, Fallujah, and Mosul. The battle for Mosul, which concluded in 2017, was especially significant because the city had served as ISIS’s principal stronghold in Iraq. Although the group’s territorial control was broken, the conflict caused extensive destruction, displacement, and loss of life.

Over time, December 10 developed into a national occasion for honoring the sacrifices of Iraqi soldiers, police officers, and other personnel who fought ISIS, as well as civilians affected by the conflict. Official commemorations have emphasized national unity and the restoration of Iraq’s sovereignty, while also recognizing the contributions of communities and forces that participated in the liberation campaigns. The day is therefore connected not only with a military outcome but also with Iraq’s effort to recover from a period of profound political and humanitarian crisis.

Culturally, Iraq Victory Day represents resilience and remembrance. Ceremonies and public statements commonly celebrate the country’s security forces, display national symbols, and remember those killed or wounded during the war. The observance also carries a continuing reminder that the end of ISIS’s territorial rule did not erase the war’s social consequences. By marking the victory on **December 10**, Iraq commemorates a defining moment in its modern history while reaffirming the importance of national solidarity, reconstruction, and vigilance.