U.S. Forces in Iraq

Varying media estimates of military forces in Iraq have raised concerns about the actual number of troops deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom OIF. Interest in troop level deployments continues in 2008. Last year, a major announcement on a surge in troop deployments to Iraq by President Bush included a planned gradual increase of more than 20,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Baghdad and Anbar province over several months. Since the new strategy for Iraq speech by the President on January 10, 2007, troop deployments gradually increased during the months of February through October in 2007 but decreased beginning in November 2007. This report provides solely Department of Defense DoD statistical information on U.S. forces serving in Iraq. It also provides brief official information on the military units scheduled for the next rotation of duty into Iraq. As of June 1, 2008, according to DoD, the United States had 182,060 troops stationed in Iraq -- 150,400 active component and 31,660 National Guard or Reserves. For security reasons, DoD does not routinely report the composition, size, or specific destination of military forces deployed to the Persian Gulf. This report will be updated upon receipt of new DoD data. For additional information on U.S. forces, see CRS Report RL34387, Operation Iraqi Freedom Strategies, Approaches, Results and Issues for Congress, by Catherine Dale.