Sunni Awakening

Iraq War

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July 18, 2026

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The Sunni Awakening was a movement during the Iraq War where Sunni tribes allied with U.S. troops to counter insurgents, particularly those linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq. This shift in alliances contributed to a decline in violence in 2007. The Iraq War began in March 2003 with a U.S.-led invasion following the September 11th attacks, as the U.S. sought to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. Despite initial military success and the capture of Saddam Hussein, an insurgency involving various groups, including al-Qaeda in Iraq, emerged. The U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Iraq by December 2011. However, sectarian tensions persisted, exacerbated by political struggles and accusations of Nouri al-Maliki's government marginalizing Sunni politicians, leading to renewed violence.123

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Iraq War
The surge
…with classic counterinsurgency strategy; the Sunni Awakening, a movement in which Sunni tribesmen who had formerly fought against U.S. troops eventually realigned themselves to help counter other insurgents, particularly those affiliated with al-Qaeda; and the voluntary peace observed by Ṣadr and his forces beginning in August of that year.
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…with classic counterinsurgency strategy; the Sunni Awakening, a movement in which Sunni tribesmen who had formerly fought against U.S. troops eventually realigned themselves to help counter other insurgents, particularly those affiliated with al-Qaeda; and the voluntary peace observed by Ṣadr and his forces beginning in August of that year.
Read More