The Army is bringing back a medal for service in Iraq, coming just as U.S. troops there have faced increased threats and attacks amid the new Israel-Hamas war.
Last week, the service resurrected the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal specifically for service in Iraq, according to an internal service memo and confirmed by a service spokesperson. The medal was introduced in 2016 and also covered service in Syria, even as the nature of those campaigns changed and conventional U.S. forces had a less active role in ground combat.
The medal's criteria changed last year to be exclusive to deployments in Syria, where the U.S. has kept a small force of roughly 900 troops and most recently the 10th Mountain Division deployed over the summer to relieve the Ohio National Guard's 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
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The return to a campaign decoration for service in Iraq comes as troops are under increased rocket and drone attacks from Iran-backed militias. Last week, four U.S. service members were injured at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries from the concussion waves. Another 15 troops also suffered traumatic brain injuries in Al-Tanf Garrison in Syria.
It's unclear whether the medal has been approved for the other military services yet. The Pentagon did not return a request for comment.
American troops have been…
