19 May 2026
As the 15th anniversary of the end of Operation TELIC is marked, Northern Ireland will pause to reflect on Friday evening (22 May 2026) at Parliament Buildings, the service, sacrifice, and lasting impact of the conflict on those who served in Iraq.
Operation TELIC, the codename for United Kingdom military operations in Iraq, began on 19 March 2003 and officially concluded on 22 May 2011. Over those years, thousands of service personnel from across the United Kingdom deployed on operations, including many veterans from Northern Ireland who answered the call to serve overseas in difficult and dangerous circumstances.
During the campaign, 179 British Armed Forces personnel lost their lives, while thousands more returned home carrying physical and psychological injuries that would remain with them long after the conflict had ended.
For many veterans and their families in Northern Ireland, the anniversary is a deeply personal moment of remembrance. It is an opportunity not only to honour those who did not return home, but also to recognise the sacrifices made by all who served and by the families who supported them throughout repeated deployments and the challenges of military life.
Those who serve in our Armed Forces do so on behalf of us all. They go where they are called upon to go, often into uncertain and hostile environments, in defence of our freedoms and in service to their country. Their commitment and courage should never be forgotten.
As we acknowledge that it has now been 15 years since the end of the Iraq conflict, we extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who served during Operation TELIC. We remember those who came home safely, those who never returned, and those who returned changed by their experiences.
This anniversary also serves as an important reminder that support for veterans must continue long after operations end. Many former service personnel continue to live with the physical and emotional effects of conflict, and it is vital that we work together to ensure they receive the care, understanding, and support they may need.
Today, we remember with pride, gratitude, and respect all those connected to Operation TELIC and the Iraq campaign, and we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the veteran community here in Northern Ireland and beyond.