Overseas Contingency Operations

The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, established the Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) framework for oversight of overseas contingency operations. Section 419 of the Act requires the Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to appoint a Lead IG from among the IGs of the Department of War (DoW), Department of State (State), and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) upon the commencement or designation of a military operation that exceeds 60 days as an overseas contingency operation, or receipt of a notification thereof.

Overseas Contingency Operations represent high-priority, resource-intensive, and complex whole-of-government missions requiring multi-agency coordination and oversight.

An Overseas Contingency Operation qualifies for Lead IG designation when it:

  • lasts or is expected to last more than 60 days and is outside the United States and its territories; and
  • is designated by the Secretary of Defense as a contingency operation in which members of the Armed Forces are or may become involved in military actions, operations, or hostilities against an enemy of the United States or against an opposing military force; or
  • results in the call or order to, or retention on, active duty of members of the Uniformed Services under specific legal authorities—during a war or a national emergency declared by the President or Congress.

The Role of the Lead Inspector General

Section 419 requires the Lead IG to:

  • Submit a quarterly report to Congress and the public on the overseas contingency operation.
  • Submit a bi-annual report to Congress and the public on the independent oversight activities (i.e. audits, evaluations, investigations, and DOJ referrals) of the Lead IG and partner agencies on whole-of-government oversight of the operation. From its inception, the Lead IG has incorporated this requirement into its quarterly reports.
  • Develop joint strategic plans for oversight of each overseas contingency operation for which a Lead IG has been designated.

Section 419 sunsets Lead IG oversight responsibilities and authorities of a given overseas contingency operation at the end of the first fiscal year after the commencement or designation of the OCO in which the total amount appropriated for the OCO is less than $100 million.


Learn About the Current OCOs

NOTE: In addition to the OCOs listed below and as required by the IG Act, the Lead IG is reporting on an overseas contingency operation designated by the Secretary of War in January 2026. The operation and the contents of the Lead IG report are classified. We have provided the report to the Secretary of War, as well as applicable federal agencies and congressional committees.

Operation Epic Fury is the designated mission to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus and eliminate imminent threats to the United States and its allies. In May 2026, the CIGIE Chair designated the DoW IG as the Lead IG for OEF.

Read more about the Lead IG designation in our press release.

Operation Southern Spear (OSS) is the U.S. mission to disrupt the flow of narcotics from designated terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere. In February 2026, the Acting CIGIE Chair designated the DoW IG as the Lead IG for OSS.

Operation Southern Guard (OSG) is the DoW operation to support Department of Homeland Security illegal alien holding operations at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. OSG began in early 2025 and is part of broader U.S. Government efforts to remove illegal aliens from the United States. In July 2025, the Acting Chair of CIGIE designated the DoW IG as the Lead IG for OSG.

DoW Lines of Effort:

  • Facility Support
  • Logistical and Medical Augmentation
  • Transportation Support
  • Security Support

Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR) is a DoW operation in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) area of responsibility to demonstrate ongoing commitment to NATO allies and partners through a persistent military presence along NATO’s eastern flank. According to USEUCOM, OAR aims to ensure the security and stability of Europe through continuous deployment of combat-credible forces. OAR encompasses activities across Europe, including in the Baltic states, Central Europe, and the Black Sea region. The CIGIE Chair designated the DoW IG as the Lead IG for OAR and by December of 2023, Congress re-designated the Lead IG as the Special IG for OAR with additional responsibilities and reporting requirements regarding Ukraine oversight.

More information can be found on the Special IG’s website: www.UkraineOversight.gov.

The mission of Operation Enduring Sentinel (OES) is to protect the U.S. homeland by maintaining pressure on threats such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State–Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), through efforts launched and directed from “over-the-horizon” locations outside Afghanistan. As part of OES, the DoW and State Department also engage in security cooperation activities with Central Asian and South Asian regional partners to foster counterterrorism partnerships. In April 2015, the CIGIE Chair designated the DoW IG the Lead IG for OFS. Lead IG oversight has transitioned from Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) to OES.

The Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) mission is to advise, assist, and enable partner forces until they can independently maintain the enduring defeat of the Islamic State group known as ISIS or ISIL in Iraq and Syria, and to set conditions for long-term security cooperation frameworks with partners in those countries. Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) executes the OIR mission and comprises forces from 21 countries. CJTF-OIR is a component of the 90-member U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. In December 2014, the Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) designated the DoW Inspector General (IG) as Lead IG for OIR.

The OIR campaign has three lines of effort.

  • Deny ISIS within the Combined Joint Operating Area of Iraq and Syria
  • Build Partner Force Capability and Capacity
  • Sustain the Global Coalition

Latest Quarterly Reports

The Lead IG / Special IG role requires quarterly reporting on OCOs. Here you'll find the four most recent, publicly-available reports on OCOs for which the DoW OIG has Lead and/or Special IG designation.

Operation Atlantic Resolve

These quarterly reports discuss the planned, ongoing, and completed oversight work conducted by the DoW, State, and USAID Offices of Inspector General, as well as the other U.S. oversight agencies that coordinate their activities through the Ukraine Oversight Interagency Working Group.

Operation Inherent Resolve

These quarterly reports describe the activities of the U.S. Government in support of OIR as well as the work of the DoW, the Department of State (State), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to further the U.S. Government’s policy goals in Iraq and Syria.


Operation Southern Guard

Operation Southern Guard (OSG) is the DoW operation to support Department of Homeland Security (DHS) illegal alien holding operations at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay (NSGB), Cuba. OSG began in early 2025 and is part of broader U.S. Government efforts to remove illegal aliens from the United States.



Operation Enduring Sentinel

These quarterly reports describe the activities of the U.S. Government in support of OES as well as the work of the DoW, the Department of State (State), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to further the U.S. Government's policy goals in Afghanistan.


Operation Southern Spear

Operation Southern Spear (OSS) is the U.S. mission to disrupt the flow of narcotics from designated terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere.



Latest Annual Oversight Plans

Our flexible approach to oversight planning ensures that we address the most high-risk areas for each OCO. We continuously monitor changing conditions and periodically review our planned and ongoing oversight projects. This enables us to adjust our coordinated oversight so that it is always relevant and timely.

FY 2026 Joint Strategic Oversight Plan For Operation Atlantic Re

Fiscal Year 2026 Joint Strategic Oversight Plan For Operation Atlantic Resolve

Read the Report >
Fiscal Year 2026 Joint Strategic Oversight Plan For Operation Atlantic Resolve
FY2026 COPOCO cover image

Fiscal Year 2026 Comprehensive Oversight Plan Overseas Contingency Operations

Read the Report >
Fiscal Year 2026 Comprehensive Oversight Plan Overseas Contingency Operations


More About Lead Inspector General Activities

Ensuring Coordinated Oversight

Outreach and whole-of-government coordination are important aspects of the Lead IG’s mission and include continuous interaction with Congress, the DoW, the Intelligence Community, and other partner agency senior officials and staff in support of coordinated oversight and reporting.

Providing Continuous Reporting

The Lead IG provides quarterly reports on each overseas military operation. These reports generally focus on key developments and challenges in programs, operations, funding, and oversight activities for each OCO, providing impartial and informed context.



Resources and Links

  • Office of Inspector General, United States Department of War, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22350-1500