Editing Armed Forces of El Salvador (section)

===Post civil war===
[[File:An unidentified El Salvadoran special forces Soldier keeps a close eye on the borders of Camp Charlie in Al Hillah, Iraq, April 14, 2005.jpg|right|thumb|An unidentified Salvadoran special forces soldier in Camp Charlie in Al Hillah, Iraq, April 14, 2005]]

From 2003 to January 2009, the Salvadoran armed forces were part of the [[Multi-National Force – Iraq]]. El Salvador deployed more than 500 troops, mostly paratroopers and special forces. During the conflict, five Salvadoran soldiers were killed in action and more than 50 were wounded. Salvadoran forces operated next to the [[Spanish Legion]] and the [[U.S. Army]]. They were well regarded by both Spanish and U.S. forces.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-salvador-usa-iraq/u-s-military-chief-thanks-el-salvador-for-iraq-help-idUSN1833087820080119 U.S. military chief thanks El Salvador for Iraq help] Reuters 19 January 2008. Accessed 10 March 2018</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Salvadoran soldiers praised for Iraq role|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/may/3/20040503-115511-7092r/|website=washingtontimes.com|date=May 3, 2004|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> The last of the Salvadoran forces withdrew from Iraq in 2009. They were the last Central Americans allies to withdraw from the conflict.

In 2016, a new armed force was raised in El Salvador with the remit of stopping criminal gangs (especially [[MS-13]]) and [[illegal drugs trade|narcotrafficking]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160422022210/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36098486 |El Salvador unveils new military force to fight gangs] BBC News Latin America. 21 April 2016. Accessed 10 March 2018.</ref>

In 2021, the strength of the Salvadoran armed forces was estimated to be 24,500 active personnel.<ref name=IISSp413/>