Battle for Haditha Dam

Not to be confused with Battle of Haditha Dam (2003).

Battle for Haditha Dam
Part of War against the Islamic State
The Haditha Dam on the Euphrates River
Date August – September 2014 Location Haditha, Anbar Province, Iraq Result Iraqi victory
Belligerents
Iraq Albu Nimr tribe   United States	Islamic State Military of the Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Lieutenant General Ali Ghaidan General Lloyd Austin	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (reported)
Strength
2,000–3,000 Iraqi forces and Sunni tribal fighters Air support from the U.S.	1,000–1,500 ISIS militants
Casualties and losses
Estimated 50–100 killed or wounded	Estimated 200–300 killed or wounded

The Battle for Haditha Dam was a battle between the Islamic State and Iraqi forces, supported by U.S. airstrikes, in Anbar Province, Iraq. The battle took place between August and September 2014, as ISIS attempted to seize the strategically vital Haditha Dam on the Euphrates River.

Background

The Haditha Dam, located on the Euphrates River in Anbar Province, Iraq, is the second-largest dam in the country and a crucial source of hydroelectric power and water control. It plays a vital role in regulating water flow to cities downstream, including Baghdad. ^[1] During the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017), the dam became a strategic target for the Islamic State (ISIS), which sought to seize it for both tactical and economic advantages. ^[2]

In early 2014, ISIS launched a major offensive in Anbar Province, capturing Fallujah and Ramadi and rapidly expanding its control across western Iraq. ^[3] The group had previously seized the Mosul Dam in August 2014, raising fears that the group would attempt to use Haditha Dam as a weapon by either flooding areas downstream or cutting off water supplies. ^[4] The potential destruction or sabotage of the dam could have caused widespread devastation, further strengthening ISIS's hold over Iraq.

To prevent this, Iraqi government forces, supported by Sunni tribal fighters from the Albu Nimr tribe, set up defensive positions around Haditha Dam. ^[5] In early September 2014, ISIS launched an offensive to capture the dam, prompting U.S. airstrikes to aid the Iraqi defenders. ^[6] The battle marked one of the first major instances of direct U.S. military intervention in western Iraq against ISIS. ^[7]

Timeline

• August 2014 (Early) ISIS launched offensives across Anbar Province, including attempts to capture the Haditha Dam. ^[4]
• 6 September 2014 U.S. airstrikes targeted ISIS positions near the Haditha Dam, including their artillery and armored vehicles. ^[6]
• 7 September 2014 Firefights broke out between Iraqi government forces and ISIS militants as ISIS advanced toward the dam. ^[4]
• 8 September 2014 U.S. airstrikes continued, hitting ISIS positions near the dam and disrupting their movements. ^[6]
• 9 September 2014 Iraqi forces and local Sunni tribal fighters clashed with ISIS militants around the dam's perimeter. Airstrikes were conducted to support the defenders. ^[5]
• 10 September 2014 Iraqi forces and Sunni tribal militias launched counterattacks around the Haditha Dam, engaging in firefights with ISIS. ^[5]
• 11 September 2014 U.S. airstrikes targeted key ISIS positions, including artillery and vehicles, to support Iraqi defense forces. ^[6]
• 12 September 2014 Iraqi forces pushed back against ISIS militants, engaging in clashes near the dam with air and artillery support. U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS positions. ^[1]
• 13 September 2014 Heavy fighting occurred near the Haditha Dam as ISIS attempted to regroup. Airstrikes were carried out by U.S. and Iraqi air forces to counter ISIS advances. ^[4]
• 14 September 2014 ISIS militants continued to be engaged by Iraqi forces around the dam, with U.S. airstrikes providing ongoing support. ^[6]
• September 2014 (Mid) The battle ended with Iraqi government forces and Sunni tribal fighters successfully holding the dam against ISIS. ^[5]

References

1. Schwartzstein, Peter (4 November 2014). "Amid Terror Attacks, Iraq Faces Water Crisis". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
2. Pearce, Fred (25 August 2014). "Mideast Water Wars: In Iraq, A Battle for Control of Waterr". Yale Environment 360. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
3. Kirby, John (7 September 2014). "Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby on Haditha Dam Airstrikes". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
4. Parker, Ned; Stewart, Phil. "U.S. air strikes target insurgents near Iraq's Haditha Dam". Reuters.
5. Ali, Ahmed; Squires, Lauren (2014). "Iraq Situation Report: August 29-31, 2014" (PDF). Institute For The Study of War.
6. U.S. Central Command News Release (7 September 2014). "U.S. Military Conducts Airstrikes Near Haditha Dam". U.S. Department of Defense.
7. "Twenty Years of Operations in Iraq". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. April 2023.