Battle of Kirkuk (2014)

Battle of Kirkuk (2014)
Part of the Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014) during the War in Iraq (2013–2017)
Date 17 July–26 November 2014 (4 months, 1 week and 2 days) Location Kirkuk, Kirkuk Governorate, Iraq Result Kurdish victory ISIL offensive is repeled multiple times ISIL temporarily captures at least 4 villages [1]
Belligerents
Kurdistan Region Kurdistan Workers' Party CJTF–OIR (air support)	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders
Masoud Barzani (President of Iraqi Kurdistan) Shirko Rauf (Brigadier General) Sherko Fatih Shwani (Major General)	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Self-declared "Caliph" of ISIL)
Units involved
Peshmerga People's Defence Forces Counter-Terrorism Group Federal Police Local gunmen	Military of the Islamic State
Casualties and losses
Many killed and injured	Hundreds killed and injured
At least 17 civilians killed and more than 20 injured in a ISIL car bombing [2]

In the Battle of Kirkuk (2014) the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) launched a series offensives against Peshmerga forces in Kirkuk city and its surrounding areas, which lasted from July 2014 to November 2014.

Background

See also: Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013) and Fall of Mosul

In May 2013, Peshmerga fighters took up positions on the outskirts of Kirkuk after Iraqi security forces (ISF) were redeployed elsewhere to deal with Sunni militants. ^[3]

On 10 June 2014, ISIL and JRTN forces captured the second biggest city in Iraq, Mosul, after a 6-day battle in the city. ^[3]

The battle

On 17 June 2014, ISIL forces started an offensive with intent to capture Kirkuk. Soon after, the group attacked the village of Bashir 15 km south of Kirkuk city, where they clashed with local gunmen and police forces, assisted by the Peshmerga. After an hour of fighting the militants captured the village, leaving a senior Kurdish police brigadier wounded and six of his bodyguards killed. ^[4] After taking control of the village ISIL massacred 52 Shi’a Turkmens. ^[5]

With Bashir captured, ISIL moved forward and temporarily captured two sub-districts of the Kirkuk city: one in the west of it (Multaqa sub-district) and one in the south (Taza sub-district). Later that day, Peshmerga forces, with support of U.S.-led Coalition airstrikes, recaptured both sub-districts. ^[5]

On 18 June, ISIL launched another offensive toward Kirkuk, this time targeting the northern part of the city and attempting to seize its oil fields. However, Peshmerga forces successfully repelled the attack and defended the city. ^[6]

At the end of July, the Badr Organization recruited Shi’a Turkmen locals to recapture the village of Bashir in an attempted counter-offensive, which ultimately failed. ^[5]

In December, ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb attack on Kirkuk that killed at least 17 people and injured more than 20. The attack, according to ISIS, was meant to send a message to the Kurdish people and Peshmerga fighters. ^[2]

Aftermath

See also: Battle of Kirkuk (2015)

On the nights of 29 January and 30 January, ISIL attacked Kirkuk once again, leading to a new battle.

References

1. "Shiite villagers describe 'massacre' in northern Iraq". The Washington Post. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
2. Smith-Spark, Yousuf Basil,Jomana Karadsheh,Laura (2015-01-30). "ISIS launches attack on oil-rich northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
3. g/web/20250827172248/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27809051 "Iraqi Kurds 'fully control Kirkuk' as army flees". BBC News. 12 June 2014. Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
4. "Iraq rebels battle for Baquba city". Al Jazeera. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
5. "Kirkuk". Global Public Policy Institute. 30 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
6. "Iraqi Kurds battle Sunni fighters in Kirkuk". Al Jazeera. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2017.