Battle of Kirkuk (2014)

Battle of Kirkuk (2014)
Part of the Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014) during the War in Iraq (2013–2017)
Date 17–18 June 2014 (1 day) Location Kirkuk, Kirkuk Governorate, Iraq Result Peshmerga victory ISIL offensive failed and withdrew out of the city. ISIL captured at least 4 villages. [1]
Belligerents
Kurdistan Region Peshmerga CJTF–OIR	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders
Masoud Barzani (President of Iraqi Kurdistan)	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Self-declared "Caliph" of ISIL)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Kirkuk (2014) was an offensive launched by ISIL against the Peshmerga forces.

Background

On 10 June 2014, the ISIL and JRTN forces capturing the second biggest city in Iraq, Mosul, after a 6-day battle in the city.

On 12 June 2014, The Kurdish Peshmerga forces controlled the city of Kirkuk. After that, the Iraqi Army fled before any offensive was launched by the Islamist Forces. ^[2]

The Battle

On 17 June 2014, the ISIL forces started an offensive to conquer the city. Soon after, the group attacked the village Bashir 15 km south of Kirkuk city, the group clashed with the local forces, capturing the village after an hour of fighting. ^[3] The group also captured two sub-districts of the city: one in the west of Kirkuk city (Multaqa sub-district) and one in the south of Kirkuk city (Taza sub-district) Later in the day the Peshmerga forces with support of air strikes by their allies, the (US-led Coalition), recaptured both sub-districts of the city. ^[4]

On 18 June 2014, ISIL tried to capture the city once again, this time in the northern part of the city. They also tried to capture its oil reserves as well. However, the Peshmerga forces successfully defended the city against the isis again. ^[5]

Aftermath

Main article: Battle of Kirkuk (2015)

In the end of July the Badr Organization and some locals recruited Shi’a Turkmen fighters to attack the village Bashir in an attempted counter-offensive. ^[4]

On the night of 29 January and 30 January, IS attacked Kirkuk in a new battle.

References

1. "Shiite villagers describe 'massacre' in northern Iraq". The Washington Post. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
2. "Iraqi Kurds 'fully control Kirkuk' as army flees". BBC News. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
3. "Iraq rebels battle for Baquba city". Al Jazeera. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
4. "Kirkuk". Global Public Policy Institute. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
5. "Iraqi Kurds battle Sunni fighters in Kirkuk". Al Jazeera. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2017.