Fall of Baiji

Fall of Baiji
Part of Iraq War (2014–present) and the Salahuddin campaign
Date11 June 2014 – 21 June 2014[1]
(1 week and 3 days)
LocationBaiji, Saladin Governorate, Iraq
Result

ISIL victory

  • Capturing of the city by ISIL.
  • Establishing the siege of the Baiji Oil Refinery by ISIL.
  • ISIL Captured the Baiji Oil Refinery.
  • Recapturing of the Baiji Oil Refinery by the Iraqi Army.
  • Iraqi Army defended Baiji Oil Refinery against 2 other attacks from ISIL.
Belligerents
 Iraq  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders
Iraq Nouri al-Maliki Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Units involved
Iraqi Armed Forces Military of ISIL
Casualties and losses
36 killed 140 killed
(claimed by the Government)

The Fall of Baiji was a battle that took place in Baiji, Iraq. The battle had 2 staged, the first was clashes in the city 11 to 18 June, and the second was in the refinery from 18 to 21 June. After the first stage was a succses for the militants and capturing the refinery in the second stage, on 19 June 2014 the Iraqi Army retook the a refinery after a counter-attack.

Background

On 4 June 2014, attacked ISIL and his allies Mosul and the Northern Iraq offensive was launched. The day after started they the Salahuddin campaign in the province Saladin.

On 10 June 2014, captured ISIL and his allies Mosul after a 6 days battle. When the city fell There were reports that the group was advancing from Mosul to Kirkuk at the time. While capturing the city, the group freed nearly 1,000 prisoners, some of whom were greeted by the fighters.

On 11 June 2014, the same day of the start of the fell of Baiji started ISIL and his allies also a siege in Amirli.

The battle

On 11 June 2014 around 60 ISIL vehicles with militants in came into Baiji they attacked the main court house and police station and setting them on fire also took control of the Baiji prison and freed all the inmates within (2,400 prisoners). Later in the day, militants reportedly retreated from Baiji either due to persuasion from local tribal leaders before the Iraqi Army's Fourth Armored Division arriving in the city[2] However, the next day it was confirmed ISIL was still in control of the town.[3][4][5][6]

On 18 June 2014 attacked ISIL the refinery of Baiji An official from inside the refinery stated the militants had captured 75 percent of the facility, while a military spokesman claimed the attack had been repelled with 40 insurgents being killed.[7][8][9]

On 19 June 2014, Iraqi government forces launched an counter-attack and claimed to have regained full control of the Baiji oil refinery, after heavy fighting that left 100 militants dead.[10] In the city Baiji created ISIL watch towers and checkpoints[11][12]

On 20 June 2014 was the refinery surrounded by ISIL forces, later they attacked the refinery for the second time but it failed to capturing the refinery.[13] The day after they attacked again but they also failed that time the Iraqi forces lost 36 soldiers after the last attempt attack.[14]

Aftermath

On 24 June 2014, at least 32 people where killed, after an air strike from the Iraqi Air Force in Baiji Iraqiya state television claimed that 19 terrorists are killed in the air strike.[15]

On 23 August 2014, the Iraqi Army killed 37 ISIL militants after they tried to capturing the refinery.[16]

On 29 October 2014, the Iraqi Army and his Shi'ite militias allies launched an offensive to recapturing Baiji. In mid-November 2014 The Iraqi Army and his allies retook the city from the terrorists. However on 21 December 2014, ISIL forces captured Baiji once again.

References

  1. ↑ "Iraq crisis: Key oil refinery 'seized by rebels'". BBC News. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Half a million flee unrest in Iraq's Mosul". Al Jazeera. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "Al-Qaeda splinter group captures Iraqi oil refinery town". CBC News. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "Iraq army capitulates to Isis militants in 4 cities". Irish Times. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Iraqi city of Tikrit falls to ISIL fighters". Al Jazeera. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  6. ↑ Raseed, Ahmed; Coles, Isabella (13 June 2014). "Obama warns of U.S. action as jihadists push on Baghdad". Reuters. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "Extremists attack Iraq's biggest oil refinery". nytimes. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  8. ↑ "Sunni militants attacked on Iraq`s largest oil refinery in Baiji". Patrika Group. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  9. ↑ "Iraq crisis: Battle grips vital Baiji oil refinery". BBC News. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Iraq Forces 'Retake' Oil Refinery From ISIS". Sky News. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "ISIS Militants' Black Banners Hang at Beiji Refinery: AP Witness". NBC News. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Obama to unleash air strikes on ISIS: America prepares to target Islamic fanatics as Shiites rush to join 'peace brigades' to defend Iraq's holy sites". Mail Online. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  13. ↑ "Iraq crisis: Fierce battles for Baiji and Tal Afar". BBC News. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "Iraq forces battle rebels around oil refinery". Al Jazeera English. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  15. ↑ "ISIS takes control Iraqs largest oil refinery John Kerry seeks help Kurdish kingmaker overhaul Maliki government". dailymail. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  16. ↑ "Iraqi troops repel attack on oil refinery; kill 37 militants". Xinhua. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
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