Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)

Quick Facts: Who was Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)?

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Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)

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Major armed conflict (2013–2017) between Iraq and the Islamic State.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The War in Iraq (2013–2017) also known in Iraq as “حرب داعش" translating to “the war against The islamic state” was an armed conflict between Iraq and its allies and the Islamic State. Following December 2013, the insurgency escalated into a full-scale war following clashes in parts of western Iraq, which culminated in the Islamic State offensive into Iraq in June 2014, leading to the capture of the cities of Mosul, Tikrit and other cities in western and northern Iraq by the Islamic State. Between 4–9 June 2014, the city of Mosul was attacked and later fell; following this, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for a national state of emergency on 10 June. However, despite the security crisis, Iraq's parliament did not allow Maliki to declare a state of emergency; many legislators boycotted the session because they opposed expanding the prime minister's powers. Ali Ghaidan, a former military commander in Mosul, accused al-Maliki of being the one who issued the order to withdraw from the city of Mosul.

Career & Major Achievements

At its height, ISIL held 56,000 square kilometers of Iraqi territory, containing 4.5 million citizens. The war resulted in the forced resignation of al-Maliki in 2014, as well as an airstrike campaign by the United States and a dozen other countries in support of the Iraqi military, participation of American and Canadian troops (predominantly special forces) in ground combat operations, a $3.5 billion U.S.-led program to rearm the Iraqi security forces, a U.S.-led training program that provided training to nearly 200,000 Iraqi soldiers and police, the participation of the military of Iran, including troops as well as armored and air elements, and military and logistical aid provided to Iraq by Russia. On 9 December 2017, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced victory over the Islamic State. The Islamic State switched to guerrilla "hit and run" tactics in an effort to undermine the Iraqi government's effort to eradicate it. This conflict is interpreted by some in Iraq as a spillover of the Syrian civil war.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Other Iraqis and observers see it mainly as a culmination of long-running local sectarianism, exacerbated by the 2003–2011 Iraq War, the subsequent increase in anti-Sunni sectarianism under Prime Minister al-Maliki, and the ensuing bloody crack-down on the 2012–2013 Iraqi protests. The Iraqi Armed Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, Sunni insurgent and tribal groups and various Turkmen Muslim, Assyrian Christian, Yezidi, Shabaki, and Armenian Christian forces faced the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Although some 35,000 Kurdish Peshmerga were incorporated into the Iraqi Armed Forces, most Peshmerga forces operated under the command of the President of Kurdistan Region in the federal Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Assyrian forces included: Nineveh Plain Protection Units, Nineveh Plain Forces, Babylon Brigades, Kataib Rouh Allah Issa Ibn Miriam, Qaraqosh Protection Committee and Dwekh Nawsha. In the course of their Anbar campaign, ISIL militants and their Baathist allies seized at least 70% of Al Anbar Governorate by June 2014, including the cities of Fallujah, Al Qaim, and half of the provincial capital of Ramadi.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2003: 2003 Milestone — Other Iraqis and observers see it mainly as a culmination of long-running local sectarianism, exacerbated by the 2003–2011 Iraq War, the subsequent increase in anti-Sunni sectarianism under Prime Minister al-Maliki, and the ensuing bloody crack-down on the 2012–2013 Iraqi protests.
2. 2013: 2013 Milestone — The War in Iraq (2013–2017) also known in Iraq as “حرب داعش" translating to “the war against The islamic state” was an armed conflict between Iraq and its allies and the Islamic State.
3. 2014: 2014 Milestone — Between 4–9 June 2014, the city of Mosul was attacked and later fell; following this, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for a national state of emergency on 10 June.
4. 2017: 2017 Milestone — On 9 December 2017, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced victory over the Islamic State.

Notable Quotes by Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)

“We welcome any Syrian strike against Isis because this group targets both Iraq and Syria.” (2014)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)

True or False: “The primary catalyst for the escalation of the conflict into a full-scale war was the Islamic State's offensive in June 2014.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The initial insurgency escalated significantly following the ISIL offensive that began in June 2014, leading to major territorial gains.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)