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Battle of Hawija

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Hawija offensive (2017)
Part of the Iraqi Civil War (2014–present) and
the American-led intervention in Iraq

Popular Mobilization Forces fire a mortar at ISIL positions during the offensive
Date20 September 2017 – present
(7 years, 1 month, 1 week and 4 days)[2]
Location
Eastern Iraq
Status Ongoing
Territorial
changes		 The Iraqi Army recaptures 100+ villages and the rest of the eastern Salahuddin Province[3][4]
Belligerents

 Iraq
 Iran[1]
Supported by:

CJTF–OIR		  Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Iraq Abu Mushtaq[1]
Iran Aghai Eghbali[1]		 Unknown
Units involved

Iraq Iraqi Security Forces

Islamic State Military of ISIL
Strength
[5]42,000 soldiers ~2,000 militants[6]
Casualties and losses
Unknown 557+ killed[4]

The Hawija offensive (2017) is an ongoing offensive announced launched in September 2017 by the Iraqi Army, in order to recapture the Hawija District and the surrounding areas from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).[7]

The offensive is concurrent with the Raqqa campaign conducted by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIL's de facto capital city and stronghold in Syria, as well as the Central Syria Campaign, by the Syrian Army to capture ISIL territory towards Deir ez-Zor.

Background

See also: 2013 Hawija clashes and Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)

Hawija, which is located 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Kirkuk city, had been a bastion of Sunni Arab insurgents since the United States-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.[8] In 2013, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered his forces to open fire on peaceful protesters in Hawija. In return, Sunnis became convinced of using violence to counter Maliki's sectarian policies while also giving substantial support to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.[9] The group captured the city in June 2014 when it seized control of most of northern and western Iraq.[8] It became isolated from the rest of the group's territory in July 2016 during the Mosul offensive and is its last stronghold in Iraq.[10] The offensive had been repeatedly delayed due to various sectarian issues, as well as disagreements over the involvement of the Peshmerga and the Popular Mobilization Forces militia.[11]

Timeline of the offensive

September

Playing a leading role in the offensive, the Shiite PMF reject claims according to which they harass local Sunnis as suspected ISIL supporters.[1]

The offensive began 20 September from the north of Hawija, as Iraqi forces recaptured four villages northeast of al-Shirqat (which itself was captured a year earlier during the 2016 Mosul offensive).[12] On the following day, the Iraqi forces managed to liberate at least 11 villages in the Hawija pocket, killing and wounding several terrorists in the process. The goal of Iraqi forces is penetrating the city of Hawija with several side wings, as they want to secure these important areas in the Kirkuk Governorate.[13] On 22 September, Iraqi forces liberated approximately 140 square kilometers of territory north of the district of Hawija from the Kirkuk Governorate. Led by Hashd Al-Sha'abi (Popular Mobilization Forces), Iraqi forces have liberated at least 15 villages in the Al-Shirqat district, located directly northwest of the country.[14] On 24 September, the Iraqi forces declared that they had finished Phase 1 of the offensive, having liberated all of the areas north of the Al-Zab River, along with some other areas west of the Tigris River and in the northern Makhoul Mountains. They also stated that they killed 200 ISIL militants during the operation.[3] On 29 September, Iraqi forces launched the second phase of the offensive, capturing four villages and entering the town of al-Abbassi.[15] Iraqi forces reported that they killed another 200 ISIL militants on the first day of Phase 2 of the offensive.[4]

On 4 October, Iraqi troops entered the town of Hawija.[16] On 5 October, they took control of the city center.[17] The city was fully liberated by the following day.[18].

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Dlshad Anwar (27 September 2017). "Iran-backed Militia Taking Leading Role in Operation for Iraq's Hawija". Voice of America. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Iraq forces retake town of Hawija from IS". 5 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017 – via www.bbc.com.
  3. ^ a b Mohammed Mostafa (2 September 2017). "Iraqi forces end phase 1 of Hawija offensive: command". Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Nehal Mostafa (29 September 2017). "200 IS members killed on first day of Hawija offensive's second phase". Iraqi News. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  5. ^ http://isis.liveuamap.com/en/2017/13-september-iraq-brought-about-42k-fighters-near-daesh-controlled
  6. ^ Osama bin Javaid (September 23, 2017). "Iraq: Who will control Hawija after ISIL?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  7. ^ "Iraqi forces launch offensive to retake Hawija from IS". BBC. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Iraqi forces launch offensive to retake Hawija from IS". BBC. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  9. ^ Florian Nehouf (7 September 2017). "Battle to remove ISIL from Hawija could unlock further sectarian tensions". The National. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Almost everybody is against a Kurdish referendum". The Economist. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Abadi blames Peshmerga fragmentation for delay in Hawija op". Rudaw Media Network. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  12. ^ "The Iraqi army and the PMU control 4 villages in North-East of Sharqat - News from war on ISIS in English from Iraq, Syria - Deir ez-Zur operation, Raqqa operation - isis.liveuamap.com". News from war on ISIS in English from Iraq, Syria - Deir ez-Zur operation, Raqqa operation - isis.liveuamap.com. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  13. ^ "Iraqi forces make significant advance towards Hawija: map". 21 September 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  14. ^ "Iraqi forces liberate 140km2 of territory north of Hawija". 22 September 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  15. ^ Nehal Mostafa (29 September 2017). "More than 40 IS militants killed, as second phase of Hawija offensive starts". Iraqi News. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Les forces irakiennes entrent dans Hawija, le dernier bastion nordiste de l'EI". 4 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  17. ^ "L'EI perd son dernier grand centre urbain en Irak". 5 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  18. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/05/iraqi-army-claims-recapture-islamic-state-isis-held-areas-hawija
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