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Ramadan Offensive (2006)

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Ramadan Offensive (2006)
Part of the Iraq War
Date23 September 2006 – 22 October 2006
Location
Result Insurgent victory
Territorial
changes
Most of Baghdad, Al Anbar province and Babil province come under insurgent control
Belligerents
United States United States
 Iraq
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Denmark Denmark
El Salvador El Salvador

Mujahideen Shura Council

Commanders and leaders
United States Gen. George Casey

Abu Ayyub al-Masri

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi
Strength
United States 10,000+ soldiers
Iraq 6,000+ soldiers
United Kingdom 2,500+ soldiers
Denmark 500 soldiers
El Salvador 200 soldiers
1,500+ soldiers
Casualties and losses
United States 194 killed
Iraq 119 killed[1]
Denmark 2 killed
United Kingdom 2 killed
El Salvador 1 killed
Unknown

The Ramadan Offensive refers to the attacks mounted by insurgents in Iraq during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in 2006, three years after the original Ramadan Offensive.[2]

Among the targets were U.S., Iraqi and other Coalition military targets, but many civilians were also killed by death squads. Most of the civilian killings was conducted by the Mahdi Army who were seeking to purge the Sunni population of Baghdad. The offensive coincided with a Coalition operation called Together Forward which was to significantly reduce the violence in Baghdad which had seen a sharp uprise since the mid-February 2006 bombing of the Askariya Mosque, a major Shia Muslim shrine, in Samarra. However, the operation failed. Moreover, the insurgents managed take control of more than 80 percent of Baghdad. Also insurgents made huge gains in the western Al Anbar and southern Babil province, forcing Coalition and Iraqi security forces from many towns and cities. This period also saw the battle of Amarah, during which rogue Mahdi Army fighters fought with the police, who were members of the Badr Organisation, for control of the southern city of Amarah.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Iraqi Interior Ministry says 119 policemen killed, 185 wounded in October - iht,africa,Iraq Violence - Africa & Middle East - International Herald Tribune
  2. ^ McCarthy, Terry (19 October 2006). "'Ramadan Offensive' Challenges Security in Baghdad". ABC News. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Shi'ite militia in show of strength - the Boston Globe".