Battle of Ramadi (2015–16)

Battle of Ramadi (2015–16)
Conflict	Battle of Ramadi (2015–16)
Partof	the War in Iraq (2013–2017) and the Anbar campaign (2015–16)
Caption	Damage in central Ramadi following the battle.
Date	22 November 2015 – 9 February 2016
Place	Ramadi, Anbar Governorate, Iraq
Result	Iraqi government victory
Combatant1	Iraqi Government:, Iraqi Armed Forces, Iraqi Police, Popular Mobilization Forces, International support:, United States Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force
Combatant2	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commander1	Haider al-Abadi, Khaled al-Obeidi, Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, Qais al-Khazali, Hadi al-Amiri
Commander2	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Abu Ali al-Anbari, Abu Omar al-Shishani
Strength1	10,000+ soldiers and militiamen
Strength2	600–1,000 fighters
Casualties1	150+ killed
Casualties2	350+ killed
Casualties3	Heavy civilian displacement and casualties; widespread destruction of infrastructure.

Contents

Background
Prelude
Battle
Aftermath
Order of battle
See also

Battle of Ramadi (2015–16) was a pivotal military engagement during the War in Iraq (2013–2017) to recapture the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The offensive, launched by the Iraqi Armed Forces with support from the Popular Mobilization Forces and international coalition airstrikes, lasted from November 2015 to February 2016. The successful liberation of the city, the capital of Anbar Governorate, marked a significant strategic and symbolic defeat for ISIL following its loss of Tikrit earlier in the year.

Background

The city of Ramadi had been a major stronghold for ISIL since its capture in May 2015 during the Anbar campaign (2013–2016). This loss was a severe blow to the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Army, which had struggled to hold the city despite support from local Sunni tribes and U.S.-led coalition airstrikes. The fall of Ramadi intensified the Anbar campaign (2015–16) and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the Iraqi Security Forces. The recapture of the city became a primary objective for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's government to reassert control over western Iraq and stem ISIL's momentum following the Second Battle of Tikrit.

Prelude

Following months of preparation and clearing operations in the surrounding areas of Anbar Governorate, the Iraqi Army announced the start of the offensive to retake Ramadi on 22 November 2015. The operation was spearheaded by the elite Counter Terrorism Service and units from the Iraqi Army's 8th Iraqi Army Division, backed by the Federal Police of Iraq. While the Popular Mobilization Forces, many linked to Iran, played a role in the broader Anbar campaign (2015–16), their involvement in the initial assault on central Ramadi was limited at the request of local Sunni leaders. The United States Central Command coordinated a intense campaign of airstrikes from the United States Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal Canadian Air Force to soften ISIL defenses.

Battle

The battle commenced with Iraqi forces establishing a cordon around the city, slowly advancing from the eastern outskirts. Key early objectives included recapturing the Ramadi Great Mosque and securing the Euphrates riverbanks to cut ISIL supply lines. Facing a heavily fortified city laced with IEDs and sniper positions, the Iraqi Armed Forces adopted a methodical, block-by-block clearance strategy to minimize casualties. By late December, government forces raised the Iraqi flag over the central Ramadi government complex, a major symbolic victory. Final clearance operations, including in the neighborhood of Sijariyah, continued until early February 2016, when the city was declared fully liberated.

Aftermath

The victory at Ramadi provided a major morale boost for the Iraqi government and its international allies, including the CJTF–OIR. However, the city was left almost completely destroyed, with critical infrastructure like the Ramadi Dam damaged and thousands of civilians displaced. The battle demonstrated improved coordination between the Iraqi Army, Counter Terrorism Service, and coalition air power. Politically, the limited role of the Popular Mobilization Forces in the main assault was seen as an attempt by Haider al-Abadi to promote national unity. The victory set the stage for the subsequent and even larger offensive to recapture Mosul, ISIL's de facto capital in Iraq.

Order of battle

Iraqi Government Forces: * Iraqi Armed Forces ** Counter Terrorism Service (Golden Division) ** 8th Iraqi Army Division ** Federal Police of Iraq ** Iraqi Army Aviation * Popular Mobilization Forces (peripheral support) ** Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq ** Kata'ib Hezbollah ** Badr Organization International Coalition Air Support: * United States Air Force * Royal Australian Air Force * Royal Canadian Air Force

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant: * Military and security units within the Wilayat al-Furat province.