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| Fall of Fallujah (2016) | |
|---|---|
| Conflict | Anbar campaign (2015–2016) |
| Partof | War in Iraq (2013–2017) |
| Caption | Skyline of Fallujah during operations in 2016 |
| Date | May–June 2016 |
| Place | Fallujah, Anbar Governorate, Iraq |
| Result | Recapture of Fallujah from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant by Iraqi Armed Forces and allies |
| Combatant1 | Iraqi Armed Forces; Popular Mobilization Forces; Iraqi Police; Tribal Militias; Kurdistan Regional Government (limited support) |
| Combatant2 | Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Commander1 | Haider al-Abadi; Hadi al-Ameri; Abadi's coalition leaders; Lt. Gen. Abdulwahab al-Saadi |
| Commander2 | Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; local ISIL commanders |
| Strength1 | Estimates vary; tens of thousands including Iraqi Army divisions, Counter-Terrorism Service |
| Strength2 | Several thousand ISIL fighters |
| Casualties1 | Several hundred killed and wounded |
| Casualties2 | Thousands killed; many captured |
Fall of Fallujah (2016) The Fall of Fallujah in 2016 was a major battle during the Anbar campaign (2015–2016) in the broader War in Iraq (2013–2017), culminating in the recapture of the city from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces. The operation involved the Iraqi Armed Forces, Popular Mobilization Forces, Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, and allied tribal elements, and was supported by regional and international actors including the United States and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in various capacities.
Fallujah, located in Anbar Governorate, had been a flashpoint since the Iraq War (2003–2011), witnessing earlier engagements such as the First Battle of Fallujah and the Second Battle of Fallujah (2004), and later episodes during the Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013). The rise of ISIL after the 2011 Syrian Civil War spillover and the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive led to the capture of Fallujah by ISIL in 2014, following the fall of Mosul and the collapse of Iraqi security forces in parts of Anbar Governorate. By 2016, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and commanders from the Iraqi Army, Counter-Terrorism Service, and allied formations planned a series of offensives, including operations in Ramadi and preparations for Fallujah, influenced by the outcomes at Battle of Ramadi (2015–2016) and the campaign to isolate ISIL in Iraq.
After the recapture of Ramadi and intensified air campaigns by the International Coalition against ISIL, Iraqi leadership prioritized Fallujah as a symbolic and strategic objective. Commanders such as Abadi, Hadi al-Ameri, and Abdulwahab al-Saadi coordinated with units including the Iraqi Army, Popular Mobilization Forces like Badr Organization and Kata'ib Hezbollah, and tribal leaders from Albu Issa and other Anbar tribes. International partners including the United States Central Command, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, and advisory elements from United Kingdom, France, and Germany provided intelligence, logistics, and air support, while regional actors such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps offered parallel influence through allied militias. The buildup included encirclement operations, supply line interdiction, and attempts to cut ISIL access to Baghdad and Fallujah supply routes via Highway 1 and desert corridors.
The offensive to retake Fallujah began with preparatory strikes by the Iraqi Air Force and coalition aircraft, supported by artillery from Iraqi Army units and tribal fighters. Ground operations involved coordinated assaults by the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, 1st Division (Iraq) regulars, and Popular Mobilization Forces, advancing from multiple axes including positions near Karma, Saqlawiyah, and the Euphrates River crossings. Urban combat included clearing operations in neighborhoods and infrastructure such as the Fallujah General Hospital and the Old City (Fallujah), confronting ISIL tactics like IED networks and fortified strongpoints. Notable Milestones included the breaching of ISIL outer defenses, the liberation of agricultural belts, and phased entry into southern and eastern districts, culminating in the seizure of key administrative centers and the dismantling of ISIL defensive lines.
The liberation of Fallujah created a significant humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands displaced to Kirkuk, Baghdad, Ramadi, and Jordan and requiring response from agencies such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR, UNICEF, and non-governmental organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the International Rescue Committee. Infrastructure damage severely affected water, sanitation, and medical services, with efforts by Iraqi Ministry of Health and UNAMI to provide emergency care. Reconstruction planning involved stakeholders including the World Bank, European Union, and Gulf state donors, while demining and explosive ordnance disposal were led by specialized teams from Iraqi Ministry of Interior and international partners.
Casualty figures varied: Iraqi official counts and independent monitors such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International reported hundreds of Iraqi security personnel and allied militia killed or wounded, and estimates suggested thousands of ISIL fighters were killed or captured. Civilian casualties were substantial, with reports from United Nations agencies and Iraqi Red Crescent documenting deaths, injuries, and mass displacement. Structural damage affected residential districts, religious sites including mosques, and cultural heritage, with assessments by the Iraqi Ministry of Culture and UNESCO indicating extensive loss to urban fabric and archaeological assets.
International reactions ranged from praise by United States Department of State and statements from NATO partners to expressions of concern by United Nations officials over humanitarian consequences. Regional actors such as Iran, through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Gulf states issued statements reflecting geopolitical stakes, while political debates in Baghdad and among Iraqi factions—represented by parties such as the State of Law Coalition and Iraqi National Movement—centered on command arrangements and the role of militias. Human rights organizations called for investigations into alleged violations and adherence to international humanitarian law as articulated by the Geneva Conventions.
The Fallujah offensive was analyzed by think tanks including Center for Strategic and International Studies, International Crisis Group, and Institute for the Study of War as a turning point in the Anbar campaign, demonstrating Iraqi security force improvements and coalition-enabled capabilities. It influenced later operations such as the Battle of Mosul (2016–2017) and shaped debates on urban warfare doctrine, counterinsurgency by the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, and reconciliation efforts for Sunni communities by the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office. The legacy includes long-term reconstruction challenges, sectarian tensions involving groups like Kurdistan Democratic Party and Dawa Party, and lessons for multinational coalitions on balancing military objectives with humanitarian protection and post-conflict stabilization.
Category:Conflicts in 2016 Category:Battles involving the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Category:Anbar Governorate