Second Battle of Tikrit

Second Battle of Tikrit
Conflict	Second Battle of Tikrit
Partof	Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)
Date	March–April 2015
Place	Tikrit, Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq
Result	Iraqi government and allied victory
Combatant1	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
Combatant2	Iraqi Armed Forces; Popular Mobilization Forces; Iran-backed militias; United States-led Coalition (2014–present)
Commander1	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; local ISIL commanders
Commander2	Haider al-Abadi; Ibrahim al-Jaafari; Qassem Soleimani (adviser role); Sabah al-Saadi
Strength1	Estimates vary
Strength2	Estimates vary
Casualties1	Heavy
Casualties2	Significant

Second Battle of Tikrit The Second Battle of Tikrit was a 2015 military offensive to recapture Tikrit from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant control. The operation involved coordinated action by the Iraqi Armed Forces, Popular Mobilization Forces, Kurdistan Regional Government-aligned units, advisers from Iran, and air support from the United States-led Coalition (2014–present), and represented a key moment in the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017). The offensive combined ground assaults, urban warfare, and coalition airstrikes to dislodge entrenched ISIL fighters from a provincial capital with broader implications for regional power dynamics among Iran, United States, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Background

Tikrit, located on the Tigris River in Salah al-Din Governorate, held strategic and symbolic importance as the birthplace of former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein. After the rapid advance of ISIL across Anbar Governorate and into northern and central Iraq in 2014, ISIL seized Tikrit in June 2014 during the broader collapse of security that preceded the Battle of Mosul (2016–2017). The fall of Tikrit followed earlier engagements such as the Fall of Mosul and the Siege of Baiji, and occurred amid rivalries involving Iraqi Kurdistan, Shia Islamist militias, and regional powers. The Iraqi Armed Forces under Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi sought to reverse ISIL gains with political backing from the United Nations and military assistance from the United States, while Iran supported mobilization via the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Prelude

In late 2014 and early 2015, pressure mounted to reclaim Tikrit following setbacks at Ramadi and growing insurgent consolidation in central Iraq. The Iraqi Ministry of Defence coordinated with the Federal Police (Iraq), Iraqi Army, and Counter Terrorism Service (Iraq) to plan an offensive; this followed precedents in operations around Baghdad and operations to secure Samarra and Baiji. Regional actors such as Iran deployed advisers and members of the Quds Force, including Qassem Soleimani, to assist planning, while the United States Department of Defense arranged limited aviation support. Local dynamics involved Sunni Arab tribal leaders, elements of the Sahwa (Awakening) movement, and clerics from Najaf and Karbala negotiating allegiances. The Popular Mobilization Forces, incorporating groups linked to Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, Kata'ib Hezbollah, and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, mobilized alongside government brigades.

Order of battle

The operation brought together multiple units: the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (Golden Division), the Iraqi Army's 4th Division (Iraq), Federal Police (Iraq), and affiliated Popular Mobilization Forces brigades. Kurdish forces from the Peshmerga were involved in adjacent operations but did not spearhead the urban assault. International actors included advisers from the United States Special Operations Forces, coordination with the Coalition (2014–present) for close air support, and Iranian advisers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Opposing them, ISIL deployed defensive cadres, suicide bombers, improvised explosive devices, and airborne-vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, with command elements reportedly directed by mid-level ISIL commanders operating across Salah al-Din Governorate.

Course of the battle

The offensive began with a multi-axis advance from the south and west of Tikrit in March 2015, following operations to secure supply lines around Samarra and Al-Dour. Initial phases emphasized encirclement, cutting ISIL supply routes toward Mosul and Baiji. Intense urban combat occurred in neighborhoods, government complexes, and along the Tigris Riverbanks, with the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service leading house-to-house clearing supported by Iraqi Army armor and Coalition (2014–present) airstrikes. ISIL employed asymmetric tactics including suicide bomber assaults, tunnel networks, and human shields in residential areas. Reports indicated significant involvement of Popular Mobilization Forces in frontline roles, which accelerated advances but generated controversy over sectarian reprisals. By early April, government forces declared control of central Tikrit and proceeded to clear remaining pockets, securing key infrastructure such as the Tikrit University campus and the Saddam Hussein hometown districts. Subsequent operations extended into surrounding towns like Dujail to neutralize residual ISIL resistance and minefields.

Casualties and losses

Accurate tallies varied. Combatant losses included heavy casualties among ISIL fighters, significant materiel losses, and the destruction of fortifications and weapons caches. Government-aligned forces sustained fatalities and injuries among Iraqi Armed Forces personnel and Popular Mobilization Forces fighters, with estimates differing across sources like the Iraqi Ministry of Defence and international observers. Civilian casualties occurred from urban combat, airstrikes, and improvised explosive devices; the displacement of thousands prompted humanitarian responses from United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and International Committee of the Red Cross. Reported losses also included damaged cultural heritage and infrastructure in Tikrit and surrounding districts.

Aftermath and significance

The recapture of Tikrit marked a strategic and symbolic victory for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's government and for Iraqi Armed Forces morale, representing a reversal after the Fall of Mosul and preceding the Battle of Ramadi (2015–2016) and the later Battle of Mosul (2016–2017). The offensive showcased the operational role of the Popular Mobilization Forces and deepened Iranian influence in Iraqi security affairs through the involvement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and figures like Qassem Soleimani, affecting relations with the United States and regional actors such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Issues of sectarian reprisals prompted scrutiny from United Nations human rights bodies and fueled political debates in Baghdad and Erbil about integrating militia forces into formal structures like the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and the Iraqi Ministry of Defence. Strategically, securing Tikrit disrupted ISIL lines between Mosul and Baghdad, contributing to subsequent operations to retake Anbar Governorate and Nineveh Governorate. The battle influenced reconstruction, reconciliation, and refugee return policies, involving international organizations including the World Food Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and bilateral donors.

Category:Conflicts in 2015 Category:Battles involving Iraq Category:Battles involving the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant