Second Battle of Tikrit (2015)

Second Battle of Tikrit (2015)
PlanespotterA320 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Conflict	Second Battle of Tikrit (2015)
Partof	War in Iraq (2013–2017)
Date	2 March – 17 April 2015
Place	Tikrit, Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq
Result	Coalition recapture of Tikrit from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Combatant1	Iraqi Armed Forces; Popular Mobilization Forces; Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps advisors; Kata'ib Hezbollah; Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq; Badr Organization; Hashd al-Shaabi
Combatant2	Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commander1	Haider al-Abadi; Qassem Soleimani (adviser); Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis; Hadi al-Amiri; Riyadh Jalal Tawfiq
Commander2	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (overall); local ISIL emirs in Salah ad Din Governorate
Strength1	Est. 23,000–30,000 including Iraqi Army divisions, Federal Police, Iraqi Special Operations Forces
Strength2	Est. 1,000–2,000 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters

Second Battle of Tikrit (2015) The Second Battle of Tikrit (2015) was a major offensive to retake Tikrit from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant during the War in Iraq (2013–2017). Launched in early March 2015, the operation combined forces from the Iraqi Armed Forces, Popular Mobilization Forces, and Iranian-backed militias with support from United States military airstrikes targeting ISIL positions. The campaign culminated in mid-April with Iraqi forces declaring victory, marking a significant strategic loss for ISIL in central Iraq.

Background

Tikrit, the birthplace of Saddam Hussein, fell to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant during the 2014 offensive that captured large parts of Iraq including Mosul and the Nineveh Governorate. Control of Tikrit gave ISIL a logistical and symbolic foothold along the Tigris River near key routes between Baghdad and Mosul. The recapture plan was influenced by prior operations such as the Battle of Baiji (2014–15), the Siege of Amirli, and the gradual regrouping of Iraqi Army units after setbacks in Fallujah. Political pressure on Haider al-Abadi and regional actors including Iran and United States stakeholders drove coordination among disparate forces, including elements of Hashd al-Shaabi and Iranian advisory cadres from the Quds Force.

Forces and Commanders

The coalition arrayed against ISIL combined regular and irregular formations. Iraqi order of battle included units from the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Special Operations Forces (Golden Division), and Federal Police (Iraq). The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), comprising militias such as Kata'ib Hezbollah, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, and the Badr Organization, provided manpower and local knowledge. Iranian influence was personified by Qassem Soleimani acting as an adviser alongside Iraqi militia leaders like Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Hadi al-Amiri. Coalition air support came from Operation Inherent Resolve assets and multilateral partners, though coordination between United States military and Iranian-backed elements was contentious. ISIL fielded cadres trained in urban defense, including suicide bombers and improvised explosive device teams, under local emirs reporting to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant central command.

The Offensive and Timeline

The offensive began on 2 March 2015 with PMF advances from the south and east, seizing surrounding towns and severing supply lines to Tikrit and nearby Samarra. Iraqi forces, supported by airstrikes from Operation Inherent Resolve, moved along roads linking Salah ad Din Governorate towns while PMF units encircled the city. By mid-March, coalition forces had retaken Al-Dour and pushed into the suburbs of Tikrit, encountering tactics previously employed in Mosul including booby traps and tunnel networks. A pause in late March allowed ISIL to mount counterattacks and unleash suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices near Tikrit University and along the Tigris River crossings. Renewed operations in early April, involving coordinated assaults by the Iraqi Special Operations Forces and PMF brigades, forced ISIL fighters to withdraw into the city center and sanctified sites, including the vicinity of Samarra's Al-Askari Shrine. On 13 April, Iraqi forces proclaimed the liberation of Tikrit, with mop-up operations and clearance of explosives continuing through mid-April.

Casualties and Humanitarian Impact

Estimates of casualties varied widely; coalition sources reported hundreds of ISIL fighters killed and dozens of PMF and Iraqi security personnel casualties, while ISIL propaganda claimed different figures. Civilian deaths and displacement were significant, with thousands of residents fleeing toward Kirkuk and temporary camps near Baghdad. Reports documented destruction of infrastructure, damage to cultural sites, and widespread contamination from unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices. Humanitarian organizations, including United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq actors and non-governmental agencies, mobilized to provide emergency shelter, medical aid, and food, while access challenges impeded rapid civilian return and reconstruction.

Aftermath and Strategic Consequences

The recapture of Tikrit marked a strategic setback for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, disrupting routes between Mosul and Baghdad and degrading ISIL's control in Salah ad Din Governorate. Politically, the operation strengthened Haider al-Abadi's position but exacerbated sectarian tensions due to the prominent role of predominantly Shia militias in a mixed Sunni area, affecting reconciliation efforts with Sunni communities in Anbar Governorate and elsewhere. Militarily, lessons from urban clearance influenced subsequent offensives, including planning for the Battle of Ramadi (2015–2016) and the later Battle of Mosul (2016–17). The involvement of Iranian advisers and militias highlighted the regional dimension of the conflict, affecting relations among United States Department of Defense, Pentagon officials, and regional states. Long-term reconstruction required demining, governance reforms, and reconciliation initiatives spearheaded by Iraqi Ministry of Interior and international partners to prevent ISIL resurgence.

Category:Battles of the War in Iraq (2013–2017) Category:2015 in Iraq