Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)

Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)
Mstyslav Chernov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Conflict	Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)
Date	2014–2017
Place	Iraq

Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) was a conflict that involved the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Iraqi government forces, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) forces, and other Shia and Sunni Arab groups. The conflict began in 2014 when ISIL launched a campaign against the Iraqi government, led by Nouri al-Maliki, and Kurdish forces, led by Masoud Barzani. The conflict drew in various international actors, including the United States, Iran, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, and involved key figures such as Barack Obama, Hassan Rouhani, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and David Cameron.

Background

The conflict had its roots in the Iraq War and the subsequent sectarian violence that plagued Iraq from 2006 to 2008. The United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority, established after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, had occupied Iraq until 2011, when US forces withdrew, leaving behind a power vacuum that was filled by Nouri al-Maliki's Shia-dominated government. This led to the Sunni-Shia divide, with groups like Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) emerging to exploit the situation, and receiving support from Syrian Bashar al-Assad's regime and Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), led by Masoud Barzani, also played a significant role in the conflict, with the Peshmerga forces fighting against ISIL and receiving support from the United States, United Kingdom, and France, under the leadership of François Hollande.

Causes of the War

The immediate cause of the conflict was the 2012–2013 Iraqi protests, which were sparked by the Arab Spring and the perceived marginalization of Sunni Arabs by the Nouri al-Maliki government. The protests were violently suppressed, leading to the radicalization of some Sunni groups, who then joined ISIL. The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, also played a significant role in the conflict, as ISIL fighters flowed back and forth across the Syria-Iraq border, receiving support from Jabhat al-Nusra and other Jihadist groups, and clashing with Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces, led by Abdul Jabbar al-Oqaidi. The conflict was further complicated by the involvement of Iranian-backed Shia militias, such as the Mahdi Army and the Badr Organization, which were supported by Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and Hassan Nasrallah's Hezbollah.

Military Campaigns and Major Events

The conflict began in June 2014, when ISIL launched a surprise attack on Mosul, capturing the city and large swaths of Iraqi territory. The Iraqi government responded with a series of military campaigns, including the Battle of Tikrit and the Battle of Ramadi, which were supported by United States airstrikes and Iranian-backed Shia militias, led by Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also launched a series of military campaigns against ISIL, including the Battle of Kirkuk and the Battle of Sinjar, which were supported by United States airstrikes and French Rafale jets, under the command of François Hollande. Key figures such as Haider al-Abadi, Masoud Barzani, and Stephen Harper played important roles in the conflict, with Abadi leading the Iraqi government's efforts to retake Mosul and Barzani leading the KRG's efforts to defend Kurdish territory.

Humanitarian Crisis

The conflict resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis, with millions of Iraqis displaced and thousands killed or injured. The United Nations estimated that over 3 million people were displaced, with many forced to flee their homes due to ISIL's brutal tactics, which included Mass killings and forced conversions, and were supported by Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and other Jihadist groups. The conflict also had a significant impact on Iraq's cultural heritage, with many historical sites and artifacts destroyed or looted, including the Mosul Museum and the Ancient city of Palmyra, which were destroyed by ISIL fighters, who were opposed by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

International Involvement

The conflict drew in various international actors, including the United States, Iran, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, which provided military aid and airstrikes in support of the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The United States launched a series of airstrikes against ISIL targets in August 2014, which were supported by Australia, Canada, and France, under the leadership of Tony Abbott, Stephen Harper, and François Hollande. The United Kingdom also launched airstrikes against ISIL targets, with David Cameron and Theresa May playing key roles in the UK's response to the conflict. Russian Vladimir Putin and Chinan Xi Jinping also played important roles in the conflict, with Russia providing military aid to the Syrian government and China providing economic aid to the Iraqi government.

Aftermath

The conflict ended in 2017, when ISIL was defeated and Iraqi forces retook control of Mosul and other ISIL-held territories. The conflict had a significant impact on Iraq's politics, with Haider al-Abadi emerging as a key leader and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) gaining greater autonomy. The conflict also had a significant impact on the Middle East region, with the United States, Iran, and Turkey emerging as key players in the region, and Russian Vladimir Putin and Chinan Xi Jinping playing important roles in the region's geopolitics. The conflict also led to the emergence of new Jihadist groups, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP), which were opposed by Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and US-backed Resolute Support Mission forces, under the command of John Nicholson and James Mattis.

Category:Wars involving Iraq