Fall of Baiji
{{Short description|2014 battle}}
{{About|the Fall of Baiji|the 2014–2015 battle|Battle of Baiji (2014–2015)||}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Fall of Baiji
| width =
| partof = Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) and the Salahuddin campaign
| image =
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| date = 11–21 June 2014{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27990478|title=Iraq crisis: Key oil refinery 'seized by rebels'|work=BBC News|date=24 June 2014 |access-date=24 August 2017}}
({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=06|day1=11|year1=2014|month2=06|day2=21|year2=2014}})
| place = Baiji, Saladin, Iraq
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| territory =
| result = ISIL captures Baiji city
- Iraqi army successfully maintains full control of Baiji refinery.
- Continued fighting until October 2015 when Iraqi government forces establish full control.
| status =
| combatants_header =
| combatant1 = {{flag|Iraq}}
| combatant2 = {{flag|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}
| combatant3 =
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Iraq}} Nouri al-Maliki
| commander2 = {{Flagdeco|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}} Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
| commander3 =
| units1 = Iraqi Armed Forces
| units2 = Military of ISIL
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| casualties1 = 36 killed
| casualties2 = 140 killed
(claimed by the government)
| casualties3 = 97 civilians killed and 122 civilians injured
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}}
{{Campaignbox Iraq War (2014–present)}}
{{Campaignbox Salahuddin province campaign}}
The Fall of Baiji was a battle that took place in and around Baiji, Iraq in June 2014. It was fought between Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) forces and those of the Iraqi government. Its first stage included clashes in the city from 11 to 18{{nbs}}June. The second stage was fighting over the control of Baiji oil refinery from 18 to 21{{nbs}}June. Initially, ISIL captured both the town and parts of the refinery, but on 19{{nbs}}June 2014, the Iraqi Army reinstated full control of the refinery in a counter-attack. Fighting continued in Baiji until October 2015, when government forces finally established full control.
Background
{{see also|Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)|Fall of Mosul|Siege of Amirli}}
On 4{{nbs}}June 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and its allies attacked Mosul launching their northern Iraq offensive. The following day, they started the Salahuddin campaign in Saladin. ISIL and its allies captured Mosul on 10{{nbs}}June 2014. after a six-day battle. When the city fell, there were reports that the group was advancing from Mosul to Kirkuk. After capturing the city, the group freed nearly 1,000 prisoners. On 11{{nbs}}June, ISIL and its allies also started the siege of Amirli.
The battle
On 11{{nbs}}June, around 60 ISIL vehicles entered the city of Baiji. They set the main court house and police station on fire. They also took control of Baiji prison and freed all 2,400 inmates. Later that day, the militants reportedly retreated from Baiji, before the Iraqi Army's Fourth Armored Division arrived in the city, allegedly due to persuasion from local tribal leaders.{{cite news|title=Half a million flee unrest in Iraq's Mosul|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/tens-thousands-flee-unrest-iraq-mosul-201461175824711415.html|access-date=24 August 2017|date=11 June 2014|work=Al Jazeera}} However, the next day it was confirmed ISIL was still in control of the town.{{cite news|title=Al-Qaeda splinter group captures Iraqi oil refinery town|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/al-qaeda-splinter-group-captures-iraqi-oil-refinery-town-1.2671735|access-date=24 August 2017|date=11 June 2014|publisher=CBC News}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/iraq-army-capitulates-to-isis-militants-in-4-cities-1.1828973|title=Iraq army capitulates to Isis militants in 4 cities|work=Irish Times|date=12 June 2014|access-date=24 August 2017}}{{cite news|title=Iraqi city of Tikrit falls to ISIL fighters|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/iraqi-city-tikrit-falls-isil-fighters-2014611135333576799.html|access-date=24 August 2017|date=11 June 2014|publisher=Al Jazeera}}{{cite web|last1=Raseed|first1=Ahmed|last2=Coles|first2=Isabella|title=Obama warns of U.S. action as jihadists push on Baghdad|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0EN0RV20140613?irpc=932|website=Reuters|date=13 June 2014|access-date=24 August 2017}}
On 18{{nbs}}June, ISIL attacked the oil refinery near Baiji. An official inside the refinery stated the militants had captured 75 percent of the facility, while a military spokesman claimed the attack had been repelled, with 40 militants killed.{{cite news|title=Extremists attack Iraq's biggest oil refinery|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/19/world/middleeast/iraqi-oil-refinery-ablaze-as-army-and-militants-clash.html?mcubz=0|publisher=nytimes|date=18 June 2014|access-date=24 August 2017}}{{cite web|title=Sunni militants attacked on Iraq's largest oil refinery in Baiji|url=http://www.patrika.com/news/sunni-militants-attacked-on-iraqs-largest-oil-refinery-in-baiji/1012976|publisher=Patrika Group|access-date=24 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702175632/http://www.patrika.com/news/sunni-militants-attacked-on-iraqs-largest-oil-refinery-in-baiji/1012976|archive-date=2 July 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27897648|title=Iraq crisis: Battle grips vital Baiji oil refinery|work=BBC News|date=18 June 2014|access-date=19 November 2014}} On 19{{nbs}}June, Iraqi government forces launched a counter-attack and claimed to have regained full control of the oil refinery after heavy fighting that left 100 militants dead.{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1285416/iraq-forces-retake-oil-refinery-from-isis|title=Iraq Forces 'Retake' Oil Refinery From ISIS|publisher=Sky News|date=19 June 2014|access-date=24 August 2017}} ISIL created watchtowers and checkpoints within Baiji.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/isis-militants-black-banners-hang-beiji-refinery-ap-witness-n135306|title=ISIS Militants' Black Banners Hang at Beiji Refinery: AP Witness|work=NBC News|date=19 June 2014|access-date=19 November 2014}} On 20{{nbs}}June 2014, ISIL forces surrounded the refinery and attacked it for a second time, but failed to capture it.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27936652|title=Iraq crisis: Fierce battles for Baiji and Tal Afar|work=BBC News|date=20 June 2014|access-date=24 August 2017}} They launched a third attack on 21{{nbs}}June, killing 36 Iraqi soldiers, but failed to recapture the refinery.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/iraq-forces-battle-rebels-around-oil-refinery-2014620214843559974.html|title=Iraq forces battle rebels around oil refinery|work=Al Jazeera English|date=21 June 2014|access-date=24 August 2017}}
== Aftermath ==
{{see also|Battle of Baiji (2014)}}
On 29 October 2014, the operation to recapture the city of Baiji begun. Fighting continued for approximately a year until the Iraqi armed forces and the PMF fully liberated Baiji in October 2015. Since then, the city has been under Iraqi control but has faced periodic ISIL attacks. The city's infrastructure has been severely damaged by the prolonged fighting.{{cite web|url=https://www.gppi.net/2017/09/13/iraq-after-isil-baiji|title=Iraq after ISIL: Baiji|last1=Derzsi-Horváth|first1=András|last2=Schulz|first2=Mario|publisher=Global Public Policy Institute|access-date=14 January 2019|last3=Nasser|first3=Hana}}