Ramadan Offensive (2006)

{{Short description|Attacks in Iraq during Ramadan in 2006}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Ramadan Offensive (2006)

| partof = the Iraq War

| image =

| caption =

| date = 23 September 2006 – 22 October 2006

| place = Iraq

| result = Insurgent victory

| combatant1 = {{flagicon|United States}} United States
{{flag|Iraq|2004}}
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} United Kingdom
{{flagicon|Denmark}} Denmark
{{flagicon|El Salvador}} El Salvador

| combatant2 = Mujahideen Shura Council

• 25px Al-Qaeda in Iraq

| commander1 = {{flagicon|United States}} Gen. George Casey

| commander2 = 25px Abu Omar al-Baghdadi

25px Abu Hamza al-Muhajir

| strength1 = {{flagicon|United States}} 10,000+ soldiers
{{flagicon|Iraq}} 6,000+ soldiers
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 2,500+ soldiers
{{flagicon|Denmark}} 500 soldiers
{{flagicon|El Salvador}} 200 soldiers

| strength2 = 25px 1,500+ soldiers

| casualties1 = {{flagicon|United States}} 194 killed
{{flagicon|Iraq}} 119 killed[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/02/africa/ME_GEN_Iraq_Violence.php Iraqi Interior Ministry says 119 policemen killed, 185 wounded in October - iht, africa, Iraq Violence - Africa & Middle East - International Herald Tribune]
{{flagicon|Denmark}} 2 killed
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 2 killed
{{flagicon|El Salvador}} 1 killed

| casualties2 = 25px Unknown

| territory = Most of Baghdad, Al Anbar province and Babil province come under insurgent control{{Dubious|date=December 2024}}

}}

{{Campaignbox Al Anbar campaign}}

{{Campaignbox Iraq War}}

The Ramadan Offensive refers to the attacks mounted by insurgents in Iraq during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in 2006, three years after the original Ramadan Offensive.{{cite news|last1=McCarthy|first1=Terry|title='Ramadan Offensive' Challenges Security in Baghdad|url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/IraqCoverage/story?id=2588359|access-date=7 July 2016|publisher=ABC News|location=United States|date=19 October 2006}}

Among the targets were U.S., Iraqi and other Coalition military targets, but many civilians were also killed by death squads. Most of the civilian killings were conducted by the Mahdi Army who were seeking to purge the Sunni population of Baghdad. The offensive coincided with a Coalition operation called Together Forward which was to significantly reduce the violence in Baghdad which had seen a sharp uprise since the mid-February 2006 bombing of the Askariya Mosque, a major Shia Muslim shrine, in Samarra. However, the operation failed. Moreover, the insurgents managed take control of more than 80 percent of Baghdad. Also insurgents made huge gains in the western Al Anbar and southern Babil province, forcing Coalition and Iraqi security forces from many towns and cities.{{Dubious|date=December 2024}} This period also saw the battle of Amarah, during which rogue Mahdi Army fighters fought with the police, who were members of the Badr Organisation, for control of the southern city of Amarah.{{cite web | url=http://archive.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/10/21/shiite_militia_in_show_of_strength/ | title=Shi'ite militia in show of strength – the Boston Globe }}