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Battle of Makhmour

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Coordinates: 35°46′32″N 43°34′46″E / 35.77556°N 43.57944°E / 35.77556; 43.57944
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Battle of Makhmour
Part of War in Iraq (2013–2017)

Kurdish PKK Fighter's training in Makhmur camp
Date6 August 2014-8 August 2014
Location
Makhmur, Iraq
35°46′32″N 43°34′46″E / 35.77556°N 43.57944°E / 35.77556; 43.57944
Result Kurdish victory[2]
Belligerents
 Kurdistan Region
Kurdistan Workers' Party[1]		  Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani
Kurdistan Region Sirwan Barzani
Murat Karayılan
Bahoz Erdal		 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Units involved
Kurdistan Region Peshmerga
People's Defence Forces
Strength
3,000 800
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown

The Battle of Makhmour, a pivotal engagement during the ongoing conflict between Kurdish forces and ISIS, unfolded against the backdrop of strategic maneuvering and intense fighting. As the Kurdish Peshmerga sought to secure territory left vulnerable by the Iraqi Army's retreat, ISIS launched a determined offensive, aiming to reclaim lost ground and assert its dominance in the region.

Background

Following the Fall of Mosul in June and the subsequent Iraqi withdrawal from disputed areas,[3] The Kurdistan Regional Goverment (KRG) seized the opportunity to assert control, taking over the disputed city of Kirkuk and Makhmour.[4] Initially, it appeared unlikely that the Peshmerga forces would engage in conflict with ISIS. However, as ISIS gained access to significant quantities of Iraqi Army stockpiles, their aggression escalated, leading to threats and attacks against the Peshmerga.[5] The first ISIS assault on the Peshmerga occurred in the town of Zumar on The 1st Of August, followed by an attack on Makhmour on the 6th of August.[6][7]

Battle

In August, during the conflict between Peshmerga fighters and ISIS, a series of events unfolded. Initially, the Peshmerga made gains, securing territory left vacant by the Iraqi Army's retreat, including Makhmour. However, ISIS launched a fresh offensive on August 3rd, effectively pushing back the overstretched Peshmerga forces. Despite initially repelling the first wave of attacks, the Peshmerga faced intensified assaults, particularly with the influx of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) deployed by ISIS. This led to the Peshmerga forces being forced to retreat as the town and the Makhmour Refugee Camp came under significant risk. In response to the escalating situation, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) deployed their fighters to the Qaracux Mountain area.[8] Subsequently, on August 7th, the Peshmerga launched a swift counter-attack, successfully recapturing the city within a mere two hours.[9]

References

  1. ^ Meet the PKK, Vice News
  2. ^ "Capitalizing on U.S. Bombing, Kurds Retake Iraqi Towns". New York Times. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Mosul falls to militants, Iraqi forces flee northern city". Reuters. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Kurds take oil-rich Kirkuk amid advance of ISIL insurgency in Iraq". Al Jazeera. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Sunni Militants Drive Iraqi Army Out of Mosul". The New York Times. 10 June 2014.
  6. ^ Arango, Tim (3 August 2014). "Sunni Extremists in Iraq Seize 3 Towns From Kurds and Threaten Major Dam". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Kurds, Islamic State clash near Kurdish regional capital: Kurdish official". Asharq al-Awsat. 6 August 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  8. ^ Meet the PKK, Vice News
  9. ^ "Battle for Makhmour: a frontline in Iraq's latest war". middleeasteye. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
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