Battle of Samarra (2014)

The Battle of Samarra was a battle during ISIL's offensive in northern Iraq. Samarra is one of the most important sites for Shia Islam, where the holy shrine of Al-Askari mosque is located. The battle began on 4 June 2014, and drew to a close the day after, as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) insurgents seized hold of different parts of the city before being ousted from the city.[2]

Battle of Samarra (2014)
Part of the War in Iraq and Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)
Date4–5 June 2014
(1 day)
Location
Samarra, Iraq
Result

Iraqi and allied victory

Belligerents
Iraqi Government Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
12 killed[1] 80 killed[1]

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) entered the city from the east and west and quickly captured the municipality building, university and the two largest mosques. The insurgents had reached to within 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Al-Askari mosque, which if captured could’ve allowed ISIL to bomb the shrine which was feared to slide Iraq back into a sectarian civil war similar to 2006 to 2008.[3] Militants targeted command centres near the shrine. Soon, government reinforcements were sent from Baghdad and the military managed to regain control of the city, successfully pushing militant forces out of Samarra.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Iraqi troops 'repel militant attack on Samarra'". BBC News. 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  2. "Six killed as militants overrun Iraq's Samarra". Daily Star.
  3. June 26, Michael Crowley; Edt, 2014 5:00 Am. "How the Fate of One Holy Site Could Plunge Iraq Back into Civil War". Time. Retrieved 2020-12-26.


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