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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
Date6–8 August 2014
(2 days)
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 Lahour Sheikh Jangi
Kurdistan Region Wahab Halabjay
Kurdistan Region Brwa Peshang Miran
Kurdistan Region Aziz Waysi		 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Units involved
Kurdistan Region Peshmerga
People's Defence Forces
Strength
300 8000
Casualties and losses
20 1200

The Battle of Makhmour was a pivotal 2014 engagement during the conflict between Kurdish forces and ISIS. As the Kurdish Peshmerga sought to secure territory left vulnerable by the Iraqi Army's retreat, ISIS launched an offensive, aiming to reclaim lost ground and secure its caliphate.

Background

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

Battle

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Initially, the Peshmerga made gains, securing territory left vacant by the Iraqi Army's retreat, including Makhmour. However, ISIS launched a fresh offensive on 3 August, effectively pushing back the overstretched Peshmerga forces.

Despite repelling the first wave of attacks, the Peshmerga faced intensified assaults, particularly with the influx of ISIS' vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs). This led the Peshmerga forces 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 7 August, the PDK forces of Peshmerga counterattacked, successfully recapturing the city.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Meet the PKK, Vice News
  2. ^ Nordland, Rod; Cooper, Helene (19 March 2015). "Capitalizing on U.S. Bombing, Kurds Retake Iraqi Towns". The New York Times. New York Times. 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. ^ Al-Salhy, Suadad; Arango, Tim (10 June 2014). "Sunni Militants Drive Iraqi Army Out of Mosul". The New York Times. The New York Times.
  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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