Battle of Suq al Ghazi
The Battle of Suq al Ghazi took place on September 15, 2014.
Battle of Suq al Ghazi | |||||||
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Part of the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017), and the Military intervention against ISIL | |||||||
An Iraqi Army tank in combat near Suq al Ghazi | |||||||
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Combatants | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
100 Iraqi soldiers | 300 ISIL militants | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
5 Iraqi soldiers killed | 23 fighters killed |
The battle
On September 15, 2014, ISIL gunmen, accompanied by local jihadist militias, stormed an Iraqi military base. Not knowing what to do, the Iraqi soldiers made frantic calls for help. Inside the base, ISIL ordered the soldiers to get in a dozen trucks when they arrived. The ISIL fighters reportedly shot at civilians and anyone who tried to intervene before raising the ISIL Black Standard in place of the Iraqi Flag.
After receiving calls from help, and seeing that ISIL intended to capture Suq al Ghazi, US, UK and French drones arrived and fired at ISIL positions, killing multiple fighters. The remaining ISIL fighters fled, only to be engaged by Iraqi tanks.[1]
Iraqi tanks fired at the remaining fighters. US drones arrived and began bombing them as well.
Aftermath
ISIL permanently left Suq al Ghazi on September 16th 2014, making the battle the shortest one in the history of the conflict.
References
- "U.S. Airstrikes Hit Targets Near Baghdad Held by ISIS". NYTIMES. Retrieved 16 September 2014.