The Iraqi government's failed attempts to retake Tikrit in June and July 2014 left the city under ISIL control until March 2015.
Key Facts
- Battle dates
- 26–30 June 2014
- Second government attempt
- 15 July 2014
- ISIL caliphate declared
- 29 June 2014
- ISIL attack on Camp Speicher
- 17 July 2014
- City returned to Iraqi control
- March–April 2015 (Second Battle of Tikrit)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In early June 2014, ISIL and Ba'athist loyalists seized Tikrit during the broader Northern Iraq offensive. The city held particular symbolic weight as Saddam Hussein's hometown and served as the administrative center of Saladin Governorate, making its capture a significant propaganda and strategic gain for ISIL.
The Iraqi government launched an air assault on 26 June 2014 to retake Tikrit, reinforced by a ground assault on 28 June. Fighting continued through 30 June, but government forces were repulsed and retreated, resulting in an insurgent victory. A second government attempt on 15 July also failed, after which ISIL attacked nearby Camp Speicher on 17 July.
Tikrit remained under ISIL control following both failed Iraqi offensives. The defeat coincided with ISIL's declaration of a worldwide caliphate on 29 June 2014, amplifying the group's prestige. The city was not retaken until the Second Battle of Tikrit in March and April 2015, conducted with Iranian-backed militia support.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
2 belligerents