Key Facts
- Battle dates
- 26–30 June 2014
- Duration
- 5 days
- Result
- ISIL/Ba'athist insurgent victory
- Symbolic significance
- Tikrit is the hometown of Saddam Hussein
- ISIL caliphate declared
- 29 June 2014 (during battle)
- City recaptured
- Second Battle of Tikrit, March–April 2015
Strategic Narrative Overview
The Iraqi government launched an air assault on 26 June 2014 to retake Tikrit, reinforced by a ground offensive on 28 June. Fighting continued on 29 and 30 June, but government forces were unable to dislodge the insurgents. A second government attempt on 15 July also failed, after which ISIL attacked nearby Camp Speicher on 17 July, further consolidating their hold on the region.
01 / The Origins
In early June 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), alongside Ba'athist loyalists, swept through northern Iraq in a rapid offensive, seizing Tikrit among other cities. Tikrit held both symbolic weight as Saddam Hussein's birthplace and administrative importance as the capital of Saladin Governorate, making its loss a significant blow to the Iraqi government's authority.
03 / The Outcome
Government forces retreated on 30 June 2014, confirming an insurgent victory. The defeat coincided with ISIL's declaration of a worldwide caliphate on 29 June. Tikrit remained under ISIL control for nearly a year until the Second Battle of Tikrit in March and April 2015, when Iraqi forces backed by militia and coalition support finally recaptured the city.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.