Battle of Mosul (2003)

This article has no lead section. Please improve this article by adding one in your own words. (November 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (November 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Battle of Mosul (2003)
Part of 2003 invasion of Iraq
Date 11–13 April 2003 Location Mosul, Iraq 36°20′N 43°08′E / 36.333°N 43.133°E / 36.333; 43.133 Result U.S. and Peshmerga Victory
Belligerents
United States U.S. Special Forces  Iraqi Kurdistan Peshmerga  Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani[1]  Iraqi Kurdistan Jalal Talabani[2]  Iraqi Kurdistan Nechirvan Barzani[3]  Iraqi Kurdistan Shaswar Abdulwahid Qadir[4]	Ba'athist Iraq Iraqi forces
Commanders and leaders
United States Tommy Franks[5]  United States David Petraeus[6]  United States Ray Odierno[7]  Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani[1]  Iraqi Kurdistan Jalal Talabani[2]  Iraqi Kurdistan Nechirvan Barzani[3]  Iraqi Kurdistan Shaswar Abdulwahid Qadir[4]	Ba'athist Iraq Ali Hassan al-Majid[8]  Ba'athist Iraq Abid Hamed al-Jabiri[7]  Ba'athist Iraq Saddam Hussein (Commander-in-Chief)[9]  Ba'athist Iraq Abd al-Majid al-Khuwaylid[7]
Units involved
United States 80 U.S. Special Forces Operators[10] Air Force Combat Controllers[1] approx. 500 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters[3] approx. 300 KDP Peshmerga[3] approx. 200 PUK Peshmerga[8]	Ba'athist Iraq approx. 1,500 Iraqi soldiers[8]
Strength
United States 80 U.S. Special Forces Operators[10] Air Force Combat Controllers[1] approx. 500 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters[3] approx. 300 KDP Peshmerga[3] approx. 200 PUK Peshmerga[8]	Ba'athist Iraq approx. 1,500 Iraqi soldiers[8]
Casualties and losses
United States 5 wounded[9]  Iraqi Kurdistan 20 killed, 50 wounded[7]	Ba'athist Iraq 5 T-55 tanks, 12 armoured personnel carriers destroyed,[11] approx. 200 soldiers killed, 100 captured[12]

In April 2003, as the coalition advanced further into Iraq, Mosul became a significant objective due to its size and strategic location. Coalition forces, including U.S. Special Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters under the leadership of Masoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, planned to engage Iraqi forces defending the city.^[13]