Siege of Fallujah (2016)

For the battle in which ISIL captured Fallujah in 2014, see Fall of Fallujah. For other battles in Fallujah, see Battle of Fallujah (disambiguation).

Siege of Fallujah (2016)
Part of the War in Iraq and the Anbar campaign (2015–16)

The beginning of the Operation Breaking Terrorism in the next phase of the struggle for Fallujah.
Date2 February 2016 – 22 May 2016
(3 months, 2 weeks and 6 days)
Location
Fallujah and Al-Karmah, Anbar Governorate, Iraq
Result
Belligerents

Iraq Iraq

Iran Iran

Air support:[1]

 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Commanders and leaders
Haider al-Abadi (Prime Minister of Iraq)
Iraq Maj. Gen. Fadhil Barwari
(ICTS commander)
Suhaib al-Rawi (Governor of Anbar)
Issa Sayyar Al Isawi (Mayor of Fallujah)
Sayeer al-Essawie (Iraqi Major of Fallujah)
Iran Qasem Soleimani (Head of the Quds Force)[5][6][7]		 Abu Waheeb † (Top ISIL commander in Anbar)[8]
Hussein Alawi † (ISIL commander in south Fallujah)[9]
Ayad Marzouk al-Anbari † (Senior ISIL Fallujah commander)[10]
Units involved
ISOF

Military of ISIL

  • Secret Police Force (Al-Hisbah)
Strength

11,000–14,500 fighters

  • 7,000–10,500 Iraqi soldiers[12]
  • 4,000 Shi'ite militiamen[13]
 4,000 militants[14]
Casualties and losses
180+ Iraqi tribesmen captured,[15] and 10 executed[16] 520+ killed (By 20 May)[17][18][19]
140 civilians dead from starvation[20][21]
Hundreds of people executed
90,000 civilians are besieged in Fallujah (April 2016 estimate)[3][22]

The siege of Fallujah was an offensive launched in February 2016 by the Iraqi government against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in al-Karmah and in the city of Fallujah, with the aim of enforcing a siege of the latter. During the early stages of the operation, local Sunni residents revolted against ISIL for a period of three days. On 22 May, after completing preparations around the city, the Iraqi Army and supporting Shi'ite militias launched the third Battle of Fallujah.

  1. ^ "Roadside bombs slow Iraqi forces' advance on Ramadi". Al Jazeera. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference supply lines cut off was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference siege tightens was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Al-Karmah liberated was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "حاج قاسم سلیمانی در اتاق عملیات فلوجه :: تحولات جهان اسلام".
  6. ^ Caleb Weiss (23 May 2016). "Iranian Qods Force leader reportedly in Fallujah". The Long War Journal.
  7. ^ Tomson, Chris (23 May 2016). "Iraqi Army deploys prominent Iranian General to defeat ISIS at Fallujah". Archived from the original on 21 December 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  8. ^ "IS Governor of Anbar killed in Airstrike". Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Iraqi Army kill ISIS military commander in Daeig area south of Fallujah". 28 February 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Senior ISIL Commander Killed in Anbar Province". 23 April 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  11. ^ "الجبوري يحث على إعمار الكرمة وإعادة النازحين". www.alsabaah.iq. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018.
  12. ^ Harris, Shane; Youssef, Nancy A. (18 May 2016). "This City Could Be the Next Big Battle of the ISIS War". The Daily Beast.
  13. ^ Abdelhak Mamoun (12 April 2016). "More than 4000 fighters to join cleansing battles in Fallujah". Iraqi News. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  14. ^ US-led coalition says only 1/3 of Fallujah cleared of IS, The Washington Post, 21 June 2016
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference ISIL crushed revolt was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Iraqi forces tighten siege on IS stronghold Fallujah". Xinhua. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference 100 killed in South Fallujah was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference fallahat was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference 140 killed was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Matt Bradley (31 January 2016). "Iraqi Blockade of Occupied Fallujah Takes Toll on Civilians". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  21. ^ "Iraq: Fallujah Siege Starving Population". Human Rights Watch. 7 April 2016.
  22. ^ "90,000 people are trapped in the ISIS-held city of Fallujah — and they're running out of food". Vox. 9 April 2016.