Battle of Baghdad (2006–2008)

For the battle that began in 2003 during the U.S. invasion, see Battle of Baghdad (2003). For other battles in Baghdad, see Battle of Baghdad (disambiguation).

The Battle of Baghdad began in February 2006 and continued until May 2008, for control of the capital city of Iraq. A combined force of Iraqi security forces and the allies including the U.S. Army fought against insurgents to retain control of the city during the sectarian civil war that engulfed the country in 2006.^[6][7][8]

Battle of Baghdad
Part of the Iraqi civil war
Armed Iraqi insurgents in November 2006
Date 22 February 2006 – 11 May 2008[1] (2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks and 5 days) Location Iraq Result Iraqi and allied victory Shia insurgents control 75% of Baghdad by 2006[2] Ethnic cleansing of neighborhoods by sectarian militants
Belligerents
Public stability: Iraqi security forces United States United Kingdom[3] Other coalition forces	Sunni factions al-Qaeda in Iraq (until October 2006) Islamic State of Iraq (from October 2006) Sunni tribes Other militias	Shia factions Mahdi Army Special Groups Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq Kata'ib Hezbollah Promised Day Brigades Badr Brigades Rogue elements of Iraqi security forces Soldiers of Heaven Shia tribes Other militias
Commanders and leaders
Jalal Talabani Ibrahim al-Jaafari Nouri al-Maliki Tommy Franks Abdul Sattar Abu Risha † Ahmad Abu Risha	Abu Ayyub al-Masri Abu Omar al-Baghdadi	Muqtada al-Sadr Abu Deraa Qais al-Khazali (POW) Akram al-Kaabi Arkan Hasnawi †Abdul Aziz al-Hakim Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani
Strength
90,000+[4]	Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
11,000+ recorded civilian deaths (as of late 2007)[5]

The battle coincided with an unsuccessful coalition operation called Together Forward which was to significantly reduce the violence in Baghdad which had seen a sharp uprise in sectarian violence since the mid-February 2006 bombing of the Askariya Mosque,^[9] a major Shia Muslim shrine. Insurgents managed take control of more than 80 percent of Baghdad^[10] before an offensive conducted by Iraqi forces and allies to secure Baghdad. Insurgents also made huge gains in the western Al Anbar and southern Babil province, temporarily forcing Coalition and Iraqi security forces from many towns and cities. Most direct insurgent control of Baghdad ended by late 2007, and by mid-2008, Iraqi forces and allies mostly secured Baghdad and reached an agreement with Mahdi army to allow government forces to enter and patrol the Sadr City district of the city, thus fully securing Baghdad and restoring calm in the central parts of Iraq.^[11]

References

1. "The US Army and the Battle for Baghdad: Lessons Learned-and Still to Be Learned" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 1, 2021.
2. Iddon, Paul (2020-03-13). "Baghdad's four decades of conflict and strife". english.alaraby.co.uk/. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
3. "U.K. Finishes Withdrawal of Its Last Combat Troops in Iraq". Bloomberg. 26 May 2009.
4. "Operation Impose Law". Belfast Telegraph.^{[dead link‍]}
5. "Civilian deaths from violence in 2007 :: Iraq Body Count". iraqbodycount.org. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
6. Department of State. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs (2006-08-23). "The Battle of Baghdad". 2001-2009.state.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
7. Goldenberg, Suzanne (2006-10-20). "We've lost battle for Baghdad, US admits". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
8. Ricks, Thomas E. (2006-02-26). "In the Battle for Baghdad, U.S. Turns War on Insurgents". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
9. Worth, Robert F. (2006-02-22). "Blast Destroys Shrine in Iraq, Setting Off Sectarian Fury". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
10. "Developments Fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq" (PDF).
11. Londoño, Ernesto (2008-05-21). "Iraq Sends Troops Into Sadr City". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-11-07.