Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)
The Northern Iraq offensive, also known as the Summer Offensive or the ISIS offensive of 2014, was a military campaign launched by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS, later renamed Islamic State or IS) and its allies in early June 2014. The offensive targeted primarily northern Iraq, with key objectives being the capture of major cities like Mosul and Tikrit, and the establishment of a larger territory under ISIS control.
The offensive began on June 4, 2014, with attacks on Samarra, but quickly escalated. Militants captured Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, on June 10, overwhelming Iraqi security forces. This victory provided ISIS with significant resources, including captured military equipment and funds from the city's banks. The fall of Mosul triggered a mass exodus of civilians and raised serious concerns about the stability of Iraq and the broader region.
Following the capture of Mosul, ISIS fighters advanced towards other key cities, including Tikrit, which they seized on June 11. The offensive resulted in widespread reports of human rights abuses, including mass executions, sexual violence, and forced displacement of religious and ethnic minorities, particularly Yazidis and Christians.
The rapid success of the ISIS offensive exposed weaknesses in the Iraqi military and government, which were plagued by corruption and sectarian divisions. The offensive prompted international intervention, including airstrikes by the United States and other coalition partners in August 2014, aimed at halting ISIS's advance and supporting Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
The offensive marked a significant turning point in the rise of ISIS and its expansion across Iraq and Syria. It led to a protracted conflict that involved numerous actors, including the Iraqi military, Kurdish Peshmerga forces, various militias, and international coalitions. The recapture of territory seized during the offensive took several years and involved intense fighting and significant human cost. The effects of the offensive continue to shape the political and security landscape of Iraq.