First Battle of Tikrit
The First Battle of Tikrit was fought for the Iraqi city of Tikrit following the city's capture by the Islamic State and Ba'athist Loyalists during the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive. The battle took place between 26 and 30 June 2014.
| First Battle of Tikrit | |||||||||
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| Part of the War in Iraq and the Salahuddin campaign | |||||||||
A view of Tikrit, looking north along the Tigris towards Saddam's presidential palace | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| United States | |||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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35 killed 3 helicopters lost and 3 damaged | 215+ killed (government claim) | ||||||||
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4 civilians killed 1 Lebanese pilot captured | |||||||||
In early June 2014, ISIL took control of a number of cities in northern Iraq, including Tikrit. Tikrit has symbolic significance as the hometown of Saddam Hussein, and is also the administrative center of the Saladin Governorate. The Iraqi government responded on 26 June by launching an air assault operation to recapture the city. This initial attack was reinforced by a ground assault on 28 June. Fighting continued on 29 and 30 June, but the battle was an insurgent victory, with government forces retreating on 30 June. The defeat coincided with ISIL's declaration of a worldwide caliphate on 29 June.
The Iraqi government made another attempt to retake the city on 15 July, but was again defeated. ISIL responded by attacking nearby Camp Speicher on 17 July. Tikrit remained under ISIL control until the Second Battle of Tikrit in March and April 2015.