Battle of Baiji (October–November 2014)

Battle of Baiji (October–November 2014) was a battle that took place in Baiji, Iraq. It was one of Iraq's largest victory against ISIL and its allies, cutting off supplies from the ISIL-held city of Tikrit. The taking of Baiji caused a bisection of ISIL's presence along the Tigris river as the city and oil refinery sit between Mosul and Tikrit, which are positioned to the north and south of Baiji respectively.

Background
On 11 June 2014, ISIL insurgents advanced into Baiji, seizing the main court house and police station and setting them on fire. The militants, who were travelling in a group of around 60 vehicles, also took control of the Baiji prison and freed all the inmates within. Local residents told members of the media that ISIL sent a group of local tribal chiefs ahead of them to convince the 250 guards at the oil plant to withdraw, while soldiers and police had been warned to leave as well. Later in the day, militants reportedly retreated from Baiji either due to persuasion from local tribal leaders or due to reinforcements from the Iraqi Army's Fourth Armored Division arriving in the city. However, the next day it was confirmed ISIL was still in control of the town, except the refinery which was surrounded.

On 18 June, ISIL attacked the refinery with mortars and machine guns. An official from inside the refinery stated the militants had captured 75 percent of the facility, while a military spokesman claimed the attack had been repelled with 40 insurgents being killed.

On 19 June, Iraqi government forces claimed to have regained full control of the Baiji oil refinery, after heavy fighting that left 100 militants dead. An Iraqi witness who drove past the Baiji refinery told the Associated Press that ISIL had hung their banners from the watch towers and created checkpoints surrounding the facility, despite government claims of control.

On 20 June, the town was still under complete control of the militants while the oil refinery was surrounded by ISIL forces and had once again come under attack.

Iraqi security forces repelled several ISIL attempts to take the refinery between June and October 2014.

The battle
On 29 October 2014, Iraqi government forces and allied militias advanced to within 2 km of the city of Baiji in an attempt to retake the city and break the siege of the refinery.

On November 4, two British Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircraft flying in support of Iraqi ground forces, attacked and destroyed an Islamic State pickup trucks using a Brimstone missile.

On November 9, Iraqi forces took control of parts of the city. Using helicopters to attack the militants, they entered the city from the south and the west, and took over the city center and the al-Tamim neighbourhood. This left ISIL forces stranded between the city and the refinery, and Iraqi forces advanced slowly due to car bombs attacks on the road. It was reported that Iraqi forces had control of 40% of the city center. Many residents said that there were non-stop clashes in the area.

On November 10, a British MQ-9 Reaper identified and attacked a group of ISIL militants which had been laying improvised explosive devices in the area. A single Hellfire air-to-surface missile was used to conduct the attack.

On November 11, an ISIL suicide bomber killed 8 people in Baiji. The bombing occurred after a large crowd of people gathered around soldiers who had taken parts of the city center.

On November 14, it was reported that the army had taken full control of the city, forcing ISIL forces to withdraw.

On 18 November, the anti-terrorism force Mosul Battalion entered Baiji refinery for the first time since June 2014. However, this could not be confirmed independently. If confirmed, it would be a major victory for Iraqi forces. State television said that they had entered the gates of the refinery. Meanwhile, it was confirmed that Iraqi forces were in full control of Baiji. Iraqi state television said Baiji's recapture was a "Graveyard for ISIS". Later, the US Department of State congratulated the Iraqi forces for retaking the country's largest oil refinery, confirming the Iraqi victory.

Aftermath
On December 19, clashes broke out in Baiji again, and on December 21, ISIL retook the city from Iraqi forces, with clashes in the area continuing.