2008 Nineveh campaign

2008 Mosul offensive
Part of the Iraq War, Operation Phantom Phoenix
File:Iraqi Army personnel watch a fire burn after a bombing in Mosul.jpg Iraqi Army personnel watch a fire burn after a bombing in Mosul
Date January 23 2008– Location Northern Iraq, Iraq Result Ongoing
Belligerents
United States Army New Iraqi Army Awakening Councils	Iraqi insurgency
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon Brig. Gen. Moutaa Habeeb Jassim Maj. Gen. Wathiq Mohammed Abd Alkhader Brig. Gen. Salih Mohammed Hasan†	Abu Yasir al-Saudi † Many others
Casualties and losses
8 killed (U.S.), 154 killed, 2 captured (Iraqi security forces), 31 killed (Iraqi militia)	144 killed, 80+ captured
307 civilians killed

The 2008 Mosul offensive refers to a series of attacks and counter-attacks between insurgent and Coalition forces for control of the Mosul-Kirkuk region in early 2008.

Background

Following their defeat during operation Phantom Strike in 2007 the insurgents lost their primary base of operations in Diyala province. Remaining insurgent forces there were later attacked during operation Phantom Phoenix in an attempt by Coalition forces to clear out all remnants of the insurgents. The insurgents needed a new base and now that they lost their bases in Al Anbar west of Baghdad, Diyala north-east of Baghdad and in Baghdad itself only northern Iraq remained where insurgent forces still had a strong foothold. Insurgents were in full retreat toward Mosul. They set up a new base there and were getting ready for a 'decisive final battle' in the words of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The insurgents had to hold on to Mosul because it was their last rat line through which they moved weapons, personnel and money from abroad into the country. It had strong strategical importance as a main logistical hub for al-Qaida in Iraq because of its size and location - sitting at crossroads between Baghdad, Syria, Turkey and Iran. If they lost their center in Mosul the insurgents would not be able to effectively fight anymore.

The Battle

Sporadic fighting had already been going on since late 2007 after the insurgents had been routed from Diyala. In early 2008, however, al-Qaeda wanted to make it clear that they could still fight effectively in Iraq.

On January 23, a massive cache of explosives was detonated in an abandoned building in Mosul in the Zinjeli neighborhood. Insurgents were tipped off that Iraqi security forces were preparing to search the building and when the police came they detonated the explosive. The explosion killed 60 people, all of them civilians, wounded 280 and leveled several buildings.

The next day, as the police was investigating the scene, of the massive bombing the day before, gunmen opened fire on them. At that time a suicide bomber targeted the car of the police chief of Mosul, who was on the scene, killing him and two other policemen.

On January 25, the Iraqi Prime Minister order Iraqi military reinforcements to Mosul to begin an offensive to crush the remaining al-Qaeda elements that were still holding out in the area. The troops, tanks and helicopters arrived in Mosul on January 27.

However, a day after the reinforcements arrived insurgents ambushed a U.S. military patrol in the city killing five soldiers. The patrol was initially attacked by an IED, but then insurgents in a nearby mosque opened fire on soldiers in the patrol after the roadside bombing, prompting a fierce gunbattle as U.S. and Iraqi troops secured the area. Iraqi soldiers entered the mosque but the gunmen had already fled.

During the fight for the north there was also some sporadic fighting in other areas, such as Tal Afar to the west of Mosul, Kirkuk further to the north-east and Hawija which is just south of Kirkuk.

It was reported on March 1 that Coalition forces had killed a top terrorist on February 27 named Abu Yasir al-Saudi, who was involved in many deadly terrorist attacks across Mosul. It was also reported that 142 insurgents had been killed or captured in Mosul since the operation began.

On March 17, 10-12 insurgents attacked an Iraqi Army checkpoint in Mosul. The insurgents were repulsed and 3 were killed in the attack.

On March 23, an insurgent suicide bomber, in a truck with a bullet-proof windshield, attacked an Iraqi military base in Mosul. He blasted through an armored vehicle to reach the courtyard of the military headquarters. In the ensuing explosion 13 Iraqi soldiers were killed and 42 people, including 30 soldiers, were wounded.

On April 14, an insurgent suicide bomber attacked a group of Peshmerga soldiers near Sinjar. Following the attack insurgents opened up on them with small-arms fire and RPG's. 14 soldiers were killed and 15 wounded.

On April 26, insurgents attacked an Iraqi Army checkpoint in Mosul. A suicide bomber detonated an explosive laden vehicle killing 2 Iraqi civilians and wounding 4. Insurgents than followed the explosion with small arms and RPG fire. Iraqi Army and Coalition forces returned fire, killing one terrorist.