| Islamic State – Iraq Province | |
|---|---|
| الدولة الإسلامية – ولاية العراق | |
 | |
| Leader | Abu Muslim al-Turkmani (April 8, 2013–August 18, 2015) Abu Fatima al-Jaheishi (August 18, 2015–Present) |
| Dates of operation | April 8, 2013–Present |
| Allegiance |  Islamic State |
| Ideology | Islamic Statism |
| Allies | Islamic State in Kurdistan White Flags Al-Qaeda (April 8, 2013–February 2, 2014) |
| Opponents |
State opponents
Non-State opponents
|
Islamic State – Iraq Province (Arabic: الدولة الإسلامية – ولاية العراق, romanized: al-Dawlah al-Islāmīyah – Wilāyat al-ʻIrāq) or just Wilayat al-Iraq (Arabic: ولاية العراق, romanized: Wilāyat al-ʻIrāq) is a province or wilayah of the Islamic State and was one of the main provinces during the time of the Islamic States' expansion from 2013–2015 with Wilayat al-Sham (Syria). It was originally belonging to the early history of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria before its declaration of a caliphate.
History
The Islamic State was originally only in Iraq during the Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013) until it expanded into Syria during the Syrian civil war and allying with Al-Nusra Front, renaming itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham. During this time, they announced two different areas of its control, Iraq and Syria. Originally, the Iraq province wasn't united as one wilayah, and instead was situated among several different provinces of Baghdad, Al Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Saladin, Nineveh, and parts of Babil.
2013
On April 8, 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, officially renamed themselves to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which led to the establishment of the province of Iraq which it already had expansions into.
In late 2013, activities were expanded by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria further south in the province, specifically along the Diyala River Valley. This area is considered important for them because the orchards in the valley offer effective concealment and allow for east-west movement to southern Salah ad-Din and the northern Baghdad belts, including Al-Tarmia, which is another identified support zone. Incidents involving attacks on farmers in Abu Saida and other locations along the Diyala River Valley were reported on September 24, September 25, and October 6. To also help with their expansions, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria caused conflict between Shia and Sunnis in the regions so the Sunnis would support the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria more than the Shia-majority government of Iraq.
On December 4, 2013, a series of coordinated attacks occurred in central and northern Iraq, with a significant assault targeting a government building and a nearby shopping mall in Kirkuk. Over 30 individuals were killed, and at least 106 were injured in the incidents that day.
During their expansion in Iraq in 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria conducted a sustained campaign targeting electricity pylons that transmit Iranian electricity to Iraq. More recently, they have targeted Iranian pipeline crews working on a project to supply Iranian gas to power stations in Diyala and eventually Baghdad which, on December 13, 2013, an attack on pipeline teams resulted in the deaths of 15 Iranians and three Iraqis.
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria was involved in clashes in western Iraq on December 30, 2013, when Iraqi security forces arrested Sunni MP Ahmed al-Alwani and engaged in conflict with some of his relatives from the Albo-alon clan of the Dulaim tribe, the largest tribe in Anbar. On the following day, Iraqi security forces dismantled a year-old Sunni protest camp in Ramadi.
2014
By January 2014, the war the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Iraq has continued caused the displacement of nearly six million Iraqis which is around 15% of the entire population of the country.
On January 4, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria took over Fallujah in the fall of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi establishing Wilayat al-Fallujah. This was one of the first major victories for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and one of the first major loses for Iraq since the United States led invasion of Iraq in 2003. By January 6, the fighting in the area caused 65 people to be killed.
On January 10, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants took over the towns of Rawa and Anah which were later used as places to shoot mortars at Iraqi forces in Al Anbar Governorate.
On February 2, Al-Qaeda under the guise of Abu al-Zawahiri disavow and cut all ties with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in a statement saying "Daesh is not a branch of the Qaidat al-Jihad group, we have no organizational relationship with it, and the group is not responsible for its actions.".
On February 3, Iraqi forces that deployed to the Ramadi area clashed with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants in order to regain control of the area with Al-Qaeda no longer backing the organization at all.
During the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria expansions in Iraq in 2014, they made heavy advancements into Northern Iraq and into Iraqi Kurdistan.
On June 10, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria took over the city of Mosul in Iraqi Kurdistan during the fall of Mosul. Around 2,500 Iraqi soldiers were killed in battle and over 4,000 prisoners of war and other prisoners were executed. On the same day, around 1,000 prisoners were executed in the Badush prison in the Badush prison massacre in Badush, Nineveh, Iraq. As well on June 10, the towns of Hawija, al-Zab, Riyadh and Abbasi fell to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria control.
On June 12, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria executed around 1,700 Shia Muslims in Camp Speicher during the Camp Speicher massacre.
Through June 17 and 18, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria attempted to take over Kirkuk, but failed to do so after having their assault repelled by the Peshmerga, but 4 villages in Kirkuk Governorate.
On 19 June, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria forces captured Al-Qa'im, and in the evening of 21 June, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria forces also captured the town of Ar-Rutbah.
On June 22, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants took the border crossings of al-Waleed, on the Iraqi-Syrian frontier, and the Karameh Border Crossing, on the Jordanian border.
On June 24, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria took over the Baiji oil refinery from Popular Mobilization Forces.
On June 29, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria declared a caliphate and named Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as the caliph, renaming the organization as the Islamic State.
On July 3, the Islamic State took over the town of Nukhayb where Iraqi forces, according to the Islamic State, fled to Karbala, though Iraq denies this claim.
Throughout early July, Islamic State militants started destroying shrines and ancient mosques in Mosul, these included two cathedrals.
In early July, Islamic State militants assaulted an Iraqi army convoy in Al-Khalidiya, Al Anbar Governorate, after blowing up a Humvee with an IED and then shooting the convoy, this resulted in the destruction of at least one tank and two M113 armored personnel carriers via bombing and one M1 Abrams destroyed.
On July 7, Islamic State militants began their destruction of ancient artifacts of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires in Nineveh due to the fact that they're considered shirk (idolatrous).
On July 9, according to Iraqi sources to the United Nations, the Islamic State seized nuclear material that was used for scientific research with nearly 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of uranium compounds being stolen from University of Mosul.
By July 22, Islamic State militants took control of territory and extended the frontlines to 70 kilometers (45 miles) from Iraq's capital, Baghdad.
According to a United Nations investigation and report, Islamic State authorities in Mosul told all women aged 11 to 46 to under female genital mutilation in Mosul on July 24.
On July 27, inhabitants of Mosul began combatting Islamic State militants within after forming an anti-ISIS organization.
On the morning of August 3, Islamic State forces took control of the city of Sinjar and the surrounding area. They then destroyed the Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque in Sinjar, acted against those who resisted, and required residents to pledge allegiance and convert to Islam or face execution.
Between 1 and 15 August 2014, the Islamic State (Iraq Province) expanded its control over territory in northern Iraq. In the regions north and west of Mosul, the Islamic State captured Zummar, Sinjar, Wana, Mosul Dam, Qaraqosh, Tel Keppe, Batnaya, and Kocho. In the areas south and east of Mosul, the towns of Bakhdida, Karamlesh, Bartella, and Makhmour refugee camp were also taken. This offensive led to the displacement of 200,000 Yazidi civilians and 100,000 Assyrians, along with the killing of 5,000 Yazidi men and the enslavement of 5,000–7,000 Yazidi women, prompting a foreign military intervention against the Islamic State.
Through August 16–19, Islamic State militants fought Iraqi Special Operations Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga, supported by U.S.-led Coalition airstrikes during the Battle of the Mosul Dam, an offensive against the Islamic State for the Mosul Dam which ended in joint Iraqi and Kurdish victory.
Throughout August, the Islamic State started using oil fields for illegal oil trade in Iraq where militants smuggled oil to supply and fund the Islamic State, by August 20, the Islamic State controlled 5 oil fields in Iraq.
On August 24, the United Nations made a statement calling for the Islamic State to stop their besiegement of the town of Amirli in Saladin Governorate, this was brought up by Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov who also told the Iraqi government to vacate the town and the people or give the people humanitarian aid, these comments were made in response to the western world not making many comments on the situation.
On September 15, Islamic State gunmen, along with local militias, entered an Iraqi military base. The Iraqi soldiers, unsure of how to respond, made calls for assistance. Inside the base, Islamic State militants instructed the soldiers to board several trucks upon their arrival. Reports indicate that Islamic State fighters fired at civilians and those attempting to intervene before replacing the Iraqi flag with the Islamic State Black Standard.
On September 22, Islamic State militants launched an inghimasi operation against an Iraqi military base using an Iraqi humvee-turned VBIED.
On September 25, Islamic State militants overran an Iraqi military base northeast of Fallujah, in Saqlawiyah, after taking over the town of Alsigir. Over 300 Iraqi soldiers were killed in the assault.
On October 1, Islamic State militants overran the Albu Aytha Base near Ramadi taking all of its weapons with 240 and 600 people were under siege beforehand.
On October 2, the Islamic State started a battle with Iraqi and pro-government forces in Hit. After seizing Hit, the Islamic State began attacking the Al-Asad airbase nearby.
On October 13, the Islamic State seized an Iraqi military base in Anbar in the town of Hit.
On October 20, at three o'clock, Islamic State forces moved into various areas around Jabal Shingal. Eyewitnesses noted that 40 Humvees were utilized during the movement.
On December 13, the Islamic State continued its aggressive expansion in Iraq, advancing to within 32 kilometers of the strategic city of Ramadi, located in the Al Anbar Governorate, west of Baghdad. This development marked a significant escalation in their campaign to consolidate control over the region. Shortly after, the city of Hīt, another key urban center within the same governorate, was confirmed to have fallen entirely under the group's control. This loss further underscored the Islamic State's growing dominance in Al Anbar, heightening concerns over the security of nearby cities and the stability of the Iraqi government’s hold in the region.
Provinces within Iraq Province
There are 10 wilayahs within the Iraq province before they all merged into a singular Iraq Wilayah.
| Logo | Name | Native Name | Area | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anbar Wilayah | ولاية الانبار | in the area of Al Anbar Governorate | ||
| Badiyah Wilayah | ولاية البادية | in the Iraqi area of the Syrian Desert | ||
| Dayala Wilayah | ولاية ديالة | in the area of Diyala Governorate | ||
| Dijlah Wilayah | ولاية دجلة | in the Iraqi area of the Tigris | ||
| Jazirah Wilayah | ولاية الجزيرة | in the Iraqi area of Al-Jazira (caliphal province) | ||
| Janub Wilayah | ولاية جنوب | in the area of South Iraq | ||
| Karkuk Wilayah | ولاية كركوك | in the area of Kirkuk Governorate | ||
| Ninawa Wilayah | ولاية نينوى | in the area of Nineveh Governorate | ||
| North Baghdad Wilayah | ولاية شمال بغداد | in the area north of Baghdad Governorate | ||
| Saladhuddin Wilayah | ولاية صلاح الدين | in the area of Saladin Governorate |
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