Battle of Tal Afar (2005)

Battle of Tal Afar
Part of the Iraq War
U.S. Army soldiers and Iraqi soldiers patrolling through downtown Tal Afar, Iraq, September 11, 2005.
Date September 1–18, 2005 Location Tal Afar, Iraq Result American-Iraqi tactical victory
Belligerents
United States Iraq	Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Commanders and leaders
H. R. McMaster Khursheed Saleem Daski	Amir Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Mawli al-Salbi[1]
Strength
5,000 3,500	Unknown
Casualties and losses
4 killed[2] 15 killed[3]	163 killed 440–700 captured[3][4]

The Battle of Tal Afar also known as Operation Restoring Rights^[5] was a military offensive conducted by the United States Army and supported by Iraqi forces, to eliminate Al Qaeda in Iraq and other insurgents in the city of Tal Afar, Iraq in response to the increase of insurgent attacks against U.S. and Iraqi positions in the area and to end the brutal tactics against the population by the terrorists.^[5] Coalition Forces consisted of 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment,^[5] elements of the 82nd Airborne Division,^[4] and two brigades of the Iraqi 3rd Division, all were under the command of Col. H.R. McMaster. AQI had used the city as a staging ground for moving foreign fighters into Iraq since early 2005.^[6] The city was temporarily cleared for elections in 2005, but was not secured in a long-term view.

The offensive was launched on September 1, 2005, in a joint United States Army and the New Iraqi Army operation to destroy suspected insurgents' havens and base of operations in Tal Afar. The initial fighting was heavy, but most of the city was secured on September 3. Sporadic fighting and attacks would continue through most of September until the operation was declared finished on September 18.