Editing Fallujah (section)

=== Control by the Islamic State (2014–2016) ===
{{Main|Anbar clashes (2013–14)|Battle of Fallujah (2014)|Anbar campaign (2015–16)|Siege of Fallujah (2016)}}{{multiple image
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<!--image 1-->| image1            = Mosque in Fallujah.jpg
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| caption1          = January 2008
<!--image 2-->| image2            = Retaking Fallujah from ISIS by Iraqi Armed Forces and patriot militias (7).jpg
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| caption2          = June 2016
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In January 2014, a variety of sources reported that the city was controlled by [[al-Qaeda]] and/or the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIS; sometimes called ISIL).<ref name="Al Jazeera" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/01/04/al-qaeda-iraq-fallujah-ramadi/4317125/ |title=Al-Qaeda militants in Iraq seize much of Fallujah: The fighting is the worst violence since U.S. forces left Iraq at the end of 2011 |first=Jim |last=Michaels |work=[[USA Today]] |date=4 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619025819/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/01/04/al-qaeda-iraq-fallujah-ramadi/4317125/ |archive-date=19 June 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25605459 |title=Iraq conflict: Sunni fighters 'control all of Fallujah' |work=[[BBC News]] |quote=Al-Qaeda-linked militants now control the south of the city, a security source told the BBC. An Iraqi reporter there says tribesmen allied with al-Qaeda hold the rest of Fallujah. |date=4 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107055456/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25605459 |archive-date=7 January 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> On a broadcast of [[National Public Radio]]'s ''[[All Things Considered]]'', Middle East analyst [[Kirk Sowell]] stated that while ISIS was occupying parts of the city, most of the ground lost was to the tribal militias who are opposed to both the [[Iraqi government]] and al-Qaeda.<ref name="uoooqva">{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/01/04/259674015/no-one-controls-fallujah-which-u-s-soldiers-fought-to-free |title='No One Controls Fallujah,' Which U.S. Soldiers Fought To Free |first=Mike |last=Memmont |publisher=[[National Public Radio]] |date=4 January 2013 |access-date=4 January 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104222818/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/01/04/259674015/no-one-controls-fallujah-which-u-s-soldiers-fought-to-free |archive-date=4 January 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Fallujah outside Iraq government control: security official|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-04/243100-fallujah-outside-iraq-government-control-security-official.ashx#axzz2oNa3sbT8|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=4 January 2014|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703055732/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-04/243100-fallujah-outside-iraq-government-control-security-official.ashx#axzz2oNa3sbT8|archive-date=3 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> More than 100 people were killed as Iraqi police and tribesmen battled militants who took over parts of two cities on Anbar province.<ref>{{cite news|title=More than 100 die as Iraq battles Al-Qaeda|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-04/243086-more-than-100-die-as-iraq-battles-al-qaeda.ashx#axzz2oNa3sbT8|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=4 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025070231/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-04/243086-more-than-100-die-as-iraq-battles-al-qaeda.ashx#axzz2oNa3sbT8|archive-date=25 October 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On the same day, the [[Iraqi Army]] shelled the city of Fallujah with mortars to try to wrest back control from Sunni Muslim militants and tribesmen, killing at least eight people, tribal leaders and officials said. Medical sources in Fallujah said another 30 people were wounded in shelling by the army.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraq army shells Falluja to dislodge Qaeda, tribes|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-04/243100-fallujah-outside-iraq-government-control-security-official.ashx#axzz2oNa3sbT8|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=4 January 2014|access-date=4 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104212909/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-04/243100-fallujah-outside-iraq-government-control-security-official.ashx#axzz2oNa3sbT8|archive-date=4 January 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Despite various reports stating that ISIS was behind the unrest, ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' journalist Dan Murphy disputed this allegation and claimed that while ISIS fighters have maintained a presence in the city, various tribal militias who sympathized with the ideas of nationalism and were opposed to both the Iraqi government and the ISIS controlled the largest share of area in Fallujah.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/Backchannels/2014/0109/What-s-really-going-on-in-Iraq-s-Anbar-Province-video|title=What's really going on in Iraq's Anbar Province?|author=Dan Murphy|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=9 January 2013|access-date=11 January 2013|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110010617/http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/Backchannels/2014/0109/What-s-really-going-on-in-Iraq-s-Anbar-Province-video |archive-date=10 January 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A report from Al Arabiya also backed this claim and alleged that the relationship between the tribesmen and the ISIS militants was only logistical.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2014/01/14/Iraq-s-Anbar-is-religion-trumping-tribe-.html|title=Iraq's Anbar: is religion trumping tribe?|author=Theodore Karasik|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=14 January 2014|access-date=6 March 2014|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116070126/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2014/01/14/Iraq-s-Anbar-is-religion-trumping-tribe-.html|archive-date=16 January 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 14 January, various tribal chieftains in the province acknowledged "revolutionary tribesmen" were behind the uprising in Fallujah and other parts of Anbar and announced they would support them unless Maliki agreed to cease the ongoing military crackdowns on tribesmen.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140116085020/http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=126893 Anbar tribesmen voice opposition to Iraqi PM Maliki]}} World Bulletin.com, 14 January 2014</ref>

Speaking on condition of anonymity at the end of May 2014, an [[Al Anbar Governorate|Anbar]]-based Iraqi government security officer told [[Human Rights Watch]] that ISIS controlled several neighborhoods of southeast Fallujah as well as several northern and southern satellite communities, while local militias loyal to the [[Anbar Military Council]] controlled the central and northern neighborhoods of the city; however, Human Rights Watch stated that they could not confirm these claims.<ref name=HRW2014>{{cite web|title=Iraq: Government Attacking Fallujah Hospital: Barrel Bombs Hit Residential Areas|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/05/27/iraq-government-attacking-fallujah-hospital|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=11 June 2014|date=27 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531022746/http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/05/27/iraq-government-attacking-fallujah-hospital|archive-date=31 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Despite the discussion over which groups initially controlled the city, Fallujah was mostly referred to as under ISIL/ISIS control during the occupation.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/26/483592464/iraqi-forces-claim-victory-over-isis-in-fallujah Iraqi Forces Claim Victory Over ISIS In Fallujah] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118113135/http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/26/483592464/iraqi-forces-claim-victory-over-isis-in-fallujah |date=18 November 2016}}, npr.org, 26 June 2016</ref><ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/26/middleeast/falluja-liberated-isis/ Iraqi general: 'The battle for Falluja is over'] , cnn.com</ref>

[[File:The consequence of liberation of Fallujah from ISIL.jpg|thumb|Liberation of Fallujah by Iraqi Armed Forces, 28 June 2016|left]]After beginning a [[Anbar campaign (2015–16)|campaign to liberate Anbar Governorate from ISIL]] in July 2015, in February 2016, the Iraqi army and its allies started to encircle the city in the [[Siege of Fallujah (2016)|Siege of Fallujah]]. On 22 May 2016, ''Operation Breaking Terrorism'' was launched to recapture Fallujah,<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraqi-military-claims-advances-in-jihadist-held-fallujah/2016/05/23/45b266c6-20e6-11e6-b944-52f7b1793dae_story.html Iraqi military claims advances in Islamic State-held Fallujah] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524164534/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraqi-military-claims-advances-in-jihadist-held-fallujah/2016/05/23/45b266c6-20e6-11e6-b944-52f7b1793dae_story.html |date=24 May 2016}}, ''The Washington Post''</ref> marking the beginning of the [[Battle of Fallujah (2016)|Battle of Fallujah]]. On 22 May 2016, the Iraqi Army notified the remaining Fallujah residents of its plans to retake the city, and that such residents should either evacuate, or if not possible, to minimally raise a [[white flag]] over their roofs. Over the next several days, the army [[Battle of Fallujah (2016)|made advances on the city]], capturing several surrounding villages on the outskirts on the town, killing a total of ~270 ISIL fighters, at least 35 members of Iraqi forces,<ref name="Rudaw English">{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/250520161|title=Iraqi, allied militias advance on Fallujah; new tactics squeeze ISIS|work=Rudaw English|access-date=21 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629034332/http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/250520161|archive-date=29 June 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ~40 civilians,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/human-catastrophe-unfolds-as-iraqi-army-and-isis-clash-outside-fallujah_us_574d836de4b0dacf7ad55667?yptr=yahoo|title='Human Catastrophe' Unfolds As Iraqi Army And ISIS Clash Outside Fallujah|work=Huffington Post|access-date=21 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603151227/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/human-catastrophe-unfolds-as-iraqi-army-and-isis-clash-outside-fallujah_us_574d836de4b0dacf7ad55667?yptr=yahoo|archive-date=3 June 2016|df=dmy-all|date=31 May 2016}}</ref> and 1 [[Basij]] member, as of 1 June 2016.

On 30 May 2016, the military began to enter the city of Fallujah itself, but began to be stalled on 1 June, trying to attack ISIL members, but keeping the tens of thousands of civilians still trapped inside the city safe.<ref name="jaz">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/battle-fallujah-iraqi-troops-die-isil-attacks-160602040503487.html|title=Battle for Fallujah: Iraqi troops die in ISIL attacks|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201020853/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/battle-fallujah-iraqi-troops-die-isil-attacks-160602040503487.html|archive-date=1 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, by 3 June they began to make further advances on the city, killing 62 more ISIL militants. On 26 June, the Iraqi army reported that it had fully liberated the city, while fighting was ongoing in some pockets northwest of Fallujah which remained under ISIL control.<ref name="liberated">{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/world/iraq-claims-complete-control-over-fallujah-islamic-state-resistance-collapse/news-story/eb0c63789f33bb5479cb3b6a82343cd3 |title=Iraq claims complete control over Fallujah, Islamic State resistance collapse |publisher=News.com.au |date=26 June 2016 |access-date=27 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627140717/http://www.news.com.au/world/iraq-claims-complete-control-over-fallujah-islamic-state-resistance-collapse/news-story/eb0c63789f33bb5479cb3b6a82343cd3 |archive-date=27 June 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>