2015 Northern Iraq offensive (Vladimir's Scenario)

In January 2015, forces of the new Al-Amjad government in Iraq began an offensive against Islamic State extremists in the north and west of the country. The reorganized Iraqi Army was successful, aided by the Syrian Arab Air Force and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Militants were driven from Iraq and to the Syrian border, where the Syrian Armed Forces were already pushing militants to from the southern and central regions of Syria.

January 2015
As the Al-Maliki government was ousted last month after protests in Baghdad, he was replaced as the prime minister of Iraq by the Iraqi nationalist politician Al-Amjad, who reorganized the Iraqi Army1 and began a campaign to spread Iraqi patriotism amongst the people. The newly reformed Army successfully attacked cities held by the Islamic State militants (formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS) in the Anbar province, retaking much lost territory. The militants were demoralized but continued holding on to much of northern Iraq.

February 2015
The city of Tikrit falls to the Iraqi Army after an occupation by Islamic State militants. The fighting lasts for six days before the city is liberated. Iraqi troops advance to the outskirts of Kirkuk, where a siege of the city begins.