Northern Iraq offensive (2016)

Target entity: Northern Iraq offensive (2016)
Context triple: [Battle of Mosul (2016–2017), precededBy, Northern Iraq offensive (2016)]

• A. Samarra offensive
  The Samarra offensive was a World War I campaign on the Mesopotamian front in 1917, in which Ottoman and British forces fought for control of the strategically important city of Samarra in present-day Iraq.
• B. Battle of Mosul (2016–2017)
  The Battle of Mosul (2016–2017) was a major military campaign in which Iraqi and coalition forces recaptured Iraq’s second-largest city from the Islamic State, marking a decisive turning point in the fight against the group.
• C. ISIL 2014 offensive in northern Syria
  The ISIL 2014 offensive in northern Syria was a major campaign by the Islamic State group to seize territory and strategic towns across northern Syria, setting the stage for subsequent battles such as the siege of Kobani.
• D. Idlib offensive
  The Idlib offensive was a major military campaign in northwestern Syria involving government forces, rebel groups, and foreign actors, centered on control of the last significant opposition-held stronghold during the Syrian Civil War.
• E. Operation Euphrates Shield
  Operation Euphrates Shield was a Turkish-led military intervention launched in northern Syria in 2016 to push back ISIS and limit Kurdish militia influence along Turkey’s border.
• F. None of above. chosen
• G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.

Target entity: Northern Iraq offensive (2016)
Target entity description: The Northern Iraq offensive (2016) was a series of Iraqi and allied military operations aimed at recapturing territory from ISIS in northern Iraq in the lead-up to the Battle of Mosul.

• A. Samarra offensive
  The Samarra offensive was a World War I campaign on the Mesopotamian front in 1917, in which Ottoman and British forces fought for control of the strategically important city of Samarra in present-day Iraq.
• B. Battle of Mosul (2016–2017)
  The Battle of Mosul (2016–2017) was a major military campaign in which Iraqi and coalition forces recaptured Iraq’s second-largest city from the Islamic State, marking a decisive turning point in the fight against the group.
• C. ISIL 2014 offensive in northern Syria
  The ISIL 2014 offensive in northern Syria was a major campaign by the Islamic State group to seize territory and strategic towns across northern Syria, setting the stage for subsequent battles such as the siege of Kobani.
• D. Idlib offensive
  The Idlib offensive was a major military campaign in northwestern Syria involving government forces, rebel groups, and foreign actors, centered on control of the last significant opposition-held stronghold during the Syrian Civil War.
• E. Operation Euphrates Shield
  Operation Euphrates Shield was a Turkish-led military intervention launched in northern Syria in 2016 to push back ISIS and limit Kurdish militia influence along Turkey’s border.
• F. None of above. chosen