Kifri was known to have oil as early as the 1820s. Kifri, which was also known as Salahiye during the Ottoman era, was part of the Ottoman Empire until the United Kingdom captured the town in April 1918 during the Mesopotamian campaign. During the capture, 565 Ottoman prisoners and one mountain gun were captured. The local Kurds were supportive of the British and were described as very hostile to the Ottomans. Britain briefly lost control over the town for two days during the revolt of 1920 to the local tribes. Captain G. H. Salmon was killed during the tribal takeover.