The operation follows the Mosul offensive in 2015, which successfully recaptured parts of the region northwest of Mosul, but stopped short of breaching the city itself, for various reasons.
Operasi ini menyusul serangan Mosul pada 2015, yang berhasil merebut kembali bagian dari wilayah barat laut Mosul, namun dihentikan tiba-tiba saat menerobos kota tersebut, karena berbagai alasan.