Battle of Khanaqin

Date4 June 1916^{[note 1]}

Location

Khanaqin, Ottoman Empire

Result Ottoman victory

Battle of Khanaqin
Part of World War I and the Mesopotamian Campaign
Date 4 June 1916[note 1] Location Khanaqin, Ottoman Empire Result Ottoman victory
Belligerents
Russia	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Nikolai Baratov	Ali İhsan Bey
Units involved
5th Caucasus Army Corps	XIII Corps
Strength
15,000 infantry 7,500 cavalry	25,000[1]
Casualties and losses
>500 killed Many wounded	~400 killed

The Battle of Khanaqin was fought during World War I which took place in modern-day Iraq. This battle was the only Russian engagement fought by the Russian Army on the Mesopotamian Front of World War I.^[2] The battle likely took place on 4 June 1916,^[3] however, some sources state that it took place on 3 June 1916.^[4] Baghdad commander Khalil Pasha dispatched Ali İhsan Bey's XIII Corps to meet and drive the Russian force back from Khanaqin to prepare for a proposed invasion of Persia en route to attacking British rear positions. Before this battle, General Baratov previously attempted to capture Khanaqin on 7 May 1916.^[5] Although the Ottomans won the Battle of Khanaqin, the United Kingdom used the advantage of the distracted Ottoman forces to conquest Baghdad. After Ali İhsan Bey was called away from Khanaqin to return to Baghdad in February 1917 in an unsuccessful attempt to combat the invading British forces, the Russians occupied the city of Khanaqin.^[6]