Four-Day War (21st Century Crisis)

Operation Salma (Arabic: عملية سلمى, French: opération Salma) also known as the Battle of Western Iraq (Arabic: معركة غرب العراق, French: Bataille de l'Irak de l'Ouest) was fought in western Iraq between March 30, 2013 to April 3, 2013. between Special Forces Units and Ground Forces of the North Syrian Army against combined forces of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Iranian volunteers and armed Iraqi militant groups such as the Iraq Freedom Brigade.

It was planned by North Syrians as four concurrent raids on military installations and settlements in Iraq's western regions.

The operation was a result of North Syrian suspicions of Iraqi activity near it's eastern borders, as well as the imprisonment and captivity of two North Syrian fighter pilots in Iraq and a North Syrian diplomat by the name of Salma Saraken which is one of the namesakes of the operation. Crown Prince Mustafa Abdul-Issam of the North Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded an explanation from the Iraqi government for its high military activity. However, Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi refused.

The NSHDS of North Syria demanded the release of the captives, but the Iraqi government offered no response. King Fahad stated that military action would ensue if the Iraqis did not give a reasonable response. The Iranian government backed Iraq, and warned the North Syrians not to interfere with Iraq's military wishes.

Several Iraqi armored brigades had begun to become visible by members of North Syria's eastern border guards.

The operations was an initial success for the North Syrians. The Royal Air Forces heavily bombarded and assaulted western Iraq, destroying most of the parked tanks and armored brigades. Afterwards, North Syrian armored brigades entered through, to clear out any remaining Iraqi armor. Shortly after, four concurrent ground assaults by the Special Forces began at midnight. Despite meeting heavy fire from the Iraqi forces, militant groups and Iranian expeditionary groups, the North Syrians fought their way through western Iraq.

The battle lasted for a total of four days, with Salma Saraken having been successfully rescued, one of the two North Syrian pilots rescued, the other having been killed and executed by the Iraqi army. The North Syrians also destroyed and demolished much of the military camps in western Iraq. They were soon picked up by helicopters as they retreated.

The victory was also a propaganda victory for North Syrian womens rights, at the fact the Special Forces Units were led by a woman.

Afterwards, the Iranians stated that they would take military action against North Syria.