The Northern Iraq offensive began Process_start on 4 June 2014 , when the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ( ISIL ; sometimes referred Statement to as the Islamic State ( IS ) ) and aligned forces began Process_start a major offensive in northern Iraq against the Iraqi government , following earlier clashes that had begun Process_start in December 2013 .

The Islamic State ( IS ) called Name_conferral the battles of Mosul and Saladin `` the Battle of the Lion of God al-Bilawi , '' ( ) in honor of Abu Abdulrahman al-Bilawi .