The rivalry between Assyria and Urarṭu, a contest for supremacy over large areas of the Near East was difficult and prolonged. Even if open war between the two powers is attested only for the years 715 and 714,[[2]] there is reason to believe that the strife between the two kingdoms lasted from the beginning of Sargon's reign till its very end.[[3]] This long conflict affected the whole border area between Assyria and Urarṭu, from west to east.
2 Generally, cf. Lie Sar. p. 18: 103-106 for year 715; pp. 22-28: 127-165 for 714. For the latter, see naturally also Sargon's letter to the god Aššur (TCL 3).
3 Note the attempt to obtain Urarṭian support by the Kummuhian Mutallu (Winckler Sar. p. 116: 112f), who was eliminated in 709 (thirteenth year of Sargon: Lie Sar. p. 79:467ff).
Giovanni B. Lanfranchi
Giovanni B. Lanfranchi, 'The War with Urarṭu', The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part II: Letters from the Northern and Northeastern Provinces, SAA 5. Original publication: Helsinki, Helsinki University Press, 1990; online contents: SAAo/SAA05 Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2020 [http://oracc.org/saao/saa05/warwithurartu/]