Casualties continued their downward trend in Iraq during the
4th week of March 2015. The number of dead and wounded has gone down
each week of the month. That was despite a slight increase in attacks. On the
battlefront fighting remained stalemated in Anbar. Diyala saw a large jump in
violence, some of which might have been by the Hashd al-Shaabi forces. The
Kurds continued their push south into Kirkuk, and the Iranian-Hashd plan for
Tikrit failed as Baghdad asked for Coalition air strikes. The government forces
have regained the initiative in the war, but the fighting shows how hard it
will be to clear the insurgents out of their strongholds.
During the 4th week of March there were 170
reported attacks. That was up from 141 the week before. So far there have been
a total of 616 incidents, which means that March will likely end up with
roughly the same number as February when there were 655. Since there were fewer
days in March however, that means the average number of attacks per day will
likely be lower. So far there has been 22.0 attacks per day for March, down
from 23.3 in February.
As usual, almost all of the violence was concentrated in the
middle of the country. Baghdad led the way with 58 attacks. Then there were 34
in Anbar, 29 in Diyala, 24 in Ninewa, 16 in Salahaddin, 6 in Babil, two in
Kirkuk, and one in Basra.
Casualties have been decreasing each week of March. The
first week there were 372 deaths, followed by 348 the second, 299 the third,
and 235 the fourth. The number of wounded did not follow such a straight line
going from 587 the first week to 656 the next, before dropping to 503 the third
and 406 the fourth. Like attacks, casualties have been declining as well. There
have been 1,254 fatalities so far leading to an average of 44.7 per day, and
2,152 injured or 76.8 per day. In February there were 61.7 killed and 95.8
wounded. At the same time the real numbers are always higher than what gets reported in the press. There have been some very high figures mentioned for the fighting in Tikrit for example.
The 235 dead broke down to 1 peshmerga, 1 sahwa, 7 Hashd, 22
Iraqi Security Forces, and 204 civilians. The 406 wounded were made up of 1
peshmerga, 3 sahwa, 51 ISF, and 320 civilians.
By province Baghdad led the way again with 86 fatalities.
There were 50 dead in Anbar, 39 in Salahaddin, 32 in Diyala, 19 in Ninewa, 4
each in Babil and Kirkuk, and one in Basra.
Violence
In Iraq By Week Jun. 2014-2015
Date
|
Incidents
|
Dead
|
Wounded
|
Jun 1-7
|
228
|
612
|
1,020
|
Jun 8-14
|
234
|
1,889
|
890
|
Jun 15-21
|
177
|
804
|
755
|
Jun 22-28
|
207
|
740
|
800
|
Jun 29-30
|
59
|
127
|
236
|
JUN
|
905
|
4,172
|
3,701
|
Jul 1-7
|
203
|
526
|
651
|
Jul 8-14
|
214
|
577
|
628
|
Jul 15-21
|
230
|
444
|
1,009
|
Jul 22-28
|
224
|
589
|
801
|
Jul 29-31
|
66
|
163
|
230
|
JUL
|
937
|
2,299
|
3,319
|
Aug 1-8
|
270
|
1,122
|
885
|
Aug 9-14
|
180
|
710
|
1,152
|
Aug 15-21
|
150
|
731
|
499
|
Aug 22-28
|
156
|
523
|
798
|
Aug 29-31
|
59
|
125
|
289
|
AUG
|
815
|
3,211
|
3,623
|
Sep 1-7
|
169
|
616
|
751
|
Sep 8-14
|
168
|
467
|
731
|
Sep 15-21
|
170
|
625
|
794
|
Sep 22-28
|
157
|
396
|
576
|
Sep 29-30
|
49
|
126
|
287
|
SEP
|
713
|
2,230
|
3,139
|
Oct 1-7
|
175
|
456
|
687
|
Oct 8-14
|
189
|
560
|
880
|
Oct 15-21
|
159
|
499
|
780
|
Oct 22-28
|
160
|
346
|
596
+ 1,230
|
Oct 29-31
|
72
|
574
|
227
|
OCT
|
755
|
2,434
|
3,170 + 1,230
|
Nov 1-7
|
154
|
611
|
828
|
Nov 8-14
|
134
|
470
|
607
|
Nov 15-21
|
139
|
323
|
479
|
Nov 22-28
|
139
|
321
|
640
|
Nov 29-30
|
40
|
206
|
535
|
NOV
|
606
|
1,931
|
3,089
|
Dec 1-7
|
148
|
581
|
482
|
Dec 8-14
|
156
|
233
+ 166
|
444
+ 1,113
|
Dec 15-21
|
133
|
377
|
340
|
Dec 22-28
|
161
|
558
|
494
|
Dec 29-31
|
91
|
117
|
233
|
DEC
|
689
|
2,032
|
3,106
|
Jan 1-7
|
184
|
434
|
464
|
Jan 8-14
|
170
|
730
|
493
|
Jan 15-21
|
182
|
390
|
515
|
Jan 22-28
|
189
|
466
|
894
|
Jan 29-31
|
90
|
288
|
529
|
JAN
|
815
|
2,308
|
2,895
|
Feb 1-7
|
155
|
380
|
688
|
Feb 8-14
|
170
|
406
|
559
|
Feb 15-21
|
165
|
573
|
364
|
Feb 22-28
|
165
|
371
|
687
+ 386
|
FEB
|
655
|
1,730
|
2,683
|
Mar 1-7
|
172
|
372
|
587
|
Mar 8-14
|
133
|
348
|
656
|
Mar 15-21
|
141
|
299
|
503
|
Mar 22-28
|
170
|
235
|
406
|
Violence
By Province In Iraq March 2015
Province
|
Mar 1-7
|
Mar 8-14
|
Anbar
|
24 Incidents
71 Killed: 22 ISF, 31 Sahwa, 18
Civilians
77 Wounded: 31 ISF, 46 Civilians
14 Shootings
1 IED
1 Suicide Car Bomb
3 Mortars
1 Rocket
|
23 Incidents
58 Killed: 34 ISF, 1 Sahwa, 23
Civilians
147 Wounded: 26 ISF, 8 Sahwa, 113
Civilians
7 Shootings
1 IED
24 Suicide Car Bombs
1 Rocket
3 Mortars
|
Babil
|
5 Incidents
8 Killed: 1 Hashd, 7 Civilians
13 Wounded: 2 Hashd, 11 Civilians
1 Shooting
3 IEDs
1 Sticky Bomb
|
4 Incidents
8 Killed: 1 ISF, 7 Civilians
33 Wounded: 4 ISF, 29 Civilians
4 IEDs
1 Car Bomb
|
Baghdad
|
56 Incidents
75 Killed: 7 ISF, 4 Hashd, 5
Sahwa, 59 Civilians
229 Wounded: 16 ISF, 13 Sahwa, 16
Hashd, 184 Civilians
15 Shootings
30 IEDs
6 Sticky Bombs
1 Car Bomb
3 Mortars
2 Rockets
|
47 Incidents
88 Killed: 5 ISF, 83 Civilians
245 Wounded: 10 ISF, 1 US Soldier,
234 Civilians
15 Shootings
25 IEDs
4 Sticky Bombs
2 Car Bombs
1 Mortar
|
Basra
|
5 Incidents
4 Killed: 4 Civilians
3 Shootings
1 Sticky Bomb
|
-
|
Diyala
|
13 Incidents
17 Killed: 3 Hashd, 14 Civilians
23 Wounded: 3 ISF, 4 Hashd, 16
Civilians
6 Shootings
3 IEDs
3 Sticky Bombs
1 Car Bomb
|
2 Incidents
3 Killed: 2 ISF, 1 Civilian
3 Wounded: 3 ISF
1 Shooting
1 IED
|
Kirkuk
|
1 Incident
1 Killed: 1 ISF
1 Shooting
|
12 Incidents
103 Killed: 1 ISF, 23 Hashd, 26
Peshmerga, 53 Civilians
105 Wounded: 10 ISF, 5 Hashd, 87
Peshmerga, 3 Civilians
8 Shootings
1 IED
1 Suicide Bomber
4 Car Bombs
1 Mine
|
Ninewa
|
31 Incidents
120 Killed: 2 ISF, 118 Civilians
12 Wounded: 12 Civilians
17 Shootings
11 IEDs
|
20 Incidents
18 Killed: 1 ISF, 17 Civilians
10 Wounded: 1 Peshmerga, 9
Civilians
12 Shootings
5 IEDs
|
Salahaddin
|
37 Incidents
76 Killed: 24 ISF, 28 Hashd, 24
Civilians
233 Wounded: 54 ISF, 122 Hashd, 57
Civilians
18 Shootings
14 IEDs
1 Suicide Bomber
6 Suicide Car Bombs
1 Car Bomb
3 Mortars
|
25 Incidents
70 Killed: 61 ISF, 3 Hashd, 6
Civilians
113 Wounded: 98 ISF, 6 Hashd, 9
Civilians
9 Shootings
12 IEDs
3 Suicide Bombers
3 Suicide Car Bombs
|
Province
|
Mar
15-21
|
Mar
22-28
|
Anbar
|
20 Incidents
50 Killed: 5 ISF, 45 Civilians
80 Wounded: 8 ISF, 72 Civilians
9 Shootings
2 Suicide Bombers
3 Suicide Car Bombs
4 Mortars
2 Rockets
|
34 Incidents
50 Killed: 6 ISF, 44 Civilians
74 Wounded: 14 ISF, 60 Civilians
21 Shootings
3 Suicide Bombers
7 Suicide Car Bombs
5 Mortars
1 Rockets
|
Babil
|
5 Incidents
4 Killed: 2 ISF, 2 Civilians
10 Wounded: 6 ISF, 2 Hashd, 2
Civilians
3 Shootings
1 IED
1 Sticky Bomb
|
6 Incidents
4 Killed: 4 Civilians
17 Wounded: 3 ISF, 2 Hashd, 12
Civilians
1 Shooting
4 IEDs
1 Sound Bomb
|
Baghdad
|
51 Incidents
74 Killed: 6 ISF, 1 Sahwa, 1
Hashd, 66 Civilians
254 Wounded: 21 ISF, 5 Sahwa, 228
Civilians
13 Shootings
34 IEDs
4 Sticky Bombs
|
58 Incidents
86 Killed: 4 ISF, 1 Sahwa, 1
Hashd, 80 Civilians
241 Wounded: 17 ISF, 3 Sahwa, 221
Civilians
15 Shootings
27 IEDs
6 Sticky Bombs
1 Suicide Bomber
3 Car Bombs
1 Mortar
3 Rockets
|
Basra
|
1 Incident
12 Killed: 12 Civilians
30 Wounded: 30 Civilians
1 Truck Bomb
|
1 Incident
1 Killed: 1 Civilian
1 Shooting
|
Diyala
|
7 Incidents
5 Killed: 5 Civilians
4 Shootings
3 IEDs
|
29 Incidents
32 Killed: 1 ISF, 31 Civilians
7 Wounded: 4 ISF, 3 Civilians
14 Shootings
11 IEDs
1 Sticky Bomb
|
Irbil
|
1 Incident
1 Rocket
|
-
|
Kirkuk
|
8 Incidents
24 Killed: 20 Peshmerga, 1 Hashd,
3 Civilians
59 Wounded: 50 Peshmerga, 8 Hashd,
1 Civilian
6 Shootings
2 IEDs
|
2 Incidents
4 Killed: 4 Civilians
2 Shootings
|
Maysan
|
1 Incident
1 Killed: 1 ISF
1 Shooting
|
-
|
Ninewa
|
19 Incidents
37 Killed: 12 Peshmerga, 25
Civilians
9 Shootings
4 IEDs
|
24 Incidents
19 Killed: 7 ISF, 12 Civilians
14 Shootings
19 IEDs
1 Mortar
1 Rockets
|
Salahaddin
|
28 Incidents
92 Killed: 48 ISF, 6 Hashd, 38
Civilians
70 Wounded: 23 ISF, 26 Hashd, 21
Civilians
15 Shootings
6 IEDs
3 Suicide Bombers
2 Suicide Car Bombs
1 Mortar
1 Rocket
|
16 Incidents
39 Killed: 4 ISF, 1 Peshmerga, 6
Hashd, 28 Civilians
67 Wounded: 13 ISF, 1 Peshmerga,
29 Hashd, 24 Civilians
9 Shootings
7 IEDs
|
Car
Bombs In Iraq March 2015
Date
|
Location
|
Dead
|
Wounded
|
Mar 1
|
|||
Mar 2
|
East
of Samarra, Salahaddin
|
4
|
|
Mar 3
|
South
of Tikrit, Salahaddin
|
4
|
12
|
Mar 4
|
|||
Mar 5
|
Abu
Dishir, Baghdad
Alam
& Tal Ksaiba x3, Salahaddin
|
7
|
37
|
Mar 6
|
|||
Mar 7
|
Bastan,
Anbar
Bani
Saad, Diyala
Tuz
Kharmato, Salahaddin
|
13
|
47
|
Total
|
10
|
28
|
96
|
Mar 8
|
Zoba,
Anbar
Mahmudiya,
Babil
Jamila,
Baghdad
|
10
|
32
|
Mar 9
|
Mullah
Ali x3, Kirkuk
|
5
|
30
|
Mar 10
|
Mullah
Abdullah, Kirkuk
Baiji,
Salahaddin
|
2
|
16
|
Mar 11
|
Ramadi
x17, Anbar
Hurriya,
Baghdad
Diom,
Salahaddin
|
29
|
79
|
Mar 12
|
Saqlawiya,
Anbar
|
3
|
5
|
Mar 13
|
Diom,
Salahaddin
|
6
|
11
|
Mar 14
|
Ramadi
x5, Anbar
|
11
|
14
|
Total
|
34
|
66
|
187
|
Mar 15
|
Ramadi,
Anbar
|
5
|
7
|
Mar 16
|
|||
Mar 17
|
Ramadi,
Anbar
|
||
Mar 18
|
Um
Qasr, Basra
|
12
|
30
|
Mar 19
|
|||
Mar 20
|
Huiysh,
Salahaddin
|
6
|
|
Mar 21
|
Ramadi,
Anbar
Thar
Thar, Salahaddin
|
2
|
8
|
Total
|
6
|
19
|
51
|
Mar 22
|
|||
Mar 23
|
Husseiniya,
Madain, Sadr City, Baghdad
|
12
|
31
|
Mar 24
|
Garma,
Japanese Bridge, Khalidiya, Anbar x7
|
1
|
14
|
Mar 25
|
|||
Mar 26
|
|||
Mar 27
|
|||
Mar 28
|
|||
Total
|
10
|
13
|
45
|
After a huge surge in Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive
Devices (VBIEDs) the second week of March the number has evened out. There were
ten the first week, six the third week, and ten the fourth. From March 22-28
all the car bombs occurred on just two days the 23 and 24. On the former there were
three in Baghdad hitting Husseiniya, Madain, and Sadr City, and seven the next
day in Garma, the Japanese Bridge, and Khalidiya all in Anbar.
Anbar remains the only province where the Islamic State
continues to mass its forces and carry out major attacks. During the fourth
week of March there was fighting throughout central and southern Ramadi as
there has been for over a year now. Howaz was the main district under dispute,
but the downtown area has also seen heavy fighting. The government forces have
been focused upon re-taking Garma since March 5. Since then the center of the
town has been surrounded but no move has been made to take it for several days
now. Like Tikrit, it appears that either the ISF and tribes lack the manpower
to take the downtown or will maintain or cordon and wait for the insurgents to
be degraded over time. The struggle there and in Ramadi show the back and forth
nature of the conflict in Anbar. Many of these areas have changed hands several
times in the fifteen months since open fighting began there, and will continue
to do so until the central government commits more forces there.
Diyala saw a large jump in incidents from 7 from March 15-21
to 29 from March 22-28. Most of these attacks occurred in the center of the
province from Baquba to Muqtadiya. The town of Zagnah saw violence four out of
the seven days. While the insurgents were responsible for the vast majority of
the casualties, Iraq
Oil Report found that Hashd al-Shaabi groups might have been carrying out
attacks as well. For instance, Hashd forces were blamed for blowing up a house
and executing four people on March 25, and then blowing up two houses in
Jazeera on March 27. The Hashd claimed that the Islamic State did some of these
attacks, some were done by rogue elements, and some were against supporters of
the insurgents. Since Badr Organization head Hadi Ameri is in charge of
security in the province, nothing will likely be done about these claims.
The Kurds continued their offensive in southern Kirkuk
during the week. Twelve
villages were cleared as a result. The ultimate goal is to free Hawija,
which is the IS stronghold in the province. Otherwise there has been hardly any
violence in the province throughout the month with only two reported incidents
during the week.
In Ninewa IS continued it rule by fear, while carrying out
harassing attacks upon the peshmerga. During the week 19 people were executed
in Mosul, Qayara and Shura including five soldiers, two police and a reporter.
IS also attacked Kurdish positions in Sinjar three times, Khazar twice, and
then smaller towns in the Makhmour area as well. Otherwise the battlefield has
not much changed in the governorate in the last few months.
The big news in Iraq during the week was that the stall in
the Tikrit operation led the government of Haider Abadi to request
U.S. air strikes. The Hashd and Iran planned the taking of Tikrit as a sign
that they could take a major Iraqi city without American assistance. While there
was steady progress initially, when the center of the city was reached, the
advance halted for several days due to the defenses arrayed by the insurgents
and mounting casualties. The ISF are now in the lead, which was part of the
agreement to begin Coalition missions, while several Hashd forces said they
would no longer participate as long as the Americans were involved. They does
not mean they have withdrawn, but rather they are holding their positions
around the city. Taking Tikrit may take many more days, but it is only a matter
of time since there is only a small force of IS fighters defending it.
SOURCES
Al-Atbi, Adam and Van Heuvelen, Ben, “Militias oversee
spiking violence in Diyala,” Iraq Oil Report, 3/29/15
Bas News, "Peshmerga Frees 12 Villages in Southern
Kirkuk," 3/22/15,
Iraq
Times, "A third car bomb explosion in Madain south of Baghdad,"
3/23/15
Radio
Free Iraq, "24 March 2015," Daily Updates from Anbar, 2/24/15
Salama,
Vivina, "Iraq Officials: Baghdad Bombings Kill 19; Wound 36,"
Associated Press, 3/23/15
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