Monday, August 31, 2015

Islamic State Continues With Car Bomb Campaign In Iraq


During the fourth week of August 2015 the security situation in Iraq was unchanged from the week before. The number of attacks and casualties were just about the same. The Islamic State (IS) continued with its latest car bomb campaign launching almost one hundred during the week. The government continued to push into Ramadi and fight for control of Baiji in Salahaddin, while the Kurds began a new campaign, which recaptured several towns in southern Kirkuk.

From August 22-28, 2015 there were 136 reported attacks. That was the exact same number as the week before. So far this month there has been an average of 19.9 attacks per day, almost exactly the same as July’s 19.6 average. There is always more violence in Iraq then what gets in the media.

Those incidents led to 342 killed and 296 wounded. The former consisted of 12 Sahwa, 19 Peshmerga, 32 Hashd al-Shaabi, 114 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and 165 civilians. The former was made up of 2 Hashd, 6 Sahwa, 29 Peshmerga, 73 ISF, and 186 civilians. The 638 total casualties were slightly below August 15-21’s 699. The number of dead and wounded is always undercounted in Iraq. There are many incidents that don’t get covered and the government is actively suppressing losses to maintain morale.

By province, there were 102 killed in Ninewa, 83 in Anbar, 73 in Salahaddin, 58 in Baghdad, 21 in Kirkuk, 4 in Babil, and 1 in Diyala. Usually the capital province leads the way in fatalities, but IS executions in Ninewa and heavy fighting in Anbar and Salahaddin made Baghdad fourth overall this week.

Violence In Iraq By Week 2015
Date
Incidents
Dead
Wounded
Jan 1-7
189
466
464
Jan 8-14
172
733
518
Jan 15-21
189
403
528
Jan 22-28
195
492
899
Jan 29-31
91
306
568
JAN
836
2,400
2,977
Feb 1-7
155
408
688
Feb 8-14
177
443
566
Feb 15-21
169
592
383
Feb 22-28
171
391
705
FEB
672
1,834
2,342
Mar 1-7
176
373
595
Mar 8-14
137
398
656
Mar 15-21
146
1,304
505
Mar 22-28
174
273
406
Mar 29-31
72
205
219
MAR
705
2,553 + 4
2,381 + 150
Apr 1-7
127
218
422
Apr 8-14
137
676
542
Apr 15-21
172
729
717
Apr 22-28
163
497
483
Apr 29-30
50
162 + 7
182 + 299
APR
649
2,282
2,346
May 1-7
154
627
450
May 8-14
154
420
549
May 15-21
124
963
387
May 22-28
108
341 + 1,499
348
May 29-31
38
66
164 + 646
MAY
578
2,417 + 1,499
1,898 + 646
Jun 1-7
132
431
476
Jun 8-14
126
522 + 405
394
Jun 15-21
141
365
373
Jun 22-28
162
306
474
Jun 29-30
61
122
189
JUN
622
1,804
2,012
Jul 1-7
161
435
719
Jul 8-14
140
384
570
Jul 15-21
109
359
597 + 4,024
Jul 22-28
145
527
590
Jul 29-31
53
453 + 8
603
JUL
608
2,166
3,079 + 4,024
Aug 1-7
154
650 + 760
298
Aug 8-14
132
726
645
Aug 15-21
136
345
354
Aug 22-28
136
324
296

Violence In Iraq August 2015 by Province
Provinces
Aug 1-7
Aug 8-14
Anbar
46 Incidents
76 Killed: 5 Hashd, 6 Sahwa, 22 ISF, 43 Civilians
42 Wounded: 5 Sahwa, 17 ISF, 20 Civilians
22 Shootings
4 IEDs
3 Suicide Car Bombs
2 Mortars
4 Suicide Bombers Killed
12 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
2 Car Bombs Destroyed
18 Incidents
45 Killed: 14 ISF, 31 Civilians
44 Wounded: 10 ISF, 34 Civilians
6 Shootings
2 IEDs
10 Suicide Bombers
6 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
6 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil
6 Incidents
5 Killed: 2 Sahwa, 3 Civilians
15 Wounded: 1 ISF, 2 Sahwa, 12 Civilians
3 IEDs
2 Sticky Bomb
10 Incidents
14 Killed: 4 ISF, 10 Civilians
26 Wounded: 5 ISF, 21 Civilians
3 Shootings
3 IEDs
2 Sticky Bombs
1 Car Bomb Destroyed
Baghdad
46 Incidents
57 Killed: 1 Sahwa, 3 ISF, 53 Civilians
154 Wounded: 1 Sahwa, 2 ISF, 151 Civilians
9 Shootings
22 IEDs
7 Sticky Bombs
2 Car Bombs
1 Rocket
3 Car Bombs Destroyed
48 Incidents
130 Killed: 130 Civilians
404 Wounded: 404 Civilians
11 Shootings
29 IEDs
2 Sticky Bombs
3 Car Bombs
8 Car Bombs Destroyed
Diyala
8 Incidents
15 Killed: 1 Hashd, 3 ISF, 11 Civilians
29 Wounded: 29 Civilians
1 Shooting
4 IEDs
2 Car Bombs
1 Mortar
11 Incidents
73 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 Sahwa, 5 ISF, 65 Civilians
123 Wounded: 123 Civilians
2 Shootings
1 IED
2 Suicide Car Bombs
1 Car Bomb
1 Mortar
Irbil
1 Incident
12 Killed: 3 PKK, 9 Civilians
13 Wounded: 13 Civilians
1 Turkish Air Strike
-
Kirkuk
7 Incidents
64 Killed: 7 ISF, 57 Civilians
2 Wounded: 2 Civilians
6 Shootings
1 Grenade
9 Incidents
31 Killed: 11 Civilians, 20 ISF
13 Wounded: 13 Civilians
4 Shootings
3 IEDs
1 Car Bomb
Ninewa
24 Incidents
374 Killed: 30 ISF, 344 Civilians + 760 Civilians
4 Wounded: 4 Civilians
12 Shootings
2 Rockets
18 Incidents
254 Killed: 13 Peshmerga, 241 Civilians
10 Wounded, 5 Peshmerga, 5 Civilians
6 Shootings
10 IEDs
2 Rockets
3 Mortars
Salahaddin
16 Incidents
47 Killed: 5 ISF, 8 Civilians, 34 Hashd
39 Wounded: 5 ISF, 34 Civilians
11 Shootings
3 IEDs
1 Sticky Bomb
1 Suicide Motorcycle Bomb
1 Suicide Bomber Killed
17 Incidents
49 Killed: 7 Hashd, 12 ISF, 30 Civilians
24 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 4 Sahwa, 10 ISF, 9 Civilians
11 Shootings
1 IED
1 Sticky Bomb
1 Suicide Motorcycle Bomb
12 Car Bombs
1 Mortar
1 Car Bomb Destroyed

Provinces
Aug 15-21
Aug 22-28
Anbar
24 Incidents
71 Killed: 22 ISF, 49 Hashd
23 Wounded: 23 ISF
12 Shootings
4 Suicide Car Bombs
2 Rockets
8 Suicide Bombers Killed
1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed
27 Car Bombs Destroyed
30 Incidents
83 Killed: 12 Sahwa, 35 ISF, 36 Civilians
71 Wounded: 6 Sahwa, 12 Civilians 53 ISF
11 Shootings
2 IEDs
6 Suicide Car Bombs
1 Mortar
2 Rockets
11 Suicide Bombers Killed
9 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
6 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil
7 Incidents
9 Killed: 1 ISF, 8 Civilians
23 Wounded: 9 ISF, 14 Civilians
3 Shootings
4 IEDs
4 Incidents
4 Killed: 4 Civilians
3 Wounded: 3 Civilians
1 Shooting
1 IED
Baghdad
35 Incidents
67 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 Sahwa, 3 ISF, 61 Civilians
237 Wounded: 3 Sahwa, 13 ISF, 221 Civilians
5 Shootings
21 IEDs
2 Sticky Bombs
4 Car Bombs
1 Mortar
48 Incidents
58 Killed: 13 ISF, 45 Civilians
163 Wounded: 10 ISF, 153 Civilians
12 Shootings
21 IEDs
8 Sticky Bombs
2 Car Bombs
1 Car Bomb Destroyed
Diyala
10 Incidents
8 Killed: 1 ISF, 2 Hashd, 5 Civilians
12 Wounded: 2 Hashd, 10 Civilians
2 Shootings
5 IEDs
2 Incidents
1 Killed: 1 Civilian
1 Shooting
6 Car Bombs Destroyed
Irbil
2 Incidents
29 Killed: 29 PKK
-
Karbala
1 Incident
1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed
-
Kirkuk
11 Incidents
26 Killed: 1 Peshmerga, 25 Civilians
3 Wounded: 3 Civilians
2 Shootings
1 IED
1 Car Bomb
1 Rockets
15 Incidents
21 Killed: 2 Hashd, 3 ISF, 11 Peshmerga
34 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 8 ISF, 24 Peshmerga
5 Shootings
2 IEDs
1 Motorcycle Bomb
1 Suicide Car Bomb
1 Rocket
Ninewa
15 Incidents
76 Killed: 21 Peshmerga, 55 Civilians
1 Wounded: 1 Peshmerga
3 Shootings
4 Mortars
3 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
15 Incidents
102 Killed: 8 Peshmerga, 47 ISF, 47 Civilians
13 Wounded: 5 Peshmerga, 8 Civilians
5 Shootings
3 IEDs
1 Mortar
Salahaddin
31 Incidents
59 Killed: 3 ISF, 17 Civilians, 39 Hashd
55 Wounded: 16 Civilians, 39 Hashd
14 Shootings
5 IEDs
1 Suicide Car Bomb
2 Car Bombs
1 Mortar
11 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
98 Car Bombs Destroyed
22 Incidents
73 Killed: 16 ISF, 30 Hashd, 27 Civilians
12 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 2 ISF, 9 Civilians
15 Shootings
4 IEDs
2 Suicide Bombers Killed
61 Car Bombs Destroyed

Car Bombs In Iraq, August 2015
Date
Location
Dead
Wounded
Aug 1
Saqqara, Anbar – 8 destroyed


Aug 2



Aug 3



Aug 4
Balladries, Diyala
7
10
Aug 5
? x3, Anbar
Sadr City x2, Baghdad
Khalkis, Diyala
Anbar Unit, Saqlawiya, South of Fallujah, Anbar – 6 destroyed
Amiriya, Husseiniya & Sadiya, Baghdad – 3 destroyed
32
40
Aug 6



Aug 7



Totals
7 & 17 Destroyed
39
50
Aug 8
Ramadi, Anbar – 4 destroyed
Amiriya, Baghdad – 1 dismantled


Aug 9
Abadi, Mukhayb, Tal Al-Mushahid, Anbar – 4 destroyed


Aug 10
Howaider & Kanaan, Diyala
Baghdad – 7 destroyed
63
101
Aug 11
Samarra, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed


Aug 12
New Baghdad & Shomook, Baghdad
Khalis, Diyala
10
40
Aug 13
Sadr City, Baghdad
East Husaiba & Saqlawiya, Anbar – 2 destroyed
Mahawil, Babil – 1 destroyed
76
221
Aug 14
Yarmouk, Kirkuk
Baiji x 12, Salahaddin
Albu Jassim, Anbar – 2 destroyed
3
4
Totals
19 & 22 Destroyed
152
366
Aug 15
Habibiya & Shuhada, Baghdad
Salam Bridges, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed
17
75
Aug 16
Outside Fallujah x4, Anbar
Jisr Diyala, Baghdad
Husaiba, Anbar – 1 destroyed
Ajeel & Baiji, Salahaddin – 3 destroyed
20
28
Aug 17
Habibiya, Baghdad
5 Kilo & Ramadi, Anbar – 4 destroyed
Gwar, Ninewa – 3 destroyed
Albu Jwari, Durr Tal Abu Jarad & Baiji, Salahaddin – 56 destroyed
15
35
Aug 18
Asri, Salahaddin
Albu Athea, Garma & Humaira, Anbar – 12 destroyed
Ain al-Tamur, Karbala – 1 destroyed
Tal Abu Jarad, Salahaddin – 5 destroyed
21
4
Aug 19
Kirkuk, Kirkuk
Baiji, Salahaddin
Baiji & Tal Abu Jarad, Salahaddin – 16 destroyed
12
2
Aug 20
Hawish, Salahaddin
Albu Athea & Zaqareed, Anbar – 10 destroyed
Baiji, Salahaddin – 28 destroyed

27
Aug 21
Ramadi, Anbar – 1 destroyed


Totals
12 & 141 Destroyed
85
171
Aug 22



Aug 23
Albu Haya, Baghdadi, Haditha, Outside Fallijah – 4 destroyed


Aug 24
35 Kilo x3, Anbar
Baghdadi, Anbar – 4 destroyed
8
6
Aug 25
Southeast of Ramadi
Southeast of Ramadi – 1 destroyed
Zafaraniya, Baghdad – 1 destroyed
Baiji, Salahaddin – 60 destroyed
13
7
Aug 26
Shuhada, Baghdad
Albu Shajal, Garma, Husaiba – 5 destroyed
Hamrin Mountains, Diyala – 6 destroyed
2
9
Aug 27
North x2, Anbar
Kirkuk-Debas Road, Kirkuk
Albu Metairai – 1 destroyed
Baiji & Samarra Island, Salahaddin – 2 destroyed
8
18
Aug 28
Zafaraniya, Baghdad
6
10
Totals
9 & 84 Destroyed
37
50

After taking one day off on August 22, the Islamic State launched 93 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) during the week. 84 of those were destroyed before reaching their target. IS has been using the vast majority of these bombs to repel the on going security offensives in Anbar, which had a total of 21 car bombs, and in Salahaddin with 62. Another 6 were destroyed in Diyala, two went off in Baghdad and one was dismantled, and another suicide bomber exploded in Kirkuk. All of those together led to 37 deaths and 50 wounded, but the real numbers are likely higher.

The government’s plans for Anbar appeared to be disjointed during the week. There was continued news of progress in Ramadi where the joint forces pushed into more of the city’s suburbs. At the same time, new security operations were announced in the west around Haditha, Hit, and Baghdadi. There was another offensive in Garma predating all of these as well, which has been deadlocked for months now. Baghdad only has roughly half the forces it used to attack Tikrit committed to Fallujah-Ramadi, which has led to constant problems holding territory it has cleared. For example, another operation in East Husaiba was reported on August 25, the fifth since July. Sending forces out to the west only increases these manpower difficulties.

In Diyala, a new operation was started to clear the insurgent base of the Hamrin Mountains. 30 villages were said to have been freed in the process. This area has never been firmly under government control leading to these sweeps. After the offensives are over, the militants move right back in.

The Peshmerga attacked the Daquq district of southern Kirkuk province during the week. Press reports had them freeing fourteen villages. The operation was meant to help bolster the defense of Kirkuk city. 11 Peshmerga were killed and 24 reportedly injuring as a result. This was a rather rare occurrence as the Kurds have dug into their positions and showed no real motivation to move forward having captured most of the disputed territories they seek to annex.

IS continued with its executions in Ninewa. During the week, 86 people were killed in Mosul, Qayara, and Issa. That included members of the security forces, a reporter, three lawyers, and nine people accused of being homosexuals.

The ISF and Hashd were still trying to take back lost ground in Baiji and the refinery there. The amount of propaganda being dispensed by those groups often makes it difficult to determine whether real progress is being made there or not. For example, on July 2 90% of the district was supposedly cleared but IS still held 60% of the refinery. By July 21 the center of Baiji town was reached along with the northern section of the refinery. Despite those advances the joint forces said that it was now in control of 85% of the area. Two days later a Hashd spokesman claimed it had 80% of the refinery, but then Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) contradicted that by saying only 40% of the facility was cleared. Finally, by the end of July all but one neighborhood was declared freed in Baiji town. After that IS counter attacked to try to draw forces away from the Anbar operation. Early in August IS took back several neighborhoods and surrounding towns, forcing AAH to send in reinforcements. Despite these setbacks the joint forces continued to claim that they were advancing with a series of contradictory announcements. For example, the Baiji Refinery went from 40% cleared to 60% to 70% at the beginning of August down to 50% towards the end of the month. Similarly 80%-90% of the district was claimed freed with only three neighborhoods of the town still under insurgent control, only to have reports putting that figure at only half of Baiji being under government control. This is all part of the victory narrative being promoted by government forces, which continually exaggerate their accomplishments. On the other hand, IS has consistently used attacks in Salahaddin to distract Baghdad away from its real goal, which is the taking of Anbar. The government played right into the insurgent’s hands with Prime Minister Abadi saying that taking Baiji was crucial in the war against IS and Hashd elements sending in more forces to retake the area during August. In fact, Baiji has lost its value after IS destroyed most of the facility after Ramadi was taken in May. There are questions of whether the facility will ever be used again. Despite that, Baghdad continues to throw forces into the area whenever IS threatens it, which will not end as the group controls the surrounding towns. The district has already changed hands several times, something that will continue into the foreseeable future.

SOURCES

Abdul-Zahra, Qassim, “Iraq PM says defense of refinery town crucial to IS defeat,” Associated Press, 8/25/15
- "Iraq's top Shiite cleric says government must show nation it's seeking genuine change," Associated Press, 8/28/15
- "Iraqi officials say 2 army generals killed in Islamic State suicide bombing in Anbar province," Associated Press, 8/27/15
- "Iraqi PM says defense of refinery town crucial to IS defeat," Associated Press, 8/25/15
- "Suicide attacks against Iraqi security outpost kill 8," Associated Press, 8/24/15

Al Mada, "Freed 30 villages in security operation in the Hamrin mountains northeast of Baquba," 8/29/15
- "Killing and injuring five police officers from the Oil Police including an officer in a car bomb northwest of Kirkuk," 8/27/15
- "The killing of seven members of Daash including four car bombs in western Anbar," 8/24/15
- "Popular Crowd confirms freeing 80% of the Baiji refinery and stresses: We need reinforcements," 7/23/15
- "Security forces dismantle a car bomb southeast Baghdad," 8/25/15
- "Toll rises northwest of Kirkuk in bombing to 11 dead and wounded and the arrest of 19 suspects," 8/27/15

Mamoun, Abdelhak, "Kurdish Peshmerga and Anti-Terrorism forces liberate 7 villages south of Kirkuk," Iraqi News, 8/26/15
- "Peshmerga liberates villages of Albu-Najam and tel al-Basel south of Kirkuk," Iraqi News, 8/26/15

Al Masalah, "Brigade announces Baiji nearly fully purged," 7/22/15
- "League of the Righteous: Arrival of reinforcements to Baiji to resolve the battle there," 8/16/15
- "Obeidi: Baily fully liberated except for one neighborhood," 7/30/15
- "Popular crowd: We control 90% of Baiji," 8/25/15

New Sabah, "Extensive preparations for the liberation of Baiji refinery and adjacent areas," 8/15/15
- "Security file," 8/25/15
- "Security file," 8/26/15

NINA, "/18/ Terrorists killed, /20/ others injured in Albu Shajal area north of Fallujah," 8/26/15
- "An armored destroyed and killed those in it fro the terrorists in al-Qarma," 8/26/15
- "A cache and a cannon to Daash elements destroyed in the operation of cleaning the island of Samarra," 8/27/15
- "Federal Police Kill 6 Terrorists In Ramadi," 8/25/15
- "The joint security forces continue to liberate the Island of Samarra from Daash dens," 8/22/15
- "A number of terrorists killed in al-Qarma," 8/27/15
- "The Security Forces Kill A Suicide Bomber West Of Anbar," 8/23/15
- "Three policemen killed and seven others wounded in southern outskirts of Baghdad," 8/28/15
- "Two people killed, nine others wounded in southwest Baghdad," 8/26/15

Qassim, Abdul Zahra, "Iraq PM says defense of refinery town crucial to IS defeat," Associated Press, 8/25/15

Al Rafidayn, "Popular crowd leading. Our fighters fought off more than sixty car bombs in Baiji," 8/25/15

Al Rayy, "The destruction of a tank bomb aimed at a convoy loaded with food in Baghdadi," 8/23/15
- "Killing of five terrorists and the destruction of a bulldozer bomb on the outskirts of Fallujah," 8/23/15
- "Popular crowd move into area north of Husaybah city and destroy three car bombs," 8/26/15
-"The Security forces and popular crowd move towards the north of Baiji refinery," 7/21/15

Rudaw, "Iraqi forces recapture Samara, kill 150 ISIS," 8/21/15

Sarhan, Amre, "Iraqi security forces repel ISIS attack west of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 8/25/15
- "Security forces destroy 2 boast for ISIS, kill 9 militants west of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 8/22/15

Shafaq News, "13 ISIS elements killed and control regained on Baiji's Deputy Governor's building," 8/27/15
- "16 Iraqi security elements killed in ISIS progress in Baiji," 8/3/15
- "Car bomb explosion targeted Kirkuk oil company workers causes casualties," 8/27/15
- "ISIS controls three new areas in Baiji," 8/15/15
- "ISIS dismantles the thermal energy devices in Baiji and transfers them to Reqqa," 8/6/15
- "ISIS penetrates five areas in Baiji," 8/8/15
- "New deployment of Iraqi forces and ISIS in Baiji after Sunday's attacks," 7/6/15
- "Nine months of fierce fighting turned Baiji to rubble..and details of the methods used by Daash," 8/5/15
- "Security forces and fighters of PMU begin to liberate west of Hit Anbar process," 8/24/15
- "Security operation for the Liberation of al-Baghdadi outskirts starts," 8/24/15
- "Sources: Half of Baiji is controlled by ISIS , we lost 17 elements of our forces," 8/24/15
- "Sources: Most of Baiji neighborhoods re-controlled from ISSI except three regions," 8/23/15
- "We made a special plan for the Liberation of Baiji refinery plan , League of the Righteous says," 7/25/15

Sotaliraq, "The destruction of a car driven by a suicide bomber west Anbar," 8/23/15
- "Joint Operations announces its control over 80% of Baiji," 8/16/15

Today's Zaman, "Iraqi forces say most of Baiji town recaptured from ISIL," 7/2/15

Xinhua, "Kurdish troops launch offensive against IS in northern Iraq," 8/26/15

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