Heavy Fighting Continues In Iraq’s Anbar And Salahaddin

Most of the violence in Iraq for the fourth week of October 2015 was concentrated in just three central provinces. Three-quarters of all attacks took place in Anbar, Salahaddin and Baghdad. In the first two the government had major offensives going on, and Baghdad remains a prime target of the Islamic State.

There were 131 security incidents reported in Iraq from October 22-28. There were 40 in Baghdad, 39 in Salahaddin, 20 in Anbar, 11 in Ninewa, 9 in Diyala, and 5 each in Kirkuk and Babil. The number of attacks has been at the same level since May when there were an average of 19.3 per day compared to 18.6 from October 1-28. While media coverage of attacks often goes up and down they are probably the best measure for the security situation in Iraq right now, as so many casualties are now being kept secret by the authorities.

During the week there were 216 deaths and 366 wounded. 12 Peshmerga, 44 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), 47 Hashd al-Shaabi, and 112 civilians died and 10 Peshmerga, 35 ISF, 74 Hashd, and 247 civilians were injured. One U.S. soldier was also killed during a raid in Kirkuk. Broken down by province there were 63 fatalities in Ninewa, 56 in Baghdad, 50 in Anbar, 34 in Salahaddin, 8 in Diyala, 4 in Babil, and 1 in Kirkuk.

Violence In Iraq By Week 2015

Date	Incidents	Dead	Wounded
Jan 1-7	205	466	464
Jan 8-14	177	733	518
Jan 15-21	193	403	528
Jan 22-28	197	492	899
Jan 29-31	91	306	568
JAN	862	2,400	2,977
Feb 1-7	159	408	688
Feb 8-14	178	443	566
Feb 15-21	175	592	383
Feb 22-28	178	391	730
FEB	690	1,834	2,367
Mar 1-7	186	373	595
Mar 8-14	156	398	656
Mar 15-21	170	1,304	505
Mar 22-28	186	273	406
Mar 29-31	76	205	219
MAR	775	2,553 + 4	2,381 + 150
Apr 1-7	130	218	422
Apr 8-14	140	674	531
Apr 15-21	175	729	717
Apr 22-28	167	497	483
Apr 29-30	51	162 + 7	182 + 299
APR	662	2,287	2,335
May 1-7	159	627	450
May 8-14	161	420	549
May 15-21	127	963	387
May 22-28	114	341 + 1,499	348
May 29-31	38	66	164 + 646
MAY	599	2,417 + 1,499	1,898 + 646
Jun 1-7	133	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	623	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	193 + 260	203
JUL	608	2,166	3,079 + 4,024
Aug 1-7	154	650 + 760	298
Aug 8-14	133	756	640
Aug 15-21	135	345	354
Aug 22-28	136	342	296
Aug 29-31	59	112 + 5	169
AUG	617	2,205 + 760	1,757
Sep 1-7	139	285	352
Sep 8-14	144	368	394
Sep 15-21	123	323	488
Sep 22-28	128	190	258
Sep 29-30	39	106 + 19	147 + 8
SEP	573	1,291 + 314	1,647 + 3,003
Oct 1-7	105	292	398
Oct 8-14	145	254	389
Oct 15-21	142	208	279
Oct 22-28	131	216	366

Security by Province Oct 2015

Provinces	Oct 1-7	Oct 8-14
Anbar	12 Incidents 72 Killed: 2 ISF, 70 Civilians 3 Wounded: 3 ISF 4 Shootings 2 IEDs 1 Suicide Bomber Killed 1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed 10 Car Bombs Destroyed	19 Incidents 26 Killed: 1 Hashd, 3 ISF, 22 Civilians 28 Wounded: 3 Hashd, 12 Civilians, 13 ISF 5 Shootings 4 IEDs 2 Mortars 1 Artillery 16 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 10 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil	7 Incidents 4 Killed: 1 ISF, 3 Civilians 26 Wounded: 4 ISF, 22 Civilians 5 IEDs	6 Incidents 7 Killed: 2 ISF, 5 Civilians 36 Wounded: 5 ISF, 31 Civilians 1 Shooting 4 IEDs 1 Car Bomb 1 Grenade
Baghdad	48 Incidents 94 Killed: 4 ISF, 90 Civilians 241 Wounded: 13 ISF, 228 Civilians 13 Shootings 24 IEDs 3 Sticky Bombs 24 IEDs 3 Sticky Bombs 2 Suicide Car Bombs 2 Car Bombs 1 Suicide Bomber Killed	58 Incidents 69 Killed: 1 ISF, 1 Hashd, 2 Sahwa, 65 Civilians 196 Wounded: 3 Hashd, 3 Sahwa, 5 ISF, 185 Civilians 16 Shootings 28 IEDs 8 Sticky Bombs 1 Grenade 1 Stabbing 1 Rockets
Basra	3 Incidents 11 Killed: 11 Civilians 30 Wounded: 30 Civilians 1 Shooting 1 Sound Bomb 1 Car Bomb	1 Incident 1 Sticky Bomb
Diyala	4 Incidents 40 Killed: 40 Civilians 75 Wounded: 75 Civilians 1 Shooting 1 Car Bomb 1 Car Bomb Destroyed	8 Incidents 38 Killed: 1 ISF, 1 Hashd, 36 Civilians 58 Wounded: 58 Civilians 2 IEDs 4 Mortars 1 Car Bomb Destroyed
Kirkuk	13 Incidents 10 Killed: 10 Civilians 16 Wounded: 2 Peshmerga, 14 Civilians 5 Shootings 4 IEDs 2 Rockets	4 Incidents 12 Killed: 2 ISF, 10 Civilians 1 Shooting 1 IED
KRG	-	2 Incidents 35 Killed: 35 PKK 2 Turkish Air Strikes
Maysan	-	1 Incident 1 Killed: 1 Civilian 1 Shooting
Ninewa	6 Incidents 49 Killed: 7 Peshmerga, 42 Civilians 3 Shootings	9 Incidents 39 Killed: 4 Peshmerga, 35 Civilians 1 Wounded: 1 Peshmerga 6 Shootings
Qadisiyah	-	1 Incident 1 Killed: 1 Civilian 1 Sticky Bomb
Salahaddin	12 Incidents 11 Killed: 1 ISF, 10 Civilians 7 Wounded: 1 Civilian, 6 ISF 7 Shootings 2 IEDs 1 Mortar	35 Incidents 26 Killed: 6 ISF, 8 Hashd, 12 Civilians 69 Wounded: 13 Hashd, 22 Civilians, 34 ISF 10 Shootings 11 IEDs 1 Suicide Bomber 5 Suicide Car Bombs 11 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 7 Car Bombs Destroyed

Provinces	Oct 15-21	Oct 22-28
Anbar	28 Incidents 12 Killed: 3 Civilians, 3 Hashd, 6 ISF 8 Wounded: 3 Hashd, 5 Civilians 5 Shootings 1 Mortar 1 Rockets 2 Car Bombs 14 Suicide Bombers Killed 7 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 23 Car Bombs Destroyed	21 Incidents 50 Killed: 1 Civilian, 6 ISF, 43 Hashd 52 Wounded: 3 ISF, 6 Civilians, 43 Hashd 9 Shootings 3 Suicide Car Bombs 1 Mortar 20 Suicide Bombers Killed 2 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 22 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil	9 Incidents 9 Killed: 3 ISF, 6 Civilians 35 Wounded: 14 ISF, 21 Civilians 1 Shooting 6 IEDs 2 Car Bombs 1 Car Bomb Destroyed	5 Incidents 4 Killed: 1 Civilian, 3 ISF 18 Wounded: 3 Hashd, 6 Civilians, 9 ISF 1 Shooting 5 IEDs
Baghdad	50 Incidents 48 Killed: 2 Sahwa, 46 Civilians 149 Wounded: 4 Sahwa, 145 Civilians 10 Shootings 29 IEDs 4 Sticky Bombs 1 Grenade 1 Mortar 1 Car Bomb Destroyed	41 Incidents 56 Killed: 1 Hashd, 3 ISF, 52 Civilians 169 Wounded 3 Hashd, 10 ISF, 156 Civilians 7 Shootings 20 IEDs 4 Sticky Bombs 2 Suicide Bombers 1 Grenade 2 Stabbings 1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed
Basra	1 Incident 1 IED	-
Diyala	18 Incidents 16 Killed: 1 ISF, 15 Civilians 21 Wounded: 21 Civilians 3 Shootings 6 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 5 Mortars	9 Incidents 8 Killed: 2 Hashd, 6 Civilians 10 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 9 Civilians 3 Shootings 2 IEDs 3 Mortars
Kirkuk	9 Incidents 24 Killed: 1 ISF, 1 Hashd, 22 Civilians 1 Wounded: 1 Peshmerga 3 Shootings 2 IEDs 1 Mine	5 Incidents 1 Killed: 1 U.S. Soldier 1 Wounded: 1 Civilian 2 Shootings
Ninewa	4 Incidents 15 Killed: 5 Civilians, 10 ISF 2 Shootings 11 IEDs	11 Incidents 63 Killed: 8 ISF, 12 Peshmerga, 43 Civilians 10 Wounded: 10 Peshmerga 3 Shootings 1 RPG 1 Grenade 2 Rockets
Salahaddin	23 Incidents 84 Killed: 1 ISF, 18 Hashd, 65 Civilians 65 Wounded: 3 ISF, 25 Civilians, 37 Hashd 6 Shootings 5 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 1 Mortar 4 Suicide Bombers Killed 3 Suicide Motorcycle Bombers Killed 1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed 10 Car Bombs Destroyed	39 Incidents 34 Killed: 1 Hashd, 9 Civilians, 24 ISF 106 Wounded: 13 ISF, 24 Hashd, 69 Civilians 10 Shootings 10 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 1 Suicide Bomber 3 Suicide Car Bombs 2 Car Bombs 3 Mortars 1 Rockets 4 Suicide Bombers Killed 5 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 21 Car Bombs Destroyed

In Anbar there were fewer advances announced by the joint forces than previous weeks. There was a second operation in Albu Gleb outside Ramadi after it was cleared at the start of the month. Baghdadi in western Anbar was declared secured finally after several sweeps through the area, and there was another operation in Husaiba to the east of Ramadi. Finally a halt to take back Garma was announced on October 25. The government has been struggling to capture the city in western Anbar since March. The Islamic State’s main response to these offensives has been to unleash a huge number of suicide and car bombs. During the week 20 suicide bombers were killed, and 25 car bombs destroyed. Three truck bombs did hit the joint forces.

History of Security Operations Oct 22-28, 2015 Since Start Of Anbar Offensive In July

Albu Gleb	Baghdadi	Garma	Husaiba
Oct 7 Cleared	Jul 30 Operation	Jul 13 West cleared	Jul 13 Center cleared
Oct 8 Operation	Aug 24 Operation	Jul 22 Cleared	Jul 18 Center reached
Oct 23 Operation	Sep 25 Operation	Aug 11 70% of District cleared	Jul 19 Cleared
	Oct 1 Operation	Aug 29 Operation	Jul 20 Center cleared
	Oct 16 East cleared	Sep 26 Operation	Jul 27 Center cleared
	Oct 27 Cleared	Oct 18 Central operation	Jul 29 Operation
		Oct 19 35% central Garma cleared	Aug 16 Operation
		Oct 25 Operation stopped	Aug 17 Cleared
			Aug 31 Operation
			Sep 10 Operation
			Sep 13 Center cleared
			Sep 15 Operation
			Oct 27 Operation

For the second week in a row southern Baghdad had the most security incidents. There were 14 there, 11 in the East, 9 in the north, and 7 in the west. Also for another week there were no car bombings in the province, although one was destroyed in the west. Baghdad has been a favorite target of the Islamic State, but added security for the Ashura ceremonies might have been a deterrent. At the same time, that wasn’t enough to stop 2 suicide bombers, 4 sticky bombs, and 20 IEDs from exploding.

Violence In Baghdad Oct 22-28, 2015

East: 11 – 1 Kidnapping, 1 Stabbing, 3 Robberies, 3 Shootings, 3 IEDs

North: 7 – 1 Grenade, 2 Sticky Bombs, 2 IEDs, 2 Suicide Bombers

Outer North: 2 – 1 Shooting, 1 IED

South: 8: 1 Sticky Bomb, 2 Shootings, 5 IEDs

Outer South: 6 – 1 Stabbing, 5 IEDs

West: 6 – 1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed, 1 Kidnapping, 1 Sticky Bomb, 3 IEDs

Outer West: 1 – 1 IED

In Diyala, IS continued to rain down mortars on Abu Saida and Mukhisa. This indirect fire began last week and continued into the fourth week of October. There were three such attacks during the week.

The Islamic State executed 51 people in Mosul, Hamam al-Aleel and Qayara in Ninewa. That included a professor, five sheikhs, and 8 policemen. The group also fired rockets onto Peshmerga positions killing 12 and wounding 10, and made two forays into Sinjar that were turned back.

In Salahaddin the joint forces were still mopping up in Baiji and the areas immediately north of there. The thermal power plant in Baiji was cleared on October 25, as well as Fatah and the Makhoul Mountains. Fatah has actually been fought over since the start of the year in earlier operations to clear Baiji. Like in Anbar IS has launched a wave of suicide and car bombs to stave off the government’s forces. There were 5 suicide bombers, four of which were killed, and 31 car bombs, 25 of which were destroyed.

There have been 20 straight days of vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) from October 9 to October 28. During the fourth week only 8 out of 59 car bombs reached their targets but took a heavy toll of 53 people killed and 129 wounded. All of those successful bombings took place in Anbar and Salahaddin with one against people going to Ashura ceremonies and the rest against the joint forces.

Car Bombs In Iraq, October 2015

Date	Location	Dead	Wounded
Oct 1
Oct 2
Oct 3	Hurriya & Kadhimiya x2, Baghdad Ramadi & Rashad, Anbar – 7 destroyed	29	74
Oct 4	Subhait, Anbar – 1 destroyed
Oct 5	Husseiniya, Baghdad Zubayr, Basra Khalis, Diyala Bawih, Diyala – 1 destroyed	63	124
Oct 6
Oct 7	Ramadi, Anbar – 3 destroyed
Totals	6 – 12 Destroyed	92	198
Oct 8
Oct 9	Garma, Anbar – 2 destroyed
Oct 10	Tarmiya, Salahaddin Husaiba, north of Ramadi & Thar Thar, Anbar – 15 destroyed	3	10
Oct 11	Albu Jilab, Anbar Univ, Ramadi, Anbar – 8 destroyed Baquba, Diyala – 1 destroyed
Oct 12	Mahmudiya, Babil Baiji x4, Salahaddin North of Ramadi, Anbar – 1 destroyed	3	30
Oct 13	Baiji & Siniya, Salahaddin – 8 destroyed
Oct 14	West of Baiji & Siniya, Salahaddin – 10 destroyed
Totals	6 – 45 Destroyed	6	40
Oct 15	Albu Aetha & Albu Faraj, Anbar – 7 destroyed Baiji & Siniya, Salahaddin – 2 destroyed
Oct 16	Baghdadi, Anbar – 3 destroyed
Oct 17	Baghdadi & Thar Thar, Anbar – 2 destroyed Jbala, Babil – 1 destroyed Sheikh Hamad, Baghdad – 1 destroyed Sukariat, Salahaddin – 3 destroyed
Oct 18	Albu Faraj, Albu Risha, Garma, Anbar – 4 destroyed Siniya, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed
Oct 19	Yusifiya x2, Babil Baghdadi & Hit, Anbar – 3 destroyed Siniya, Salahaddin – 3 destroyed	2	12
Oct 20	Albu Jalib, Amiriya, East Husaiba, Anbar – 6 destroyed Baiji, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed
Oct 21	Albu Gleb & Amiriya Fallujah, Anbar Albu Gleb, Amiriya Fallujah & ?, Anbar – 4 destroyed Baiji Refinery, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed	6
Totals	4 - 42 Destroyed	8	12
Oct 22	Tuz Kharmato, Salahaddin Makhoul, Salahaddin – 2 destroyed	3	42
Oct 23	?, Anbar – 2 destroyed Baiji & Makhoul, Salahaddin – 6 destroyed	5	12
Oct 24	Jeraishi, Anbar Tarmiya x2, Salahaddin Amiriyah Fallujah Garma & Subaihat, Anbar – 3 destroyed Sharif Abbas, Salahaddin – 2 destroyed	8	25
Oct 25	Albu Aetha & Albu Aziz, Anbar Amiriyah Fallujah, Anbar – 9 destroyed	25	34
Oct 26	Baghdadi, Anbar – 2 destroyed Baiji, Salam & Siniya, Salahaddin – 11 destroyed
Oct 27	Thar Thar, Salahaddin Anbar Univ, Baghdadi, Garma & Thar Thar, Anbar – 9 destroyed	2	10
Oct 28	Hawish, Salahaddin Hawish & Thar Thar, Salahaddin – 5 destroyed	10	6
Totals	8 – 51 Destroyed	53	129

SOURCES

AIN, "The destruction of two car bombs and improvised devices in continuation to clear Baiji," 10/23/15

Alsumaria, "Security forces repel the biggest attack by Daash at Anbar University," 10/27/15

- "Suicide bulldozer bomb destroyed in Garma area," 10/28/15

Al Mada, "Death and injury of 16 members of the joint forces repelling a Daash attack east of Tikrit," 10/28/15
- "The joint forces cleared two areas northwest of Ramadi and killed dozens of Daash," 10/23/15, - "Killing and injuring 26 people in a suicide bombing targeting a Hasinia convoy in Tuz," 10/22/15

 -"The killing and wounding of 20 Daash members in Garma and Baghdad," 10/24/15

- "The killing of ten members of the joint forces in a Daash car bombing in Samarra," 10/28/15

- "Security forces repel Daash attack north of Salahuddin and kill dozens of the organization," 10/22/15

Mamoun, Abdelhak, "11 security elements killed, wounded in suicide attack north of Baghdad," Iraqi News, 10/25/15

- "Federal Police kills 10 terrorists, destroys ISIS headquarters in Anbar," Iraqi News, 10/27/15,

New Sabah, "Security file," 10/27/15

NINA, "Dozens Of Daash Killed, Five Armored Bulldozers 10 Nests Destroyed In Baiji," 10/26/15

- "Federal Police Chief: Makhoul Mountains in Baiji Fully Cleansed," 10/27/15,

- "PDF Detonate Two Car Bombs South Of Samarra," 10/28/15

- "PDF Liberates Fatah Area In Baiji," 10/22/15,

- "The thermal power station in Baiji liberated completely," 10/25/15,

Al Rayy, "Baghdad Operations announces foiling a suicide attack and exploding the materials under control in different parts of the capital," 10/24/15

- "The destruction of two cars bombs and three Daash headquarters in Anbar," 10/23/15

- "Dismantling ambulance bomb in al-Baghdadi," 10/27/15

- "Foiled a suicide attack by Daash gangs in Amiriyat al-Fallujah," 10/24/15

- "Popular crowd: the destruction of two car bombs in the Thar Thar desert," 10/28/15

Shafaq News, "10 dead from the security forces in ISIS attack by suicide bombers north of Samarra," 10/28/15

- "Dead and wounding in a suicide bombing north of Baghdad," 10/25/15

- "Iraqi forces seize booby-trap workshop in Siniya," 10/24/15

- "Tuz: the outcome of the bombing of the Husseini convoy rises to about 45 dead and wounded," 10/22/15

Sotaliraq, "The bombing of an improvised explosive device factory and the dismantling of six booby trapped houses west of Ramadi," 10/26/15

- "The dismantling of nine car bombs in Amiriyah Fallujah," 10/25/15

- "Four armed vehicles set to bomb Baiji," 10/23/15

Xinhua, "25 killed in 2 suicide bombings in Iraq's Anbar," 10/25/15

- "30 IS militants killed in air strikes, clashes in Iraq's Anbar," 10/24/15