Thursday, December 17, 2015

Security In Iraq, Dec. 8-14, 2015


The second week of December saw a rise in attacks and casualties in Iraq as the religious ceremonies ended and things went back to normal. The previous week saw the lowest number of dead and wounded for the year due to the heavy deployment of security forces during Arbaeen. With that over violence returned to its regular pace.

There were 128 security incidents mentioned in the papers from December 8-14. That was up from 118 the week before, but comparable to the last several months. Baghdad led the nation with 52 attacks, along with 23 in Salahaddin, 19 in Anbar, 18 in Ninewa, 7 in Kirkuk, 6 in Babil, 2 in Diyala, and 1 in Qadisiyah.

That led to 246 reported deaths and 248 wounded. There were 20 Sahwa, 23 Peshmerga, 25 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), 33 Hashd, and 145 civilians killed during the week, along with 2 Sahwa, 11 Peshmerga, 23 Hashd, 34 ISF, and 178 civilians injured. The real figures are always higher than what gets into the press.

Anbar had 74 dead, followed by 64 in Ninewa, 62 in Baghdad, 20 in Salahaddin, 17 in Kirkuk, 8 in Babil, and 1 in Diyala.

There were continued advances into Ramadi. The southern Tamim district was declared cleared for the second time in a week. There was also a push into the Malab, Aramil and 60th Street areas, also in the south. The northern section of the Anbar Operations Command center was freed, and there were also clearing operations in the north from the Qasim to Palestine Bridges. It’s said that there are now 400 Islamic State fighters left in the city center. There are still weeks more of fighting until it is liberated, but the end is definitely in sight.

The problem as ever is IS re-infiltration of the surrounding areas. There is still fighting in Khalidiya Island, East Husaiba and Husaiba, which has gone on for months despite them being called freed over and over again. When Ramadi is finally cleared IS fighters are likely to move right into their old neighborhoods from these towns destabilizing the city one more time.

The Garma operation in northeastern Anbar is stalled again. It was halted and then restarted in the middle of November, but has shown no real progress since the start of the year when it was originally initiated.

The Islamists also mounted a large counter attack in Ramadi and launched a wave of car bombs in the area. On December 12 three suicide car bombs hit the Stadium and 60th Street areas killing 31 and wounding 20 ISF and Hashd, along with an attack upon Aramil. IS also attempted over a dozen suicide and car bombs in places like Albu Faraj and Albu Diab around Ramadi. These types of incidents have not been able to stop the joint forces from moving forward however.

For another week southern Baghdad saw the most security incidents. There were 19 attacks there including 1 sticky bomb, 5 shootings, and 13 IEDs. That was followed by 13 incidents in the north, 10 in the east, 5 in the west, 3 in the center and 2 in unknown parts of the province.

Security Incidents In Baghdad Dec 8-14
Center: 3 – 1 Car Bomb Dismantled, 2 IEDs
East: 9 – 1 Suicide Bomber, 1 Beheading, 1 Stabbing, 1 Sticky Bomb, 1 IED, 4 Shootings
Outer East: 1 – 1 IED
North: 11 – 1 Robbery, 2 Kidnappings, 3 Sticky Bombs, 5 IEDs
Outer North: 2 – 1 Shooting, 1 IED
South: 12 – 1 Sticky Bomb, 3 Shootings, 8 IEDs
Outer South: 7 – 2 Shootings, 5 IEDs
West: 4 – 1 Kidnapping, 1 Shooting, 1 Sticky Bomb, 1 IED
Outer West: 1 – 1 IED
Unknown: 2 – 2 Kidnappings

Kirkuk witnessed a wave of kidnappings during the second week of December. There were five people taken in four different incidents in the provincial capital city. Two officials from the Oil Ministry’s Inspector General’s office in charge of investigating corruption were assassinated in the city as well. These incidents point to the lawlessness that has grown in parts of Iraq during this period of instability. To top it off IS executed 15 people in the Riyad district.

Ninewa saw a mix of IS executions and attacks upon the Peshmerga. The militants executed 24 people in Mosul, Badush and Hamam al-Aleel including a doctor, a judge, a teacher, two former candidates, three professors, three soldiers and 12 imams and sheikhs. At the same time the organization launched six attacks upon the Kurds including six car bombs and two mortar attacks that left 23 Peshmerga dead and 11 wounded. IS usually makes some probes of the Kurdish lines, but this was a large escalation from that regular routine.

There were scattered attacks throughout Salahaddin. There were continued flare ups at that Ajeel and Alas oil fields. The Shirqat district in the north is the last IS stronghold in the province and is now threatened after Baiji was taken. IS launched three car bombs there, which were destroyed. Tarmiya in the south just outside of Baghdad had its usual mix of shootings and bombings. Ishaqi saw three suicide bombers who were killed and one that hit a checkpoint. The joint forces are still trying to free the Makhoul Mountains to the northeast of Baiji and a security sweep was made of the Hamrin Mountains as well. After Baiji was liberated IS has been thrown onto the defensive in Salahaddin, but still has networks throughout the province as shown by all of these incidents.

Finally, the second week of December was more proof that the Islamic State’s car bomb campaign has finally come to an end. There were just 37 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) during the week. There were 36 the week before. That compared to previous weeks when there were over 50. Despite the drop off the group was more effective with these devices compared to previous periods. There were 11 successful VBIEDs compared to none the week before, and 9 in all of November. Anbar had the most car bombs with 26. There were also 6 in Ninewa, 4 in Salahaddin, and 1 in Baghdad. Out of those 10 hit their targets in Anbar and one did so in Ninewa with the other 26 being destroyed.

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Violence In Iraq By Week 2015
Date
Incidents
Dead
Wounded
Jan 1-7
205
466
464
Jan 8-14
176
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
774
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
663
2,280
2,335
May 1-7
159
627
450
May 8-14
161
420
549
May 15-21
128
963
387
May 22-28
115
341 + 1,499
348
May 29-31
38
66
164 + 646
MAY
601
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 + 58
189 + 106
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 + 400
JUL
608
2,158
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
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
291
398
Oct 8-14
144
254
389
Oct 15-21
142
208
279
Oct 22-28
129
216
366
Oct 29-31
49
110
116 + 1
OCT
569
1,079
1,549
Nov 1-7
125
186
316
Nov 8-14
121
265
354
Nov 15-21
140
358
420
Nov 22-28
107
289
261 + 124 + 1,322
Nov 29-30
37
52 + 24
103 + 1
NOV
530
1,174
1,455 + 124 + 1,322
Dec 1-7
118
158
249
Dec 8-14
128
246
248

Security By Province Dec 2015
Province
Dec 1-7
Dec 8-14
Anbar
18 Incidents
13 Killed: 3 ISF, 10 Civilians
16 Wounded: 4 ISF, 12 Civilians
3 Shootings
1 Suicide Bomber
20 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
12 Car Bombs Destroyed
19 Incidents
74 Killed: 10 ISF, 15 Civilians, 19 Sahwa, 30 Hashd
38 Wounded: 19 ISF, 19 Hashd
4 Shootings
1 IED
10 Suicide Car Bombs
3 Suicide Bombers Killed
7 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
9 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil
7 Incidents
8 Killed: 8 Civilians
18 Wounded: 5 ISF, 13 Civilians
2 Shootings
4 IEDs
1 Sticky Bomb
6 Incidents
8 Killed: 1 Sahwa, 7 Civilians
9 Wounded: 2 Sahwa, 7 Civilians
2 Shootings
3 IEDs
1 Sticky Bomb
Baghdad
46 Incidents
44 Killed: 1 ISF, 1 Hashd, 42 Civilians
153 Wounded: 21 ISF, 132 Civilians
8 Shootings
28 IEDs
5 Sticky Bombs
1 Bicycle Bomb
1 Mortar
4 Suicide Bombers Killed
52 Incidents
62 Killed: 2 Hashd, 4 ISF, 56 Civilians
155 Wounded: 10 ISF, 145 Civilians
11 Shootings
25 IEDs
6 Sticky Bombs
1 Suicide Bomber
1 Car Bomb Destroyed
Basra
2 Incidents
2 Wounded: 2 Civilians
1 Shooting
1 IED
-
Diyala
2 Incidents
1 Killed: 1 Hashd
6 Wounded: 3 ISF, 3 Hashd
1 Shooting
2 IEDs
2 Incidents
1 Killed: 1 Civilian
3 Wounded: 3 Hashd
2 IEDs
Karbala
1 Incident
1 Shooting
5 Suicide Bombers Killed
-
Kirkuk
6 Incidents
9 Killed: 1 Hashd, 8 Civilians
3 Wounded: 1 Civilian, 2 Hashd
2 Shootings
1 Mortar
7 Incidents
17 Killed: 17 Civilians
2 Wounded: 2 Civilians
2 Shootings
Maysan
1 Incident
1 Killed: 1 Civilian
1 Shooting
-
Ninewa
19 Incidents
64 Killed: 12 ISF, 12 Peshmerga, 40 Civilians
19 Wounded: 2 Peshmerga, 17 Civilians
5 Shootings
2 IEDs
1 Rockets
18 Incidents
64 Killed: 3 ISF, 23 Peshmerga, 38 Civilians
17 Wounded: 6 Civilians, 11 Peshmerga
8 Shootings
1 Car Bomb
2 Mortars
1 Suicide Bomber Killed
5 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
Qadisiyah
-
1 Incident
1 Sound Bomb
Salahaddin
16 Incidents
18 Killed: 2 Sahwa, 16 Civilians
32 Wounded: 2 ISF, 3 Sahwa, 27 Civilians
6 Shootings
5 IEDs
1 Mortar
4 Car Bombs Destroyed
23 Incidents
20 Killed: 1 Hashd, 8 ISF, 11 Civilians
24 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 5 ISF, 18 Civilians
9 Shootings
5 IEDs
1 Suicide Bomber
1 Mortar
5 Suicide Bombers Killed
4 Car Bombs Destroyed

Car Bombs In Iraq, December 2015
Date
Location
Dead
Wounded
Dec 1



Dec 2
Baghdadi & Ramadi, Anbar – 2 destroyed


Dec 3
Albu Aetha & Hamidiya, Anbar – 5 destroyed


Dec 4
110 Kilo, Albu Faraj & Jeraishi, Anbar – 6 destroyed


Dec 5
35 Kilo, Albu Faraj, Baghdadi, Ramadi, Anbar – 19 destroyed


Dec 6



Dec 7
Samarra Island, Salahaddin – 4 destroyed


Totals
0 – 36 Destroyed


Dec 8
Ajeel & Alas oil fields, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed


Dec 9
Albu Faraj & Warrar Bridge, Anbar – 4 destroyed
Shirqat, Salahaddin – 3 destroyed


Dec 10
Albu Diab, Albu Faraj, Albu Taiban, Anbar – 7 destroyed


Dec 11
Baghdadi & Kubaisa, Anbar – 2 destroyed


Dec 12
Nukhaib & Ramadi x3, Anbar
Aski, Ninewa
Albu Jassim & East Husaiba, Anbar – 3 destroyed
43
39
Dec 13
Kazak, Ninewa – 3 destroyed


Dec 14
Albu Faraj  x5 & Ramadi, Anbar
Central Baghdad, Baghdad – 1 destroyed
Sinjar, Ninewa – 2 destroyed
35
2
Totals
11 – 26 Destroyed
78
41


SOURCES

Agence France Presse, "Suicide bomber kills six on Iraq-Saudi border," 12/12/15

AIN, "15 Daash killed and the destruction of two car bombs and Daash dens near Makhoul and Anbar," 12/9/15
- "Daash attacked Peshmerga forces in Sinjar," 12/14/15
- "Killing Daash and destroying their vehicles in continuous progress east of Ramadi," 12/14/15

Alsumaria, "Destruction of Daash car bomb west of Ramadi," 12/11/15

BBC, "IS militants launch counter-attacks in Iraq's Ramadi," 12/14/15

Al Forat, "7 terrorists killed and two car bombs, one truck loaded with fuel in East Husaybah," 12/12/15

Al Mada, "60th Street cleared south Ramadi, killing 17 Daash," 12/12/15

Mamoun, Abdelhak, "10 ISIS elements killed in aerial bombardment north of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 12/10/15
- "Khalidiya Council announces liberating al-Ta'mim area west of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 12/8/15
- "Iraqi Joint forces cleanse Aramil neighborhood south of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 12/12/15
- "Iraqi security forces liberate the southern part of al-Malaab area south of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 12/10/15
- "Security forces control the western part of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 12/10/15

New Sabah, "Fully freed Tamim region and raised the Iraqi flag over the gate of the headquarters of the Anbar Operations," 12/8/15
- "Security file," 12/13/15
- "Security file," 12/14/15

NINA, "11 Peshmerga Killed And Wounded Due To Daash Attack West Of Mosul," 12/12/15
- "/24/ terrorists killed and their weapons and equipment destroyed," 12/12/15
- "A number of terrorists killed, four tanker bombs and a number of their hideouts destroyed in Sharqat and Anbar," 12/9/15
- "The Peshmerga foiled a suicide attack by Daash northwest of Mosul," 12/13/15

Al Rayy, "The destruction of three Daash car bomb west Ramadi," 12/10/15
- "Dozens of /Daash/ terrorists killed in an air strike by the Army Aviation Ajil and Alas oil fields," 12/8/15

Sarhan, Amre, "Army forces destroy 2 booby-trapped vehicles west of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 12/11/15

Shafaq News, "Foiled car bomb attack in central Baghdad," 12/14/15
- "Iraqi air force raid destroys a car bomb driven by a suicide bomber of ISIS in Anbar," 12/12/15
- "War media publishes outcome of security activities in past 24 hours," 12/9/15

Sotaliraq, "31 elements of the joint forces and tribes killed in suicide bombers in Ramadi," 12/12/15
- "Daash executed 15 civilians on charges of collaborating with the government southwest Kirkuk," 12/13/15

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