Security In Iraq, May 15-21, 2016

The Islamic State was still in the midst of its spring offensive in the third week of May. Attacks actually went down, but casualties remained high because of a number of mass casualty bombings that mark the current insurgent campaign.

There were 121 incidents reported in Iraq from May 15-21. That was the fewest incidents since the second week of February when there were 119. There were 67 attacks in Baghdad, 16 in Anbar, 11 each in Diyala and Ninewa, 7 in Salahaddin, 4 in Kirkuk, 2 in Babil, and one each in Basra, Dhi Qar, and Qadisiyah.

Despite those low figures casualties were very high in the country. There were 349 people killed, made up of 1 Iranian Basij, 1 Nujafi volunteer, 4 Sahwa, 4 Peshmerga, 5 Hashd, 32 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 302 civilians. Another 604 were wounded, which consisted of 2 Peshmerga, 2 Sahwa, 15 Hashd, 65 ISF, and 520 civilians.

As usual, Baghdad led the way as the deadliest province with 197. There were another 80 in Ninewa, 33 in Anbar, 30 in Salahaddin, 8 in Diyala, and 1 in Kirkuk.

In Anbar the Iraqi forces continued its sweep westward. In previous weeks Hit was freed, and the siege of Haditha ended. During the third week of May there was continued operations from Hit to Baghdadi to Haditha with several towns freed. The Iraqi forces then moved south and cleared Rutba, and reached the Jordanian border crossing of Trebil. In eastern Anbar, the Hashd continued to talk about freeing Fallujah, but were busy sweeping through Amiriya Fallujah again after it was declared 75% freed during the first week of the month. The new operation was due to a wave of suicide bombers that attacked the town the week before. Still, forces were being assembled around Fallujah for the campaign that started on May 23. With the inclusion of the ISF and U.S. air strikes the city will be eventually freed, but what’s left in the aftermath will be a big question. This will top off the series of victories that have occurred in the governorate with only the Syrian border area remaining firmly in IS hands. There is still a threat in Anbar however, as IS is alive and well in the rural and desert areas and the small towns surrounding the major centers.

In an interesting turn of events, as the Fallujah operation finally got underway the Iraqi press began reporting on shelling of the city again. Artillery, mortars and air strikes have pounded the place since January 2014 causing hundreds of casualties. This used to be regularly reported, but that ended in the fall of last year. From May 15-21 three artillery incidents were mentioned leading to 14 civilians being killed and 36 wounded.

Baghdad was still the focus of the Islamic State’s spring campaign. There were 67 incidents during the week. That included 2 car bombs, 4 suicide car bombs, and 8 suicide bombers. Another two car bombs were discovered and dismantled before they detonated, and 10 suicide bombers were either arrested or killed. Those bombs were in the center, east, north, outer north, south, and outer south of the province showing IS’s ability to reach every part of Baghdad. Those attacks came in two waves. On May 15 one went off in the outer south in a market in Latifiya, while three were used in an assault upon a gas plant in Taji, which took the facility off line for a few days cutting off electricity to part of the capital. Then on May 17 two car bombs and 2 suicide bombers hit a restaurant and three markets. Another suicide bomber was arrested, and two car bombs were dismantled. Overall, IS was most active in the outer regions hitting the small towns.

Violence In Anbar, May 15-21, 2016

Center: 5 – 1 Car Bomb Dismantled, 1 Stabbing, 1 Shooting, 1 IED Dismantled, 1 Sticky Bomb

East: 11 – 1 Suicide Bomber Arrested, 1 Suicide Bomber, 1 Suicide Car Bomb, 2 IEDs, 3 Sticky Bombs,

3 Shootings

Outer East: 2 – 1 Shooting, 1 IED

North: 9 – 1 Kidnapping, 1 Shooting/Kidnapping, 1 Sticky Bomb, 1 Shooting, 1 Suicide Bomber, 5 IEDs

Outer North: 11 – 1 Shooting, 3 Suicide Car Bombs, 4 Shootings, 6 IEDs, 6 Suicide Bombers

South: 9 – 1 Car Bomb Dismantled, 1 Car Bomb, 1 Stabbing, 1 Mortar, 2 Sticky Bombs, 3 IEDs

Outer South: 12 – 1 Car Bomb, 11 IEDs

West: 1 – 1 IED

Outer West: 6 – 1 Sticky Bomb, 4 IEDs, 9 Suicide Bombers Killed

Unknown: 1 – 1 Mortar

Violence in Ninewa dropped apparently because the Makhmour offensive ground to a halt. When it started IS launched its usual wave of counterattacks. From May 15-21 the volunteers organized by ex-Governor Atheel Nujafi made their second foray trying to clear a town near Bashiqa with Turkey support but were turned back. IS also launched two major attacks upon the Kurdish positions. 75 people were also reported executed by the militants in Mosul.

In Diyala, Kirkuk, and Salahaddin violence either declined or remained the same. IS has picked up its operations in Diyala lately and a car bombing was avoided when it was discovered before it could go off. In Kirkuk there were only four incidents reported during the week, as the Islamists had given up with their counter attacks after the town of Bashir was freed at the start of the month. Finally, Salahaddin has been very quiet for weeks now.

There were 8 car bombs during the week, another sign of IS’s spring campaign. There were six in Baghdad and 1 in Anbar. Another 17 were reported destroyed, but those figures are usually exaggerated. Altogether the bombs took the lives of 69 people and wounded another 155, almost all of which were in the capital.

Violence In Iraq 2015-16

Date	Incidents	Dead	Wounded
JAN	911	2,656	3,032 + 150
FEB	730	2,345	2,366
MAR	820	2,665	2,529
APR	751	2,753	2,621
MAY	674	2,565 + 1,499	1,952 + 646
JUN	708	2,153 + 405	2,174
JUL	688	2,716	3,198 + 4,024
AUG	684	2,440 + 760	1,777
SEP	649	1,731	1,668 + 3,003
OCT	589	1,144	1,555
NOV	530	1,174	1,455 + 124 + 1,322
DEC	553	1,155	1,252 + 5,920
Jan 1-7	150	808	421
Jan 8-14	140	436	417
Jan 15-21	135	275	227
Jan 22-28	132	392	322
Jan 29-31	41	81	334
JAN	598	2,052	1,721
Feb 1-7	146	575	313
Feb 8-14	119	146	323
Feb 15-21	130	225	239
Feb 22-29	153	371	690
FEB	549	1,281	1,566
Mar 1-7	183	321	478
Mar 8-14	168	408	415
Mar 15-21	130	349	409
Mar 22-28	135	213	420
Mar 29-31	49	172	121
MAR	665	1,463	1,843
Apr 1-7	144	239	444
Apr 8-14	141	271	391
Apr 15-21	124	436	242
Apr 22-28	160	413	524
Apr 29-30	30	61	121
APR	599	1,420	1,722
May 1-7	160	325	420
May 8-14	141	311	674
May 15-21	121	349	604

Security By Province May 15-21, 2016

Province	Incidents
Anbar	16 Incidents 33 Killed: 1 Iranian Basij, 5 ISF, 27 Civilians 92 Wounded: 9 ISF, 83 Civilians 2 Shootings 2 IEDs 2 Car Bombs 2 Mortars 2 Rockets 6 Suicide Bomber Killed 5 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 6 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil	2 Incidents 4 IEDs 1 Suicide Bomber Arrested
Baghdad	67 Incidents 197 Killed: 3 Hashd, 4 Sahwa, 23 ISF, 167 Civilians 447 Wounded: 2 Sahwa, 8 Hashd, 51 ISF, 386 Civilians 12 Shootings 34 IEDs 8 Sticky Bombs 8 Suicide Bombers 4 Suicide Car Bombs 2 Car Bombs 2 Mortars 10 Suicide Bombers Killed/Arrested 2 Car Bombs Dismantled
Basra	1 Incident 1 Sticky Bomb
Dhi Qar	1 Incident 1 IED
Diyala	11 Incidents 8 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 ISF, 5 Civilians 9 Wounded: 1 Civilian, 4 Hashd, 4 ISF 4 Shootings 2 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 2 Mortars 1 Car Bomb Dismantled
Kirkuk	4 Incidents 1 Killed: 1 Civilian 1 Wounded: 1 ISF 1 Shooting 1 Mortar
Ninewa	11 Incidents 80 Killed: 1 Volunteer, 4 Peshmerga, 75 Civilians 2 Wounded: 2 Peshmerga 6 Shootings 25 IEDs 2 Suicide Bombers 1 Mortar 17 Suicide Bombers Killed 2 Car Bombs Destroyed
Qadisiyah	1 Incident 1 Shooting
Salahaddin	7 Incidents 30 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 ISF, 27 Civilians 53 Wounded: 3 Hashd, 50 Civilians 4 Shootings 1 IED 1 Suicide Bomber

Car Bombs In Iraq May, 2016

Date	Car Bombs	Dead	Wounded
May 1	Samawa x2, Muthanna Albu Hussein & West of Hit, Anbar – 3 destroyed	38	86
May 2	Sadiya, Baghdad Hit, Dabiya & Satamiya, Anbar – 4 destroyed Alas & Ajeel, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed	19	44
May 3	Bashiqa x2 & Tel Skuf, Ninewa South of Fallujah, Anbar – 1 destroyed Tel Skuf, Ninewa – 2 destroyed	1	2
May 4	Amiriya Fallujah, Anbar – 8 destroyed Tel al-Gol, Ninewa – 1 destroyed Mashak, Salahaddin – 2 destroyed
May 5	Thar Thar, Anbar – 1 destroyed Bashir, Kirkuk 1 destroyed Kharaib, Ninewa – 2 destroyed
May 6	Radwaniya, Baghdad	3	5
May 7	Thar Thar, Anbar – 7 destroyed
Totals	7 – 33 Destroyed	61	137
May 8	Salam, Anbar – 3 destroyed
May 9	Baquba, Diyala Albu Shihab, Anbar – 1 destroyed	16	54
May 10	Thar Thar, Anbar – 1 destroyed
May 11	Jamiya, Kadhimiya, Sadr City, Baghdad Jeraishi, Anbar – 2 destroyed	103	170
May 12	Jeraishi, Anbar Albu Aetha, Albu Diab, Albu Faraj, Albu Veab, Anbar – 19 destroyed Baiji, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed	17
May 13	Albu Aetha, Dwylih, Garma, Anbar – 10 destroyed
May 14	Albu Hayat, Anbar Albu Aetha & Barwana, Anbar – 2 destroyed	2	6
Totals	6 – 39 Destroyed	138	230
May 15	Latifiya & Taji x3, Baghdad Baghdadi, Anbar – 2 destroyed	21	56
May 16	Rutba, Anbar – 3 destroyed Khalis, Diyala – 1 destroyed
May 17	Rutba, Anbar Rasheed & Sadr City, Baghdad Barwana, Anbar – 3 destroyed Amil & Zafaraniya, Baghdad – 2 destroyed	47	99
May 18	Aski Mosul, Ninewa – 3 destroyed
May 19	?, Anbar – 3 destroyed
May 20	Southeast of Fallujah, Anbar	1
May 21
Totals	8 – 17 Destroyed	69	155

SOURCES

Adel, Loaa, "Iraqi army retakes 15 villages from ISIS grip west of Anbar," Iraqi News, 5/18/16

- "Security forces control Akashat area and cut off ISIS supply lines toward Qaim," Iraqi News, 5/19/16

Associated Press, "ISIS Attack and Bombings Leave 29 Dead in and Around Baghdad," 5/15/16

BBC, “Fallujah assault: Iraq PM announces beginning of military operation,” 5/22/16

- "Iraq conflict: IS suicide bombers hit Tai gas plant," 5/15/16

- "IS conflict: Iraq forces retake remote western town of Rutba," 5/18/16

eKurd, "Iraqi Kurdistan News in brief - May 18, 2016," 5/18/16

Al Maalomah, "31 martyrs and 74 wounded, the outcome of the criminal bombing in Sadr City," 5/17/16

- "Deputy governor of Anbar announces the launch of a campaign of raids after outbreaks near Amiriyah Fallujah," 5/15/16

- "Dismantled car bomb loaded with TNT in Khalis," 5/16/16

- "Dismantling of a car bomb south Baghdad," 5/17/16

- "Engineers dismantled a car bomb west Baghdad," 5/17/16

- "Foiled two suicide car bombs on security checkpoint west Anbar," 5/15/16

- "Four thousand fighters of the popular crowd arrive in Fallujah district," 5/18/16

- "The killing of five suicide bombers and three car bombs in western Anbar," 5/19/16

Al Mada, "Killing 15 Daash militants and the destruction of three car bombs in western Anbar, 5/16/16

Mamoun, Abdelhak, "9 security members killed, wounded in battles of Rutba District," Iraqi News, 5/17/16

- "24 dead, wounded in Taji Gas Plant bombing north of Baghdad," Iraqi News, 5/15/16

- "Security forces liberate 2 areas in western Heet District, dozens of ISIS militants killed," Iraqi News, 5/17/16

- "Security forces liberate 4 villages west of Ramadi, 200 bombs dismantled," Iraqi News, 5/18/16

- "Security forces liberate area in Baghdadi, 7 ISIS members killed west of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 5/16/16

- "Security forces start cleansing borderline between Iraq, Syria and Jordan," Iraqi News, 5/19/16

- "Security forces to start liberation operation of Heet Island," Iraqi News, 5/15/16

NBC News, "Baghdad Attacks: Wave of Bombings Kills 76, Wounds 110," 5/17/16

New Sabah, "Security forces are up to the gate of Fallujah and liberated 160 Kilo," 5/16/16

- "Security forces free Trebil in preparation for the opening of the Baghdad-Amman way," 5/20/16

- "Security forces stormed the center of Rutba from four axes and the liberation of many villages," 5/17/16

NINA, "Security Forces Liberate Rub'I Area, North Of Baghdadi," 5/15/16

Rudaw, "Iraqi forces launch operation to liberate Anbar town from ISIS," 5/16/16

- "Peshmerga foil ISIS suicide bombers near Mosul; 11 militants killed," 5/18/16

Salaheddin, Sinan, "Islamic State attack and bombings leave 29 dead across Iraq," Associated Press, 5/15/16

- "Wave of Bombings Hits Baghdad Shiite Areas, Killing 69," Associated Press, 5/17/16

Sarhan, Amre, "Iraqi security forces free 3 villages west of al-Baghdadi vicinity, Anbar," Iraqi News, 5/15/16

- "Security forces free Ameriya village northeast of Bruwana," Iraqi News, 5/16/16

- "Security forces liberate 4 villages northwest of al-Baghdadi vicinity," 5/18/16

Sotaliraq, "National Crowd fails in its first test," 5/19/16