Violence In Iraq, Sep 2016

Each week of September 2016 saw the number of security incidents steadily increase. One reason was that there were no government operations going on at the start of the month, which evoke Islamic State counter attacks. Another factor was a large jump in incidents in Baghdad at the end of the month. Still, by the time it was over the levels of violence were largely unchanged from August to September.

There were 573 security incidents recorded in September. In Baghdad there were 324 dwarfing the other provinces. After that there were 54 in Ninewa, 54 in Anbar, 47 in Salahaddin, 37 in Diyala, 33 in Kirkuk, 12 in Babil, 8 in Basra, 2 in Kurdistan, 1 in Irbil, and 1in Muthanna.

Those incidents led to 1,203 killed, the lowest figure recorded so far this year, and 1,602 wounded. In comparison, the United Nations had 1,003 dead and Iraq Body Count had 928.

The dead consisted of 8 Sahwa, 18 Peshmerga, 34 members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), 76 Hashd, 103 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 964 Civilians. 1 PKK, 12 Sahwa, 25 Peshmerga, 56 Hashd, and 1,319 civilians were wounded. Baghdad was the deadliest governorate with 454, followed by 247 in Anbar, 221 in Ninewa, 141 in Salahaddin, 59 in Kirkuk, 38 in Diyala, 34 in Kurdistan, 6 in Basra, 2 in Babil, and 1 in Muthanna. The real numbers are always higher than what gets reported in the press due to under reporting outside the capital, and government censorship of its losses fighting the Islamic State.

Almost all of the violence in Anbar took place in the center of the province with some incidents in the far west heading towards Jordan. For example, a suicide car bomb hit a checkpoint in Rutba. At the end of the month, the Iraqi forces began new operations to clear out areas around Ramadi, which provoked IS counter attacks. A mass grave with 70 people killed by the militants was found in Baghdadi at the start of September. Two air strikes were also blamed for killing 10 and wounding 20. In total, there were 54 incidents leading to 247 dead and 50 wounded. Overall, violence has seen a huge drop since the insurgent’s spring offensive ended.

The capital province saw a huge surge in incidents in the second half of the month. During the last full week there were 97 incidents, the most ever recorded by Musings On Iraq. The Islamic State has been escalating its operations in Baghdad after a four-month lull. That included two car bombs and 4 suicide bombers with another 6 suicide bombers killed, and two vehicle bombs dismantled. One of those attacks left 100 casualties. The real killer was the endless series of IEDs and sticky bombs with 178 of both during the month. The north and south saw the most activity with IS active in the outer towns such as Arab Jabour, Taji and Tarmiya, which it uses to launch operations into the city itself. There was also plenty of crime, along with vigilantes and militias leaving dead bodies behind. In total, the capital accounted for 324 incidents, 454 dead, and 1,187 wounded.

Islamic State activity in Diyala saw a large drop in the last two months. In September there were 37 incidents, 38 fatalities, and 42 injured. Most were small attacks like IEDs and shootings, but the militants have been carrying out a steady stream of mass casualty bombings in the governorate as well. During the month there was one suicide bomber, one car bomb, a suicide bomber was arrested, and two suicide car bombs destroyed.

Recently, many of the incidents reported in Kirkuk have been displaced people being killed by bombs and gunfire as they attempted to flee the Islamic State. The organization still controls the Hawija district, and dozens of people have recently been escaping, but at a cost. During the month, 34 died and 40 were wounded as a result. In total, there were 33 incidents, 59 dead, and 50 injured.

Turkey claimed that it killed 34 PKK members and wounded one more in two air strikes upon northern Kurdistan. Ankara has been bombing and firing artillery at the area every few days, but casualties are rarely reported.

Incidents have been on the decline in Ninewa. There were 54 in September with 221 killed, and 83 wounded. Those came from a mix of attacks upon the Iraqi army in the south, which has been advancing slowly towards Mosul, and the Peshmerga who hold a line to the north. The Islamic State also executed 149 people, mostly in the Mosul area. Three Coalition air strikes were blamed for 22 dead and 54 injured.

Salahaddin saw a slight surge in attacks due to the government finally taking on the Shirqat district in the north. That led to a large number of attacks by the Islamic State. The group also attempted to assassinate two leading officials in Tikrit with suicide bombings, showing that the insurgents had re-infiltrated the capital. Finally, 153 casualties from a large gun battle between the Iraqi forces and insurgents was reported at the start of the month. That rarely happens, but a local tribe was involved and mentioned its losses to the press. By the end of the month there were 47 incidents costing the lives of 141 people and injuring another 180.

There were a total of 17 successful car bombs in September. Those killed 90 and wounded 174. There was 1 in Anbar, 1 in Diyala, 2 in Baghdad, 3 in Ninewa, and 10 in Salahaddin. That was the most vehicle bombs since 29 in May. The Iraqi forces claimed they destroyed another 68 with 2 in Baghdad, 2 in Diyala, 10 in Anbar, 23 in Ninewa, and 31 in Salahaddin. The government regularly exaggerates those figures as part of its war propaganda.

Violence In Iraq 2016

Date	Incidents	Dead	Wounded
JAN	723	2,418	1,986
FEB	657	1,685	1,724
MAR	681	1,684	2,095
APR	629	1,835	1,904
MAY	673	1,637	2,484
JUN	630	2,111	6,449
Jul 1-7	120	589	635
Jul 8-14	129	242	316
Jul 15-21	123	168	272
Jul 22-28	115	234	366
Jul 29-31	43	95	119
JUL	530	1,328	1,708
Aug 1-7	109	342	255
Aug 8-14	121	176	245
Aug 15-21	155	388	392
Aug 22-28	134	269	312
Aug 29-31	55	88	172
AUG	574	1,263	1,376
Sep 1-7	119	341	381
Sep 8-14	125	197	313
Sep 15-21	137	172	352
Sep 22-28	159	326	469
Sep 29-30	33	167	87
SEP	573	1,203	1,602

Security By Province Sep, 2016

Province	Incidents
Anbar	54 Incidents 247 Killed: 7 Hashd, 21 ISF, 219 Civilians 50 Wounded: 13 ISF, 37 Civilians 31 Shootings 5 IEDs 2 Suicide Bombers 1 Suicide Car Bomb 2 Mortars 3 Rockets 26 Suicide Bombers killed 10 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil	12 Incidents 2 Killed: 2 Civilians 8 Wounded: 1 Civilian, 2 Hashd, 5 ISF 5 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 1 Grenade
Baghdad	324 Incidents 454 Killed: 8 Sahwa, 11 Hashd, 29 ISF, 406 Civilians 1,187 Wounded: 11 Sahwa, 22 Hashd, 75 ISF, 1,079 Civilians 83 Shootings 156 IEDs 22 Sticky Bombs 2 Sound Bombs 4 Suicide Bombers 1 Suicide Car Bomb 1 Car Bomb 9 Grenades 5 Mortars 1 Rockets Dismantled 6 Suicide Bombers Killed 2 Car Bombs Destroyed
Basra	8 Incidents 6 Killed: 6 Civilians 1 Wounded: 1 ISF 5 Shootings 3 IEDs
Diyala	37 Incidents 38 Killed: 2 ISF, 3 Hashd, 33 Civilians 42 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 1 Sahwa, 2 ISF, 7 Peshmerga, 31 Civilians 9 Shootings 22 IEDs 3 Sticky Bombs 1 Suicide Bomber 1 Sound Bomb 1 Suicide Car Bomb 1 Suicide Bomber Arrested 2 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
Irbil	1 Incident 1 Shooting
Kirkuk	33 Incidents 59 Killed: 2 ISF, 2 Hashd, 2 Peshmerga, 53 Civilians 50 Wounded: 2 Peshmerga, 3 Hashd, 45 Civilians 7 Shootings 18 IEDs 2 Suicide Bombers Killed
KRG	2 Incidents 34 Killed: 34 PKK 1 Wounded: 1 PKK 2 Turkish Air Strikes
Muthanna	1 Incident 1 Killed: 1 Civilian 1 Shooting
Ninewa	54 Incidents 221 Killed: 9 ISF, 11 Peshmerga, 201 Civilians 83 Wounded: 4 ISF, 12 Peshmerga, 67 Civilians 21 Shootings 73 IEDs 3 Suicide Car Bombs 5 Mortars 6 Rockets 12 Suicide Bombers Killed 23 Car Bombs Destroyed
Salahaddin	47 Incidents 141 Killed: 5 Peshmerga, 40 ISF, 43 Civilians, 53 Hashd 180 Wounded: 4 Peshmerga, 28 Hashd, 59 Civilians, 89 ISF 20 Shootings 26 IEDs 1 Suicide Bomber 4 Suicide Car Bombs 6 Car Bombs 3 Mortars 1 Suicide Bomber Killed 24 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 7 Car Bombs Destroyed

Car Bombs In Iraq Sep 2016

Date	Car Bombs	Dead	Wounded
Sep 1
Sep 2
Sep 3	Shah Siwan, Salahaddin	7	8
Sep 4
Sep 5	Karrada, Baghdad	12	37
Sep 6
Sep 7
Totals	2 – 0 Destroyed	19	45
Sep 8
Sep 9	Palestine St, Baghdad	40	60
Sep 10
Sep 11
Sep 12	Mosul-Baghdad Road & Zaizaa, Ninewa – 9 destroyed
Sep 13	West & Thar Thar, Anbar – 2 destroyed Khalis, Diyala – 1 destroyed Houd, Ninewa – 7 destroyed
Sep 14	Shirqat & Telul Alpag, Ninewa – 2 destroyed
Totals	1 – 21 Destroyed	40	60
Sep 15
Sep 16
Sep 17
Sep 18	Khazir x3, Ninewa Sadoun St, Baghdad – 1 destroyed Al Hud, Ninewa – 1 destroyed	6	7
Sep 19
Sep 20	Shirqat x6, Salahaddin Baghdadi Island, Anbar – 1 destroyed Shirqat, Salahaddin – 7 destroyed
Sep 21	Shirqat, Salahaddin – 9 destroyed
Totals	9 – 19 Destroyed	6	7
Sep 22	Outside Rutba, Anbar – 3 destroyed Diyala-Sahaddin Highway, Diyala – 1 destroyed
Sep 23
Sep 24	Salam & Tikrit, Salahaddin	12	23
Sep 25	Camp Bravo, Anbar – 4 destroyed Houd, Ninewa – 2 destroyed
Sep 26	Khalis, Diyala Qayara, Ninewa – 1 destroyed	10	25
Sep 27	Karrada, Baghdad – 1 destroyed Houd, Ninewa – 3 destroyed Telul Alpag, Salahadin – 7 destroyed
Sep 28	Baiji, Salahaddin Baiji, Salahaddin – 6 destroyed	1	11
Totals	4 – 28 Destroyed	23	59
Sep 29	Outside Rutba, Anbar	2	3
Sep 30
Totals	1 – 0 Destroyed	2	3
TOTALS	17 – 68 Destroyed	90	174