Security In Iraq, April 1-7, 2017

The on going Battle for Mosul continued to drive violence across Iraq in April 2017. In the rest of the country attacks have been going steadily down for the last few months, especially in places like Baghdad, which has seen the fewest incidents and casualties in years.

There were 169 incidents in Iraq from April 1-7 reported in the press. That was the most since 171 from March 8-14. There were 88 incidents in Ninewa, followed by 32 in Baghdad, 17 in Diyala, 9 in Salahaddin, 9 in Anbar, 7 in Kirkuk, 3 in Basra, 3 in Babil, and 1 in Najaf.

Security Incidents In Iraq, Apr 1-7, 2017

Najaf 1

Babil 3

Basra 3

Kirkuk 7

Anbar 9

Salahaddin 9

Diyala 17

Baghdad 32

Ninewa 88

Those incidents led to a total of 848 deaths consisting of 3 Sahwa, 6 Peshmerga, 13 Hashd al-Shaabi, 52 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 774 civilians. There were 427 injured made up of 1 Sahwa, 7 Peshmerga, 28 ISF, and 391 Civilians. Ninewa was the deadliest province with 739. After that fatalities were very low with 42 in Salahaddin, 21 in Anbar, 19 in Baghdad, 16 in Diyala, 7 in Kirkuk, 3 in Babil, and 1 in Basra. Baghdad for example used to regularly average triple digit deaths last year, but now is witnessing some of the lowest figures since the 2003 invasion.

Reported Deaths In Iraq, Apr 1-7, 2017

Basra 1

Babil 3

Kirkuk 7

Diyala 16

Baghdad 19

Anbar 21

Salahaddin 42

Ninewa 739

Reported Wounded In Iraq, Apr 1-7, 2017

Kirkuk 1

Anbar 5

Babil 6

Diyala 21

Salahaddin 57

Baghdad 80

Ninewa 257

In Anbar there were 9 incidents, 21 dead, and 5 wounded. That was highlighted by a suicide car bomb that hit the Iraqi forces in Fallujah, and a car bomb that was destroyed, another was that was discovered and dismantled, and five suicide bombers that were killed. Anbar officials and security forces were relieved that most of these were unsuccessful, but at the same time are increasingly concerned that they continue to plague the province. The number of incidents in Anbar has been on a steady decline since the summer of 2016 when there was an average of 4.1 per day versus just 1 per day in February and March, yet the attempts at mass casualty bombings remain high.

The number of incidents remained low in Babil, but there was suddenly a spate of large bombings during the first week of April. A suicide bomber and a car bomb hit the city of Iskandiriya during the middle of the week. The last time there was a similar type of attack was back in November 2016. Babil is the only governorate in Iraq where there used to be a sizeable Islamic State presence that was expelled, and never returned. It’s unclear whether these bombings marked some type of comeback for the group or were just sent from neighboring Anbar or southern Baghdad to sow chaos.

Baghdad is witnessing the lowest violence seen in years. There were just 32 incidents leading to 19 deaths and 80 wounded. In March and April 2017 there were an average of 4 incidents per day compared to 10 in August and September 2016. Incidents have been going down ever since the Mosul campaign started in October of last year. While IS still has cells operating in the southern and northern towns outside the capital itself, it looks like they pulled back some of their forces to defend Mosul since there were no large security operations in Baghdad to account for the decline.

In February there were growing concerns about increasing violence in Basra. That has now subsided. There are still a few incidents per week, but they have gone back down to their average. At the start of April for instance, there were just 3 incidents, with a teacher being shot and killed.

Diyala, Kirkuk and Salahaddin are where the insurgents either maintain territory or are rebuilding. Usually there are just a few incidents in the three governorates, but attempts at mass casualty bombings. That was seen in Kirkuk and Salahaddin. In the former there were 7 incidents, 7 deaths, and 1 injured. In Salahaddin there were 9 incidents, but 42 killed and 57 injured. The large number of casualties was due to five suicide bombers infiltrating the downtown area, probably to mark the anniversary of the liberation of the city in 2015. They left 35 dead and 42 wounded. In Diyala however, attacks have been picking up. There were 17 incidents leaving 16 dead and 21 injured. Since August 2016 there has only been an average of 1 incident per day so this was a doubling of violence. Still, while there were three clashes with the Islamic State, most of the other events were IEDs or drive by shootings.

The Battle for Mosul entered its sixth month. There were 88 incidents in Ninewa leaving 739 fatalities and 257 wounded. The vast majority of those, 705 killed and 253 injured, were civilians who have taken the brunt of the fighting. As the Islamic State has lost ground in the city it has killed more and more people who have attempted to flee or to intimidate people from trying. The group was blamed for 188 executions during the week. Many times these people were hung on electricity polls or dumped in streets to intimidate the population. Iraqi and Coalition air strikes and shelling also took their toll with 275 deaths and 162 wounded. The Iraqis and Coalition have increased their use of these heavy munitions in the fighting in west Mosul, and this has been the result.

Security In Iraq 2017

Date	Incidents	Dead	Wounded
Jan 1-7	188	509	1,346
Jan 8-14	168	371	1,036
Jan 15-21	137	583	1,264
Jan 22-28	145	289	310
Jan 29-31	74	127	338
JAN	712	1,879	4,294
Feb 1-7	123	388	176
Feb 8-14	164	434	390
Feb 15-21	146	383	505
Feb 22-28	184	645 + 399	1,388 + 1,634
FEB	617	1,850 + 399	2,459 + 1,634
Mar 1-7	179	749	622
Mar 8-14	171	551	614
Mar 15-21	142	560	1,166
Mar 22-28	152	1,233	575
Mar 29-31	71	374 + 278	288 + 2,925
MAR	715	3,467 + 278	3,265 + 2,925
Apr 1-7	169	848	427

Violence In Iraq By Province, Apr 1-7, 2017

Province	Violence
Anbar	9 Incidents 21 Killed: 2 Sahwa, 7 ISF, 12 Civilians 5 Wounded: 5 ISF 1 Shooting 1 IED 1 Sound Bomb 1 Suicide Car Bomb 5 Suicide Bombers Killed 1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed 1 Car Bomb Dismantled
Babil	3 Incidents 3 Killed: 1 Sahwa, 2 Civilians 6 Wounded: 3 Civilians, 3 ISF 1 IED 1 Suicide Bomber 1 Car Bomb
Baghdad	32 Incidents 19 Killed: 1 ISF, 18 Civilians 80 Wounded: 1 ISF, 79 Civilians 4 Shootings 22 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 1 Suicide Bomber Killed
Basra	3 Incidents 1 Killed: 1 Civilian 1 Gunfire 2 Stun Grenades
Diyala	17 Incidents 16 Killed: 5 Civilians, 5 ISF, 6 Peshmerga 21 Wounded: 1 Sahwa, 8 Civilians, 12 ISF 6 Shootings 11 IEDs 2 Mortars
Kirkuk	7 Incidents 7 Killed: 7 Civilians 1 Wounded: 1 Civilian 1 Shooting 1 IED
Najaf	1 Incident
Ninewa	88 Incidents 739 Killed: 9 Hashd, 10 ISF, 15 Police, 705 Civilians 257 Wounded: 4 Police, 253 Civilians 20 Shootings 4 Car Bombs 19 Mortars 2 Rockets 3 Motorcycle Bombs Destroyed 5 Suicide Bombers Killed 1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed 24 Car Bombs Destroyed
Salahaddin	9 Incidents 42 Killed: 4 Hashd, 14 ISF, 24 Civilians 57 Wounded: 3 ISF, 7 Peshmerga, 47 Civilians 6 Shootings 2 IEDs 3 Suicide Bombers 3 Car Bombs 1 Mortar 21 Suicide Bombers Killed

SOURCES

Al Aaalem, "Video: Fierce battles on the right bank of Mosul and a bomb explosion against the security forces yesterday," 4/3/17

Adel, Loaa, "Army forces find remains of 2 tribal fighters near Anbar," Iraqi News, 4/2/17

- "Bomb blast in southern Baghdad leaves 3 casualties," Iraqi News, 4/1/17

- "Booby-trapped vehicle explodes in al-Iskandariyah, Babel," Iraqi News, 4/4/17

- "Four mortar shells fall on village between Diyala and Salahuddin," Iraqi News, 4/5/17

- "Video: CTS foils suicide attack in western Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/5/17

Agence France Presse, "IS suicide bombers kill 31 in Iraq's Tikrit," 4/5/17

Airwars, "April 4th 2017: Tal-Afar neighborhood, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 5th 2017: Makawi, Fateh, 17 July, Matahen and Zanjili neighbourhoods, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 5th 2017: Seven Kilo neighbourhood, Rutba (town), Anbar province, Iraq"

- "April 5th 2017: Al-Shafaa neighbourhood, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 7th 2017: Farouk, Zinjili and Isilah Zeraei neighbourhoods, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 7th 2017 Al Saha, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

Baghdad Post, "2 civilians injured in bombing western Baghdad," 4/6/17

- "4 Iraqi governmental forces killed in ISIS attack in Mosul," 4/1/17

- "11 civilians killed, wounded in 2 bombings southern Baghdad," 4/5/17

- "14 civilians killed, 26 injured in aerial bombardment in western Mosul," 4/1/17

- "16 killed in airstrikes in Mosul's right bank," 4/5/17

- "20 civilians killed in air raids west of Mosul," 4/4/17

- "40 killed in airstrikes northwestern Mosul," 4/5/17

- "Civilians killed; mass grave found in Mosul," 4/3/17

- "Ex-Najaf governor survives assassination attempt," 4/7/17

- "Five soldiers killed, wounded in Anbar," 4/1/17

- "ISIS burns 3 young men to death in Mosul," 4/7/17

- "Two government troops killed, three injured as bombings hit Diyala," 4/5/17

- "Two stun grenade explosions hit Basra," 4/1/17

Bas News, "IS Burns Civilian Alive in Public," 4/5/17

- "Mass Grave with 20 Bodies Discovered South of Mosul," 4/4/17

- "Six Peshmerga Injured in Roadside Bomb in Tuz Khurmatu," 4/2/17

Buratha News, "A kidnapper was arrested in Abu Ghraib west Baghdad," 4/4/17

- "Foiled terrorist attempt to infiltrate south-east of Tikrit," 4/2/17

- "Two civilians injured by a roadside bomb explosion northeast Baquba," 4/5/17

Face Iraq, "Security sources: the bombing of 5 electricity towards in the northeast of Diyala province," 4/2/17

- "Two people were killed and three others injured in a suicide bombing in Iskandiriya," 4/3/17

Fache, Wilson with Faraj, Salam, "Iraqi helicopter downed in fight to retake Mosul," Agence France Presse, 4/6/17

Al Forat, "The popular crowd destroys a car bomb southwest of Mosul,' 4/6/17

- "The popular crowd kills 30 thugs and destroys three car bomb west of Mosul,' 4/6/17

El-Ghobasy, Tamer and Adnan, Ghassan, "Islamic State Attack in Iraqi City of Tikrit Kills 35, Highlighting Security Challenge," Wall Street Journal, 4/5/17

Hathalyourn, "The height of the clashes in the center of Tikrit left 15 dead and 20 wounded, including an officer and his son," 4/4/17

Hemid, Leyla, "33 Fleeing Civilians from Mosul Killed in IS Mass Shooting," Bas News, 4/4/17

- "[In Pictures] Mass Grave of Peshmergas Discovered in Diyala," Bas News, 4/2/17

Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, "Civilians in Mosul's Right Coast Faced with Starvation or Execution," 4/4/17

Iraq Oil Report, "Inside Mosul: April 1, 2017," 4/1/17

- "Inside Mosul, April 2, 2017," 4/3/17

- "Inside Mosul: April 3, 2017," 4/3/17

- "Inside Mosul, April 4, 2017," 4/4/17

- "Inside Mosul: April 6, 2017," 4/6/17

Al Maalomah, "A civilian was killed and three wounded by a bomb explosion in Abu Ghraib," 4/2/17

- "The death of three people from one family in bombing by international coalition in Mosul," 4/6/17

- "Gunmen steal 30 million dinars from a central bank office in Kirkuk," 4/2/17

- "One person was killed and two wounded by an explosive device southwest Baghdad," 4/4/17

- "The popular crowd foiled an attack on the Makhoul Mountains," 4/6/17

- "Three suicide bombers, including a car bomb, were killed in security sweeps west Anbar," 4/4/17

- "Three suicide bombers killed while trying to attack military units east of Fallujah," 4/7/17

- "Three suicide bombers were killed in central Tikrit," 4/4/17

Al Mada, "Aborted terrorist operation targeting Samarra with suicide bombers," 4/3/17

- "Daesh exploit fog to attack the joint forces in the right bank of Mosul," 4/3/17

Al Masalah, "An armed group kills a teacher in Basra," 4/3/17

- "Two civilians were injured by a bomb explosion in Madain," 4/7/17

- "Two explosions rock Tikrit, preceded by an attack on a checkpoint," 4/4/17

Mostafa, Mohamed, "32 civilians killed in IS shelling north, east of Mosul: officer," Iraqi News, 4/3/17

- "Civilian killed, another wounded in bomb blast south of Baghdad," Iraqi News, 4/5/17

- "Four PMU fighters killed in clashes with IS west of Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/3/17

- "IS deploys women snipers, fights harder in remaining western Mosul districts," Iraqi News, 4/3/17

- "IS executed more than 100 civilians in Mosul since Friday: security, observatory," Iraqi News, 4/4/17

- "Officer killed, another wounded in western Baghdad bomb blast," Iraqi News, 4/4/17

- "One killed, 4 wounded in bomb blast in western Baghdad," Iraqi News, 4/3/17

- "One killed, 8 wounded in blasts east, west of Baghdad," 4/6/17

- "Unidentified attackers hurl sound bombs at IS families in Anbar," Iraqi News, 4/3/17

- "UPDATED: 3 militants, 3 officers killed as IS attack repelled in Diyala," Iraqi News, 4/7/17

- "UPDATED: 6 suicide bombers killed, a seventh kills child in Baiji," Iraqi News, 4/6/17

- "UPDATED: up to 3 security members die in car bombing in Fallujah," Iraqi News, 4/3/17

Mustafa, Nehal, "35 killed, injured as IS militants shell gas bombs west of Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/4/17

- "Four children killed in shelling west of Rutba," Iraqi News, 4/5/17

- "IS kills 13 civilians in western Mosul: Police," Iraqi News, 4/2/17

- "Islamic State kills Imam of mosque in western Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/3/17

- "Nine civilians killed, three wounded in western Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/5/17

- "PMUs kill 30 IS militants, confront attack, western Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/6/17

- "Two blasts leave casualties south of Baghdad," Iraqi News, 4/2/17

NINA, "21 people form 3 families who tried to escape from the western side towards the Tigris River were executed," 4/2/17

- "The body of an unidentified man was found northeast of Baquba,' 4/2/17

- "A Civilian killed by unknown gunmen in Muqdadiya, in Diyala," 4/2/17

- "Daesh executed One of the three kidnapped men northeast of Baquba," 4/7/17

- "IED Kills And Wounds 12 Construction Workers West Of Baghdad," 4/5/17

- "Popular Mobilization Forces Foil An Attack To Daesh West Of Mosul," 4/4/17

- "Security Forces Foil An Attack To Daesh West Of Diyala Province," 4/5/17

- "Security Forces Kill 5 Suicide Bombers North Of Mosul," 4/1/17

- "Six people killed and three bodies found in Kirkuk," 4/7/17

- "Three civilians were wounded by mortar shells on a village northeast of Baquba,' 4/7/17

- "Three policemen injured in a bomb explosion while trying to dismantle it in Jurf Al-Sakhar in Babylon," 4/3/17

Reuters, "Islamic State kills dozens of civilians trying to flee Mosul-witnesses," 4/7/17

Rojkan, Mira, "Blast Kills One Civilian, Injures Three in Baghdad," Bas News, 4/7/17

- "Iraqi Forces Kill IS Suicide Bomber near Baghdad," Bas News, 4/2/17

Rudaw, "Forces kill 12 ISIS fighters after failed attacks in Baiji district of Iraq," 4/6/17

- "Iraqi military helicopter shot down over Mosul skies," 4/6/17

Shafaaq News, "After 15 minutes…freed kidnapped and arrested his captors in Baghdad," 4/5/17

- "The assassination of the son of a security official in Baquba," 4/5/17

- "The corpses of 22 civilians arrive at al-Qayara hospital," 4/3/17

- "Daash kills a man and his son as they try to flee west Mosul," 4/2/17

- "Eight people were killed and wounded, including children, in a house in Mosul," 4/6/17

- "Explosion of a car bomb under control near Zarzur Anbar," 4/7/17

- "Five people, including a security officer, a tribal leader and his wife were killed in separate incidents in Mosul," 4/2/17

- "A preacher killed 36 people, including women who tried to escape West Mosul and threw their bodies on the roads," 4/4/17

- "The release of kidnapped and the arrest of the kidnappers and a gang dealing drugs and counterfeit currency in Baghdad," 4/4/17

- "Two children were killed by Daash shelling, southwest Mosul," 4/1/17

- "What happened in Tikrit? 71 people were killed and wounded," 4/5/17

- "Worshipers injured by shelling targeting liberated Mosul," 4/7/17

Sotaliraq, "Four people were killed and wounded by an explosive device north Baghdad," 4/4/17

- "The funeral of four from the popular crowd in Basra killed in Saladin," 4/7/17

- "One woman was killed and one sahwa wounded by two explosive devices in Muqdadayia in Diayla," 4/1/17

Al Sumaria, "85 million dinars stolen from a house in an armed robbery north Baghdad," 4/7/17

- "Baghdad operations freed abductee and arrested the kidnappers in Rusafa," 4/1/17

- "The body of a man was found stabbed by a knife north Baghdad," 4/2/17

- "The body of an unidentified man found south Kirkuk," 4/2/17

- "A civilian was killed and five others wounded by a bomb explosion west Baghdad," 4/7/17

- "A civilian was wounded by a roadside bomb explosion northwest Kirkuk," 4/2/17

- "A civilian wounded with stun guns southeast Baghdad," 4/1/17

- "Daash executes three civilians on charges of communicating with security forces southwest Kirkuk," 4/5/17

- "Five mortar shells landed in the vicinity of a residential complex in Hamrin," 4/7/17

- "Four civilians were executed in Anbar, a local official said," 4/7/17

- "Four civilians wounded by a roadside bomb north Baghdad," 4/4/17

- "Interior Ministry: Martyrdom of a security member embracing a suicide bomber who tried to target a funeral north Babylon," 4/3/17

- "Interior Ministry: Security forces blew up two suicide bombers," 4/4/17

- "The killing of a generator owner in an armed attack in western Baghdad," 4/1/17

- "One person was injured by a roadside bomb explosion southeast Baghdad," 4/6/17

- "A policeman was killed in an armed attack in central Tikrit and the police clashes with the attackers," 4/4/17

- "Salah al-Din tells the details of what happened today and confirms the killing of six suicide bombers and a seventh blew himself up," 4/6/17

- "Security source: gunmen steal about 50 kg of gold from traders north Kirkuk," 4/7/17

- "Seven Peshmerga injured in explosion west of Tuz Kharmato," 4/2/17

- "Three civilians, including two brothers, were kidnapped north-east of Baquba," 4/6/17

- "Three people were injured by an explosive device east Baghdad," 4/5/17

- "Three people were killed and wounded by an explosive device north Baghdad," 4/6/17

- "Two people were injured in explosion near a liquor store west Baghdad," 4/2/17

- "Two people wounded by an explosive device south Baghdad," 4/1/17

Wardana, "Popular crowd destroy a car bomb west of Mosul," 4/4/17

World Bulletin, "16 civilians found dead in Mosul's Old City," 4/2/17