Security In Iraq, April 8-14, 2017

Security incidents reported in the press took a dip in the second week of April in Iraq, while casualties remained largely unchanged from the previous week. There was very little violence around most of the country, with almost all the incidents taking place in Ninewa due to the Battle for Mosul.

There were 124 incidents reported in the press in Iraq from April 8-14, 2017. There were 58 in Ninewa, 28 in Baghdad, 14 in Diyala, 9 in Anbar, 8 in Salahaddin, 3 in Basra and Kirkuk each, and 1 in Babil. That was the lowest weekly total since the first February 1-7 when there were 123.

Security Incidents In Iraq, Apr 8-14, 2017

Babil 1

Basra 3

Kirkuk 3

Salahaddin 8

Anbar 9

Diyala 14

Baghdad 28

Ninewa 58

580 people lost their lives and another 666 were wounded during the week. The dead consisted of 4 Hashd, 37 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 539 civilians, while 17 Hashd, 79 Hashd, and 570 civilians were injured.

Ninewa led the country in deaths with 526, with another 22 in Anbar, 15 in Baghdad, 12 in Kirkuk, 4 in Diyala, and 1 in Basra.

Reported Deaths In Iraq, Apr 8-14, 2017

Basra 1

Diyala 4

Kirkuk 12

Baghdad 15

Anbar 22

Ninewa 526

Reported Wounded In Iraq, Apr 8-14, 2017

Kirkuk 1           

Babil 5

Diyala 5

Salahaddin 6

Anbar 11

Baghdad 51

Ninewa 406

The Islamic State still controls the western section of Anbar province by the Syrian border, but violence remains very low. There were just 9 incidents leading to 22 deaths and 11 wounded. Three of those were attempts at mass casualty bombings however with a suicide bomber attacking a checkpoint in Dulab, a car bomb being destroyed on the road to Baghdad, and 6 suicide bombers being arrested. Anbar officials are especially worried about these types of attacks because they happen nearly ever week for the last few months. Most are stopped before they hit their targets, but it shows that the insurgents are determined to let their presence be known.

Violence in Baghdad continues to decline. There were just 22 incidents leaving 12 killed and 41 injured. Six months ago that would have been the toll in just 2-3 days. Now the capital is seeing the fewest incidents and casualties in years. This decline started when the Mosul campaign started in October 2016. The Islamic State did attempt a suicide bombing and a car bomb, but both were intercepted.

Diyala is where the militants have been picking up their activities. The total number of incidents is still very low with just 12 during the week, but that is double the amount seen in the last few months. Most of this is occurring in known IS areas such as Abu Saida. Incidents are also now a mix of the regular IEDs and shootings to gunfights with insurgents and regular car and suicide bombings.

Kirkuk and Salahaddin are the two other provinces where the Islamic State either still holds territory or is rebuilding. So far the number of incidents in the two remain very low. There were just 6 in Kirkuk and 5 in Salahaddin.

Ninewa is obviously where the vast majority of the violence and casualties are taking place. 327 people were reportedly killed and 273 wounded during the week. 300 of the dead were civilians and 260 of the injured. 30 deaths were blamed on a single Coalition air strike, but there were another 228 fatalities and 214 injured that were blamed on either Coalition or Iraqi air operations or Iraqi artillery. All together those accounted for 78% of all the casualties reported during the week. The Coalition and Iraqis have relied upon air power, artillery, and mortars more in the battle for west Mosul. That has predictably led to these numbers.

There was a rare incident in Wasit where a suicide bomber was killed in the northern section of the province. The third week of April was when Shiite pilgrims began heading towards the shrine in Khadimiya. This always prompts the insurgents to launch attacks upon them, which was what the suicide bomber was attempting to do in Wasit.

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
Apr 8-14	124	580	666

Violence In Iraq By Province, Apr 8-14, 2017

Province	Violence
Anbar	9 Incidents 22 Killed: 1 Hashd, 21 Civilians 11 Wounded: 3 Hashd, 8 Civilians 2 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 1 Car Bomb 14 Suicide Bombers Killed 2 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 1 Car Bomb Destroyed
Babil	1 Incident 5 Wounded: 5 Hashd 1 IED
Baghdad	28 Incidents 15 Killed: 1 Hashd, 14 Civilians 51 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 3 ISF, 47 Civilians 4 Shootings 17 IEDs 3 Sticky Bombs 1 Grenade 4 Suicide Bombers Killed
Basra	3 Incidents 1 Killed: 1 Civilian 1 Shooting 2 Sound Bombs
Diyala	14 Incidents 4 Killed: 2 ISF, 2 Hashd 5 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 4 Civilians 5 Shootings 5 IEDs
Kirkuk	3 Incidents 12 Killed: 12 Civilians 1 Wounded: 1 Hashd 1 Shooting
Ninewa	58 Incidents 526 Killed: 35 Soldiers, 491 Civilians 406 Wounded: 76 Soldiers, 330 Civilians 9 Shootings 12 IEDs 2 Rockets 12 Mortars 41 Suicide Bombers Killed/Arrested 23 Car Bombs Destroyed
Salahaddin	8 Incidents 6 Wounded: 6 Hashd 4 Shootings 12 Suicide Bombers Arrested

SOURCES

Al Alam, "At least 13 civilians killed in US led-airstrike in western Mosul," 4/13/17

Adel, Loaa, "Bomb blast near popular market in Baghdad, 2 casualties," Iraqi News, 4/13/17

- "Booby-trapped vehicle explodes near Ramadi, 8 civilians killed," Iraqi News, 4/13/17

- "IED blast wounds 3 persons west of Baghdad," Iraqi News, 4/11/17

- "Security forces foil attack on al-Hashd al-Ashaeri checkpoint near Baqubah," Iraqi News, 4/8/17

- "Security forces storm building kill over 30 IS members in western Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/9/17

- "Two mortar shells fall, two IEDs explode in Diyala," Iraqi News, 4/9/17

Airwars, "April 8th 2017: 17 July neighbourhood, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 8th 2017: Several neighbourhoods, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 9th 2017: Rifai and 17 July neighbourhoods, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq”

- "April 9th 2017: Zanjili neighbourhood, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 10th 2017: Sekak (Railway) neighbourhood, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 11th 2017: Yarmouk neighbourhood, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 11-12th 2017: Farouk neighborhood, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 13th-14th 2017: Several neighbourhoods, West Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

- "April 14th 2017: Ras Al Jadda neighbourhood, Old Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"

Baghdad Post, "12 civilians killed, injured in air raid in Mosul," 4/11/17

- "13 killed, 90 injured, including women, children, in Mosul shelling," 4/9/17

- "38 civilians killed in central Mosul," 4/14/17

- "Chlorine-laden shell hits Mosul left bank, woman injured," 4/11/17

- "Civilian killed by blast in southern Baghdad," 4/8/17

- "Civilians injured in blast in northern Baghdad," 4/14/17

- "Explosion hits northern Baghdad, three injured," 4/8/17

- "IMIS terrorist injured south of Kirkuk," 4/11/17

- "ISIS terrorists shell western Mosul with chlorine gas," 4/9/17

- "Nineveh's governor survives assassination attempt," 4/9/17

Bas News, "IS Executes Pregnant Woman with Her Husband in Mosul," 4/11/17

Buratha News, "Daash terrorists kills children of Mosul muzzin who refused to obey the orders of the organization," 4/11/17

- "Foiled attempt at armed robbery and the arrest of two gang members in Baghdad," 4/9/17

- "A teacher was killed by an explosive device targeting his vehicle south Baghdad," 4/9/17

Cook, Floyd, "IS Shoots Down Iraqi Helicopter Over Mosul," 4/8/17

Daily Star, "Iraq forces foil double car bomb attack at Syria border," 4/9/17

Hath al-Yourn, "A roadside bomb targeting an army patrol in central Hit," 4/13/17

Iraq Oil Report, "Inside Mosul: April 8, 2017," 4/8/17

- "Inside Mosul: April 10," 4/10/17

- "Inside Mosul, April 11, 2017," 4/11/17

- "Inside Mosul: April 13, 2017," 4/13/17

Al Maalomah, "The body of an unidentified man found south Baghdad," 4/12/17

- "A civilian was killed and two others wounded by mortars west Mosul," 4/13/17

- "Daash executed 12 civilians west Anbar for calling for a declaration of war against the organization," 4/8/17

- "Death of a member of the popular crowd and wounding three others in an explosion west Anbar," 4/14/17

- "Dismantled an explosive device near the house of a policeman west Baghdad," 4/10/17

- "The martyrdom of a member of the tribal crowd and wounding another by a grenade explosion south Baghdad,' 4/8/17

- "One person was killed and four others wounded in a bombing in south Baghdad," 4/14/17

- "Popular crowd repulsed Daesh west of Mosul," 4/10/17

- "Security forces dismantle two explosive devices in the center of Khalis," 4/12/17

- "Security forces kill two suicide bombers near the Hadbaa Lighthouse," 4/11/17

- "A suicide bomber was caught in the center of the left bank of Mosul," 4/13/17

- "Three female suicide bombers arrested in Mosul," 4/8/17

- "Unknown body found north Baghdad," 4/14/17

Mostafa, Mohamed, "34 Iraqi personnel killed in 18 days of fighting in Mosul: officer," 4/12/17

- "Civilian killed, 3 wounded in western Baghdad bomb explosion," Iraqi News, 4/9/17

- "Coalition jets, mortar missiles kill 5 civilians in western Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/11/17

- "Two killed, 4 wounded in southern Baghdad blast," Iraqi News, 4/13/17

- "UPDATED: Iraqi forces partially retake western Mosul's Tenek, 15 militants, one officer killed," Iraqi News, 4/13/17

Mostafa, Nehal, "Bomb blast injures three soldiers, western Baghdad," Iraqi News, 4/11/17

- "Bomb blast kills one, wounds four north of Baghdad," Iraqi News, 4/10/17

- "IED blast kills one, injures four, southeastern Baghdad," Iraqi News, 4/12/17

- "IS kills seven, wounds three civilians in shelling north of Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/11/17

- "Three persons wounded in a bomb blast, western Baghdad," Iraqi News, 4/13/17

NINA, "12 Cleaners Killed And Wounded In A Rocket Attack North Of Mosul," 4/11/17

- "38 Civilians Killed By An Attempt To Detonate One Of Mosul's Old Alleys," 4/11/17

- "An attack by Daesh organization on a security post stationed in the Hamrin Basin northeast of Baquba foiled," 4/12/17

- "Daesh Detonates 10 Houses Used By Them As HQs," 4/11/17

- "Five mortar shells landed in a village east of Baquba," 4/10/17

- "Mortar shells landed on an agricultural village and an attack on a security post in Abi Saida district in Diyala," 4/11/17

- "News of a new massacre killing 50 civilians who tried to flee from central Mosul," 4/8/17

- "Security Forces Kill 2 Suicide Bombers Before Targeting Them At Salam Hospital In Mosul," 4/8/17

- "Three improvised explosive devices dismantled in an operation northeast of Baquba," 4/9/17

- "Two civilians were kidnapped in central Kirkuk," 4/11/17

- "Two Suicide Bombers, Wearing Explosive Belts, Killed North Of Baghdad," 4/8/17

- "URGENT… Security Forces Foil An Attack To Daesh And Kill A Medical Team In Two Separate Incidents In Central Mosul," 4/8/17

Rudaw, "Iraqi forces attacked near where western Mosul civilians had been executed," 4/13/17

- "ISIS executes 12 captives near Hawija for trying to contact Iraq security," 4/10/17

- "Two ISIS judges, mufti killed in west Mosul," 4/14/17

Sattar, Sardar, "Mass Grave Discovered near Sinjar," Bas News, 4/8/17

Shafaaq News, "7 civilians killed and 13 supporters in the bombing of the coalition in Mosul," 4/12/17

- "The biggest attack on Baghdad by 14 suicide bombers was thwarted," 4/9/17

- "Federal police repel Daash attack with car bombs north Anbar," 4/13/17

- "Iraqi forces kill suicide bombers north Baghdad," 4/11/17

- "The popular crowd repulsed a Daash attack in Tal Afar," 4/9/17

- "Two members of popular crowd killed repulsing attack and the arrest of a dangerous man in Diyala and Baghdad," 4/10/17

Sotaliraq, "Three employees of a demining company in Ramadi killed and injured," 4/8/17

Al Sumaria, "A civilian was killed in an armed attack near his home north Baghdad,' 4/8/17

- "Four civilians injured in West Rutbah bombing," 4/8/17

- "Four civilians were injured when five mortar shells hit a village northeast of Baquba," 4/9/17

- "Four people killed and wounded by an explosive device north Baghdad," 4/12/17

- "Four people were wounded by a roadside bomb explosion north Baghdad," 4/14/17

- "Four people were wounded by a roadside bomb near a popular stadium west Baghdad," 4/8/17

- "Mortar shells land on three farming villages northeast of Baquba,' 4/8/17

- "Two people were wounded by a roadside bomb southwest Baghdad," 4/11/17

- "Two policemen were killed in an armed attack northeast of Baquba," 4/13/17

World Bulletin, "Baghdad market blast leaves 2 dead, 4 injured," 4/14/17