Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Security In Iraq Mar 15-21, 2019

(Shafaaq News)

The Iraqi insurgency continues to ebb and flow. In February attacks were slightly up from January perhaps pointing to the Islamic State coming out of its winter hibernation. March however has seen some of the lowest incident figures ever recorded by Musings On Iraq. That happened during the third week of March although casualty numbers were up due to another mass grave of IS victims being found and a clash between the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Turkish soldiers in Kurdistan.

There were only 12 incidents recorded from March 15-21, 2019. That was the lowest figure ever recorded by Musings On Iraq. Minus the mass grave and clash in Kurdistan there were only 10 likely attacks by IS. That surpassed the previous low of 13 incidents during the first week of the month. Kirkuk had the most attacks with just 4 during the week.

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province
Province
Mar 1-7
Mar 8-14
Mar 15-21
Anbar
2
2
-
Babil
-
1
-
Baghdad
-
-
2
Diyala
4
6
3
Kirkuk
3
4
4
KRG
-
-
1
Ninewa
4
2
2
Salahaddin
-
4
-
TOTALS
13
19/18
12/11

Casualties In Iraq By Province
Province
Mar 1-7
Mar 8-14
Mar 15-21
Anbar
7 (6K, 1)
4 (1K, 3W)
-
Babil
-
2 (2K)
-
Baghdad
-
-
9 (4K, 5W)
Diyala
6 (2K, 4W)
17 (6K, 11W)
3 (2K, 1W)
Kirkuk
1 (1K)
3 (1K, 2W)
4 (2K, 2W)
KRG
-
-
39 (29K, 10W)
Ninewa
53 (13K, 40W)
77 (67K, 10W)
32 (29K, 3 W)
Salahaddin
-
13 (2K, 11W)
-
TOTALS
67 (22K, 45W)
112 (75K, 37W)
87 (66K, 21W)

There were 87 casualties during the third week of March. That was due to 28 bodies being found in the Sinjar district in the first official excavation of a mass grave in the district. Another 6 PKK fighters were killed in a clash with Turkish soldiers. The PKK claimed it killed 23 Turks and wounded another 10 in the incident. In total, 2 Hashd al-Shaabi, 4 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), 6 PKK, 23 Turkish soldiers and 31 civilians were reported dead, and 10 Turkish soldiers and 11 ISF were injured.

As sign of how quiet the week was there were no incidents in Anbar or Salahaddin. Baghdad returned to the scene however with two attacks. One was an IED going off at a booby trapped building in Tarmiya followed by a gun battle that left 3 soldiers dead and 5 wounded. They were the first incidents in the province in three weeks.

In the core area of IS rebuilding, northern Iraq there were a total of 9 incidents in Diyala, Kirkuk and Ninewa. An ISF raid killed four suicide bombers in Diyala. there was also an attack upon a checkpoint in the Khanaqin district in the northeast. In Kirkuk, there were two clashes with insurgents both in the Hawija district in the south. A grenade was also tossed at a policeman’s house and IED went off at a mukhtar’s office both in Kirkuk city. Ninewa witnessed an IED upon an army patrol in the Sinjar district. These provinces along with Salahaddin are the main areas the insurgency is attempting its comeback. IS is active in every rural district of Diyala, the north and south of Kirkuk, western and southern Ninewa and the north, east and center of Salahaddin. The government has no program to counter the militants. Its security sweeps are ineffective and repeat past mistakes of playing whack a mole going through one area while the insurgents pop up in another. For instance, IS was hitting the Abu Saida district in western Diyala heavily a few weeks ago. In response, the government sent in more forces, conducted a few sweeps and attacks there disappeared. IS simply shifted to other parts of the province. In other areas like the Khanaqin district of northeast Diyala there has been no reduction in violence despite military operations there. Poor intelligence is one Achilles heel of the Iraqi forces. Without it these operations will continue to be largely futile.

Islamic State Activity in Iraq 2018-19
Anbar
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Mortars/
Rockets
Kidnappings
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
8
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
1
Feb
3
8
1
-
-
-
-
1
-
Mar
6
15
3
2
-
1
1
-
-
Apr
1
5
1
-
-
-
-
3
-
May
2
7
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
Jun
4
3
2
-
-
-
1
-
-
Jul
3
5
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
Aug
4
4
2
1
-
-
-
-
1
Sep
3
8
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
Oct
9
5
3
1
1
-
2
1
1
Nov
1
3
-
-
1
-
1
-
-
Dec
1
4
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
Jan 2019
6
4
1
-
2
-
1
1
1
Feb
10
11
4
1
1
1
4
-
-
Mar
1
1
-
-
-
1
-
-
-

Diyala
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Mortars
Rockets
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
20
24
2
7
-
1
-
6
1
1
Feb
14
13
4
3
-
-
-
-
1
-
Mar
29
21
14
5
1
2
1
5
-
-
Apr
13
18
2
2
-
-
-
2
-
-
May
11
11
1
3
1
1
3
4
1
-
Jun
32
17
5
12
-
1
5
4
-
-
Jul
20
19
2
3
-
2
3
1
-
-
Aug
17
18
2
2
1
1
3
3
-
-
Sep
20
12
5
1
-
2
5
5
-
-
Oct
11
22
2
-
1
1
-
4
-
-
Nov
17
13
5
2
1
1
4
4
-
-
Dec
15
10
3
3
-
1
1
2
-
-
Jan 2019
21
2
3
8
-
-
1
5
-
-
Feb
18
2
5
7
-
-
3
4
-
-
Mar
5
5
1
2
-
-
-
2
-
-

Kirkuk
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Mortars
Rockets
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
13
6
4
1
-
-
-
3
3
1
Feb
21
10
7
3
-
-
-
4
1
-
Mar
22
15
11
2
-
2
1
3
1
1
Apr
18
4
3
1
-
-
8
1
-
1
May
14
28
2
-
2
1
1
4
4
-
Jun
25
12
4
2
-
2
10
6
-
-
Jul
7
20
1
2
-
-
-
-
-
1
Aug
7
20
2
1
2
-
-
2
-
1
Sep
14
25
2
2
1
3
4
2
-
-
Oct
16
29
1
4
4
1
4
2
-
1
Nov
7
7
2
-
-
2
-
1
-
-
Dec
8
6
-
-
1
3
1
2
-
-
Jan 2019
8
17
-
4
2
3
-
2
-
1
Feb
9
5
3
-
-
2
1
1
-
-
Mar
3
9
2
1
1
-
-
-
-
-

Ninewa
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
18
8
7
1
1
-
-
-
-
Feb
19
7
8
1
-
1
-
1
-
Mar
20
6
7
1
-
1
-
-
-
Apr
8
6
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
May
11
6
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
Jun
7
2
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
Jul
9
9
1
1
1
1
2
-
-
Aug
9
9
2
-
-
1
1
-
-
Sep
8
3
2
-
-
-
-
1
-
Oct
13
5
-
1
-
1
-
-
1
Nov
9
7
2
1
-
-
3
-
1
Dec
8
6
1
-
3
1
-
-
1
Jan 2019
6
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
Feb
8
3
2
2
-
-
1
-
1
Mar
4
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
1

Salahaddin
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Mortars
Rockets
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
11
9
8
-
-
-
-
2
-
1
Feb
7
5
1
1
-
2
-
-
-
-
Mar
23
8
9
2
-
3
-
-
1
-
Apr
6
8
2
2
-
-
-
-
1
-
May
14
10
10
1
1
-
-
1
1
-
Jun
15
15
4
1
-
7
-
-
-
1
Jul
9
6
-
4
-
-
2
1
1
-
Aug
9
15
1
3
-
1
1
1
1
-
Sep
5
10
1
1
-
-
1
1
3
1
Oct
2
9
1
-
-
1
-
1
1
-
Nov
5
7
2
2
-
1
-
1
-
2
Dec
4
-
2
1
-
1
-
1
-
-
Jan 2019
5
5
3
1
-
3
-
-
-
1
Feb
7
15
3
-
-
2
1
1
1
-
(Gun Battles, Attacks on Checkpoints, Attacks on Mukhtars, Attacks on Towns are all subsets of the total number of shootings and IEDs/Sticky Bombs reported)

Suicide-Car Bombs In Iraq 2018-19
Month
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Totals
Jan
7
(1- Diyala,
3 – Baghdad/Baghdad,
3 - Kirkuk)
6
(1- Anbar,
1 – Diyala,
1 – Kirkuk,
1 – Salahaddin,
2 - Babil)
13
Feb
4
(1 – Anbar/Ramadi
1 – Diyala
1 – Kirkuk
1 - Ninewa)
-
4
Mar
2
(1 – Kirkuk/Kirkuk
1 - Salahaddin)
1
(1 – Kirkuk)
3
Apr
4
(1 - Salahaddin
3 – Anbar)
1
(1 – Kirkuk/Kirkuk)
5
May
8
(1 – Diyala
1 - Salahaddin)
2 – Baghdad/1 - Baghdad
4 - Kirkuk)
-
8
Jun

1
(1 – Salahaddin/Tikrit)
1
Jul
1
(1 – Salahaddin/Tikrit)
1
(1 – Kirkuk/Kirkuk)
2
Aug
1
(1 – Salahaddin)
2
(1 – Anbar,
1 – Kirkuk)
3
Sep
6
(1 – Ninewa)
2 – Anbar
3 – Salahaddin)
2
(1 – Kirkuk
1 – Salahaddin)
8
Oct
2
(1 – Anbar/Fallujah
1 – Salahaddin)
3
(1 – Anbar/Fallujah
1 – Kirkuk/Kirkuk
1 - Ninewa)
5
Nov
-
3
(1 – Ninewa/Mosul
2 – Salahaddin/Tikrit)
3
Dec
-
1
(1 – Ninewa)
1
Jan
1
(1 – Anbar)
3
(1 – Anbar
1 – Kirkuk
1 – Salahaddin/Tikrit)
4
Feb
1
(1 – Salahaddin)
1
(1 – Ninewa/Mosul)
2
Mar
-
1
(1 – Ninewa/Mosul)
1

Security In Iraq 2018-19
Week
Security
Incidents
(Total/By IS)
Dead
(Total/By IS)
Wounded
(Total/By IS)
Jan 1-7
62/60
45
63
Jan 8-14
58/56
58/56
66/63
Jan 15-21
62/59
151
151
Jan 22-28
59/51
140/136
65/63
Jan 29-31
24
21
21
JAN 2018
265/
250 by IS
417/
409 by IS
(196 Violent Deaths)
366/
361 by IS
Feb 1-7
58/56
192/141
62/60
Feb 8-14
57
58
91
Feb 15-21
53/52
343
43
Feb 22-28
46/44
38/37
70/68
FEB
214/
209 by IS
631/
579 by IS
(215 Violent Deaths)
266/
262 by IS
Mar 1-7
68/64
115/108
79/77
Mar 8-14
52
75
59
Mar 15-21
64/59
165/119
98
Mar 22-28
77/64
210/87
61/60
Mar 29-31
19/18
26/25
34
MAR
280/
257 by IS
591/
414 by IS
(446 Violent Deaths)
331/
328 by IS
Apr 1-7
38/34
172/140
27/25
Apr 8-14
60/52
173/136
81/72
Apr 15-21
43/35
63/18
72/70
Apr 22-28
40/31
60/30
39/33
Apr 29-30
12/11
14/11
4
APR
193/
163 by IS
482/
335 by IS
(236 Violent Deaths)
223/
204 by IS
May 1-7
45/39
52/43
55/54
May 8-14
55/51
68/46
49
May 15-21
35/32
55/26
80/75
May 22-28
49/46
72/62
51/49
May 29-31
16/13
39/30
15
MAY
200/
181 by IS
286/
207 by IS
(261 Violent Deaths)
250/
242 by IS
Jun 1-7
50/44
96/87
29/28
Jun 8-14
67/59
107/47
88
Jun 15-21
40/35
82/28
19
Jun 22-28
45/44
53/38
62
Jun 29-30
17/15
21/16
14
JUN
219/
197 by IS
359/
216 by IS
(315 Violent Deaths)
212/
211 by IS
Jul 1-7
50/49
56/52
90
Jul 8-14
42/39
56/47
31
Jul 15-21
50/45
59/42
63
Jul 22-28
29/24
61/53
19/15
Jul 29-31
23/21
25/13
11
JUL
194/
178 by IS
257/
207 by IS
(212 Violent Deaths)
214/
210 by IS
Aug 1-7
43/39
49/45
30/29
Aug 8-14
43/42
38
44
Aug 15-21
38/35
24/21
40/37
Aug 22-28
35/31
25/19
61
Aug 29-31
27/24
68/30
43
AUG
186/
171 by IS
204/
153 by IS
(189 Violent Deaths)
218/
214 by IS
Sep 1-7
38
44
54
Sep 8-14
48/43
63/55
127
Sep 15-21
44/38
90/74
70
Sep 22-28
36/33
22/17
27/26
Sep 29-30
9/6
19/10
29/25
SEP
175/
158 by IS
237/
200 by IS
(179 Violent Deaths)
307/
302 by IS
Oct 1-7
54/49
85/25
92
Oct 8-14
43/41
161/152
41
Oct 15-21
54/50
87/72
35
Oct 22-28
24/23
24/20
53
Oct 29-31
23
10
24
OCT
198/
186 by IS
367/
279 by IS
(177 Violent Deaths)
245 by IS
Nov 1-7
32/31
75/69
36
Nov 8-14
39/31
111/63
19
Nov 15-21
30/27
51/43
29
Nov 22-28
26/21
35/25
30
Nov 29-30
9/8
4
27
NOV
136/
118 by IS
276/
204 by IS
(183 Violent Deaths_
141 by IS
Dec 1-7
22/15
21/8
11
Dec 8-14
22
15
22
Dec 15-21
23/21
23/16
17
Dec 22-28
30/28
24/18
37
Dec 29-31
15/14
225/220
4
DEC
112/
100 by IS
308/
277 by IS
(96 Violent Deaths)
91 by IS
Jan 1-7
32/31
17/10
24
Jan 8-14
32/30
97/94
53
Jan 15-21
22/18
17/11
16/14
Jan 22-28
27/22
36/17
31
Jan 29-31
12
7
6
JAN
125/
114 by IS
174/
139 by IS
(108 Violent Deaths)
130/
128 by IS
Feb 1-7
29/28
76
30
Feb 8-14
24
26
18
Feb 15-21
40
112
12
Feb 22-28
25
36
70
FEB
118/
117 by IS
250 by IS
(115 Violent Deaths)
130 by IS
Mar 1-7
13
22
45
Mar 8-14
19/18
75/10
37
Mar 15-21
12/11
66/37
21/11

Violence By Province Mar 15-21, 2019
Province
Violence
Baghdad
2 Incidents
4 Killed
1 Civilian
3 ISF
5 Wounded
5 ISF

2 Shootings
1 IED
Diyala
3 Incidents
2 Killed
2 Civilians
1 Wounded
1 ISF

1 Shooting
1 IED
4 Suicide Bombers Killed
Kirkuk
4 Incidents
2 Killed
2 Hashd
2 Wounded
2 ISF

2 Shootings
1 IED
1 Grenade
KRG
1 Incident
29 Killed
6 PKK
23 Turkish Soldiers
10 Wounded
10 Turkish Soldiers

1 Shooting
Ninewa
2 Incidents
29 Killed
1 ISF
28 Civilians
3 Wounded
3 ISF

1 IED

SOURCES

Al Alam, "The martyrdom of two members of the popular crowd at the hands of Daesh south of Kirkuk," 3/15/19

Baghdad Post, "Baghdad operations: the death of an officer and a soldier and wounding 6 others after a bomb explosion," 3/19/19
- "Gunmen throw a grenade at the home of a police officer in Kirkuk," 3/16/19
- "Eight killed and wounded of the army in attack by Daash north of Baghdad," 3/19/19
- "Explosive device detonated in front of Mukhtar office south of Kirkuk," 3/20/19
- "Security forces respond to Da'ish in Kirkuk," 3/16/19
- "Twenty-eight bodies were exhumed from a mass grave in Sinjar and sent to forensic medicine in Baghdad," 3/20/19

Ebraheem, Mohammed, "Iraqi soldier killed, two wounded in armed attack in northern Baghdad," Iraqi News, 3/19/19

Iraq Newspaper, "An Attack By The Terrorist On Diyala Governor's Headquarters Foiled Killed Four Suicide Bombers," 3/17/19

Masrawy, "Iraq: 4 soldiers killed and wounded in an explosion northwest of Mosul," 3/18/19

NINA, "Security forces repulsed an attack by Daesh on a security point northeast of Baquba," 3/18/19

Reuters, "Turkey says two of its soldiers killed, eight wounded in northern Iraq," 3/16/19

Sotaliraq, "Killing and wounding 33 Turkish soldiers and 5 PKK near Irbil," 3/19/19

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