Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Security In Iraq Apr 1-7, 2019

(Shafaaq News)

Violence was up in Iraq during the first week of April 2019, but it was still at a low level compared to the last sixteen years. Attacks were spread out across all of central and western Iraq, and there was a car bomb as well.

There were 20 incidents from April 1-7. That compared to attacks being in the teens for every week of March. Diyala with 8 incidents led the country. Iraq is still witnessing the lowest levels of violence since 2003 largely due to the Islamic State regrouping and likely holding off on carrying out operations.

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province
Province
Apr 1-7
Anbar
2
Babil
1
Baghdad
4
Diyala
8
Kirkuk
3
Ninewa
1
Salahaddin
1
TOTALS
20

Casualties In Iraq By Province
Province
Apr 1-7
Anbar
6 (5K, 1W)
Babil
2 (2W)
Baghdad
3 (3K)
Diyala
15 (6K, 7W)
Kirkuk
8 (6K, 2W)
Ninewa
1 (1K)
Salahaddin
2 (1K, 1W)
TOTALS
35 (22K, 13W)

There were 22 deaths and 13 wounded during the week. 4 Hashd al-Shaabi, 6 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 12 civilians lost their lives. Another 2 civilians, 3 Hashd, and 8 ISF were injured. Diyala had the most casualties with 15 and was the only governorate in double digits at the start of April.

Anbar had just two incidents, but one of those was a vehicle bomb. The car bomb targeted Iraqis collecting truffles in western Anbar and left 3 dead and 1 wounded. Since January the Islamic State has been targeting people searching for truffles. This danger hasn’t seemed to deter anyone from this endeavor.

Babil is only averaging around one attack per month. Almost every time those incidents occur in Jurf al-Sakrh in the northeast of the governorate. April was no different when an IED hit and wounded 2 Hashd in that district. The area is a military base for the Hashd and is completely empty of civilians. Neither the government nor the security forces will allow anyone back because it straddles the main highway Shiite pilgrims take from central Iraq to Najaf and Karbala. IS is still able to infiltrate the district from neighboring Anbar every now and then to carry out these attacks, almost always IEDs.

Since the start of the year there have been several weeks where there were no incidents in Baghdad. The start of April had four spread between the south, north and west. All the incidents were shootings. The capital used to the center of terrorism in Iraq. Now it is largely an afterthought. IS has to try to return to the province however if it wants to become relevant again, and a threat to the government.

Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salahaddin are the main rebuilding areas of the insurgency. There were 13 incidents between the four. In Diyala a grenade was thrown at a cafĂ© in Kanaan in the east, and three checkpoints were attacked in the north and east. In Kirkuk there were three attacks including an ambush in the Daquq district in the southeast. There was just one incident in Ninewa, which was a kidnapped man’s body being found. Finally, in Salahaddin a grenade was thrown at a Hashd leader’s residence in Dujail. It’s important to remember that incidents are only part of the story of the insurgency. The Peshmerga reported that a large number of IS members from Syria arrived in the Hamrin Mountains that stride Diyala and Salahaddin. There was another story that IS members were active in the Qarachogh Mountains of the Makhmour district of Ninewa. They were charging taxes, extorting money, had a series of tunnels and caves they could operate out of, and were even said to be walking around openly in the daylight. Hamrin has been a long time militant hideout since the insurgency. Rural Ninewa and in fact the countryside of all of these provinces are being exploited by the Islamic State. The government presence is minimal, the security forces are usually only present during the day, and usually only a checkpoints. Although there are constant security sweeps they are ineffective, usually either being in response to attacks or part of a routine rather than based upon intelligence. These wide open spaces are largely the reason IS has been able to rebuild after its defeat in 2017 much faster than after the Surge when it was once again struck down.

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
2
1
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
Apr
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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
7
6
1
2
-
-
-
2
-
-
Apr
5
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-

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
5
11
2
1
2
-
2
1
-
-
Apr
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
6
1
3
-
-
-
1
-
1
Apr
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
-
Mar
3
5
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
Apr
-
1
(1 – Anbar)
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
Mar 22-28
13/12
8/5
1
Mar 29-31
6
8
7
MAR
63/
61 by IS
179/
147 by IS
(54 Violent Deaths by IS)
111/
101 by IS
Apr 1-7
20
22
13

Violence By Province Apr 1-7 2019
Province
Violence
Anbar
2 Incidents
5 Killed
2 Hashd
3 Civilians
1 Wounded
1 Civilian

1 Car Bomb
Babil
1 Incident
2 Wounded
2 Hashd

1 IED
Baghdad
4 Incidents
3 Killed
3 Civilians

4 Shootings
Diyala
8 Incidents
6 Killed
1 ISF
2 Hashd
3 Civilians
7 Wounded
7 ISF

5 Shootings
2 IEDs
1 Grenade
Kirkuk
3 Incidents
6 Killed
1 Civilian
5 ISF
2 Wounded
1 Hashd
1 ISF

2 Shootings
1 IED
Ninewa
1 Incident
1 Killed
1 Civilian

1 Shooting
Salahaddin
1 Incident
1 Killed
1 Civilian
1 Wounded
1 Civilian

1 Grenade

SOURCES

Baghdad Post, "A civilian was killed in armed attack by unknown assailants west of Baghdad," 4/2/19
- "A civilian was killed in an armed attack north of Baghdad," 4/3/19
- "Two elements of the crowd were wounded by a roadside bomb northwest of Hilla," 4/7/19

Buratha News, "Assassination of a civilian in a silenced attack north of Baghdad," 4/6/19

Al Forat, “Monitor a large range of Daesh in the borders of Hamrin,” 4/7/19

Iraq Newspaper, "Attack On A Leader's Home In Dujail And On An Archaeological Site In Nahrawan," 4/3/19
- "The Terrorists Announces The Killing Of Two Members Of The Peace Brigades Two Days Ago In Lake Tharthar," 4/5/19
- "Two Members Of The Popular Crowd Were Killed By A Sniper, North Of Baghdad," 4/4/19

NINA, "The body of a young man with gunshot wounds was found west of Mosul," 4/4/19
- "Two soldiers were wounded in separate attacks east and northeast of Baquba," 4/7/19
- "Unknown Gunmen Target A Café By A Stun Grenade East Of Baquba," 4/6/19

Rudaw, “ISIS movements detected in disputed Qarachogh,” 4/7/19

Al Sumaria, "The son of a leader in the crowd was killed and his wife was wounded in an attack on his home in Dujail," 4/3/19

Xinhua, "3 civilians killed in car bomb explosion in western Iraq," 4/5/19
- "5 policeman killed in attack by IS militants in northern Iraq," 4/5/19

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