Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Security In Iraq Apr 22-28, 2019

(Iraqi News)

Violence in Iraq remained extremely low during the fourth week of April. This was despite the Islamic State recently announcing a new offensive. IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi also made a video appearance, the first since 2014 that might coincide with the campaign. At the same time, the group’s plans might have been disrupted by a raid by the Iraqi forces into one of the insurgents’ headquarters resulting in the low numbers.

From April 22-28, 2019 there were a total of 19 incidents reported in Iraq. One was a mass grave of Yazidis executed by IS being exhumed in the Sinjar district in west Ninewa. Ninewa with 9 incidents had the most of the five provinces that reported violence during the week.

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province
Province
Apr 1-7
Apr 8-14
Apr 15-21
Apr 22-28
Anbar
2
12
1
1
Babil
1
2
-
-
Baghdad
4
2
4
-
Diyala
8
12
4
6
Kirkuk
3
4
3
2
Ninewa
1
3
5
9
Salahaddin
1
6
-
1
TOTALS
20
41
17
19

Casualties In Iraq By Province
Province
Apr 1-7
Apr 8-14
Apr 15-21
Apr 22-28
Anbar
6 (5K, 1W)
14 (2K, 12W)
17 (17W)
-
Babil
2 (2W)
3 (3W)
-
-
Baghdad
3 (3K)
2 (2K)
3 (2K, 1W)
-
Diyala
15 (6K, 7W)
22 (11K, 11W)
3 (1K, 2W)
7 (4K, 3W)
Kirkuk
8 (6K, 2W)
12 (3K, 9W)
7 (4K, 3W)
4 (4W)
Ninewa
1 (1K)
3 (2K, 1W)
6 (3K, 3W)
46 (40K, 6W)
Salahaddin
2 (1K, 1W)
14 (8K, 6W)
-
3 (1K, 2W)
TOTALS
35 (22K, 13W)
70 (28K, 42W)
35 (9K, 26W)
60 (45K, 15W)

There were 45 deaths and 15 wounded reported during the week. 35 bodies of Yazidis were found leaving just 10 violent deaths during the week. In total, 1 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), 1 Hashd al-Shaabi and 43 civilians died and 2 ISF, 3 Hashd and 10 civilians were injured during the week. Ninewa with 46 casualties, 11 that happened during the week had the most in the country.

At the start of April the Islamic State announced a new offensive called Revenge of the Levant. This week Abu Bakr al-Baghdad appeared in a video, the first time he’s been seen publicly since 2014 when he declared the return of the caliphate in Mosul. The two could very well be related. At the same time, attacks have been very low in Iraq after a surge in the 2nd week of the month. The Iraqi forces conducted a raid into the Hamrin mountain and found an IS base along with a trove of documents that covered its leadership and plans for the spring-summer. That could have disrupted this new campaign. At the same time, there is always an ebb and flow to violence, so things could pick up in the coming weeks.

Anbar had just one incident when some IS fighters attempted to infiltrate Ramadi and were caught by the local security forces. Incidents in Anbar have widely fluctuated over the months.

IS was carrying out small attacks in Baghdad over the last five weeks, but no incidents were reported from April 22-28. It’s important for IS to return to the capital if they want to challenge the government, retain their credibility amongst jihadists and to gain more revenue from extortion, kidnappings, and other criminal activity.

Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa, Salahaddin remain the core of IS territory. In Diyala there were 6 incidents. That included an attack upon a village in the Abu Saida district in the west, the first such incident of the month. Four other attacks were in the Khanaqin district in the northeast, which has become the insurgents’ favorite target since the central government took control of the area from the Kurds in the aftermath of their independence referendum. Baghdad doesn’t have the forces to properly secure it and the ones there don’t coordinate and are sometimes in competition with each other. People in a town also in the northeast said they’d created a night guard to protect against IS. In rural areas the Iraqi forces are only out during the day, usually manning checkpoints, leaving the twilight hours to the insurgents. That has left many towns and villages defenseless, leading to things like this one trying to protect itself. Kirkuk had just two incidents, both IEDs. Ninewa had the most incidents with 9. South of Mosul two suicide bombers were killed in separate incidents, and there was a gun battle with militants during a security sweep. Two villages were also attacked, one in the Baaj district in the west and another in the Hamam al-Alil district in the south. The government has also started a process to exhume mass graves in the Sinjar district, which was how the 35 bodies of Yazidis were discovered. An MP from Ninewa sent a letter to the prime minister saying that the militants were kidnapping people and attacking villages in Baaj forcing people to flee. Al Mada also reported that 30 towns in the west around Tal Afar had been abandoned over the last 10 months due to IS operations. In both instances the lack of security forces were cited as the reason why the Islamic State was able to do this to residents. Finally, in Salahaddin there was just one incident when an IED went off in the Baiji district. The stories from Diyala and Ninewa remind people that attacks are not the only metric to measure the rebuilding of the insurgency. The government’s lack of presence in rural areas is giving IS a free reign to regroup, and create bases. That is especially important because it can only rebuild by creating a new cadre of fighters who need training space to hone their skills. Forcing people out of villages, provides those areas. Those towns are also providing revenues for the group as it extorts them and charges taxes adding another important element while it tries to make a comeback in Iraq.

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
8
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
7
6
1
2
-
-
-
2
-
-
Apr
13
15
2
4
1
-
1
-
-
-

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
4
8
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

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
6
5
1
-
1
2
2
-
-

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
5
7
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
Apr
-
2
(1 – Anbar
1 - Salahaddin)
2

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
Apr 8-14
41
28
42
Apr 15-21
17/16
9/8
26
Apr 22-28
19/18
45/10
15

Violence By Province Apr 22-28, 2019
Province
Violence
Anbar
1 Incident
Diyala
6 Incidents
4 Killed
1 ISF
1 Hashd
2 Civilians
3 Wounded
3 Civilians

4 Shootings
1 IED
1 Sticky Bomb
Kirkuk
2 Incidents
4 Wounded
2 Civilians
2 ISF

2 IEDs
Ninewa
9 Incidents
40 Killed
40 Civilians
6 Wounded
3 Civilians
3 Hashd

4 Shootings
2 Suicide Bombers Killed
Salahaddin
1 Incident
1 Killed
1 Civilian
2 Wounded
2 Civilians

1 IED

SOURCES

Adel, Loaa, "Bomb blast injures two persons in Khanaqin," Iraqi News, 4/25/19

Bas News, "Blast Injures two in Kirkuk," 4/25/19

BBC, “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: IS leader appears in first video in five years,” 4/30/19

Ebraheem, Mohammed, "Bomb attack kills Iraqi driver, wounds two municipal workers in Baiji," Iraqi News, 4/27/19
- "Iraqi security thwart Islamic State infiltration scheme in Anbar," Iraqi News, 4/22/19

Al Mada, “50 squads belonging to Chechyan Daesh attacks villages in western Mosul,” 4/22/19

Mostafa, Mohamed, “Iraqi representative warns government of IS resurgence in Nineveh,” Iraqi News, 4/22/19

Nawzad, Kosar, "ISIS torches village in Nineveh as MP warns of group's growing activity," Kurdistan 24, 4/22/19

NINA, “Residents Of Villages North-East Of Baquba Adopt A New Approach To Confront Daesh Night-Time Attacks,” 4/22/19
- "Two policeman and a policeman were wounded, and nine terrorists were killed south of Kirkuk," 4/25/19

Shafaaq News, "The exhumation of 35 remains of mass grave," 4/27/19
- "Explosion of an explosive device in Khanaiqn," 4/24/19
- "Two killed in a raid on a village near Mosul and two wounded by an explosion in Kirkuk," 4/25/19

Sot al-Iraq, "An element of the popular crowd was killed by sniper fire on the outskirts of Khanaqin," 4/26/19

Al Sumaria, "Gunmen kill a detainee while he was being transported to a health center northeast of Baquba," 4/24/19
Al Sumaria, "One civilian was killed and another wounded in an attack on a village in Diyala," 4/26/19

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