Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Security In Iraq Sep 15-21, 2019

(Al Maalomah)

After a spike in attacks at the start of September they have started to go back down to the mean. The Islamic State has also shifted its focus this month. In August, there were hardly any attacks outside of Diyala. This month, attacks are across the center of the country. There was also a rare car bomb in Karbala.

Attacks have declined since the start of September. During the first week of the month there were 38 attacks, then 28 the second week, and now 23 the third week. Those incidents were also spread across several provinces such as 8 in Baghdad, 5 in Kirkuk, and 4 in Diyala. In August, there were barely any attacks outside of that last province.

There were 53 casualties from September 15-21, the highest count of the month. There were 27 deaths made up of 2 Hashd al-Shaabi, 7 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 18 civilians. Another 26 people were wounded made up of 2 ISF, 3 Hashd, and 21 civilians. From September 8-14 there were 24 bodies found leaving just 11 violent deaths during the week. Likewise, from September 1-7 another 13 bodies were discovered leaving 26 violent deaths. This week’s high figure was driven by the Karbala car bomb. There were 17 casualties in Baghdad and Karbala each.

There are very few incidents in Anbar and this week was no different. There was a home invasion in the Garma district in the eastern section of the province targeting a tribal Hashd family leaving four dead. There have only been one incident per week in Anbar this month. This used to be a major battlefront, but is now mostly being used to shuttle men into Iraq from Syria.

In August, there was a jump in incidents in northern Babil. This month, things have gone back to normal with little activity. When there is something it is almost always in the northeastern district of Jurf al-Sakhr, which is a Hashd base. This week was no different with a sniper wounding a Hashd at a checkpoint there.

IS continued to make strides in its effort to return to the capital. The first week of the month there were 7 attacks in Baghdad, down to just 3 the second week, but up to 8 the third week. On September 7 there were five IEDs across central, eastern and southern sections. Likewise, on September 16, there were another 5 IEDs in the center, south and north. A sniper also killed two soldiers at a checkpoint. Most IS operations are concentrated in the northern and southern towns in outer Baghdad, with a few in the west. Being able to plant IEDs in the city itself, and more importantly in the center is a big jump for the group’s networks. Attacks are still at a very low level, but this shows a large jump in the militants’ capabilities.

Speaking of IS reaching out there was a rare car bombing in Karbala that left 12 dead and 5 wounded on September 20. Vehicle bombs are hardly seen in Iraq anymore. In August there was one in Salahaddin, but before that there hadn’t been any since May. Hitting southern Iraq is just as rare. The last incident in that region was a sticky bomb in Karbala in July. During the group’s last rebuild it was still able to routinely set off car bombs in urban areas. Now they barely occur showing that the group’s networks are severely damaged. Being able to get one into Karbala therefore, was a double accomplishment.

Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa, and Salahaddin are back to being the insurgents’ main area of operation. There were four incidents in Diyala including a village being attacked and houses being burned in the Jalawla district in the northeast. Kirkuk had five attacks, including mortar fire on a village, a checkpoint being shot at, and two patrols being hit by IEDs all in the south. In Ninewa, a mukhtar was assassinated in one of the two incidents there. Finally, Salahaddin only had one incident, an IED in the Tuz Kharmato district in the east. Ninewa and Salahaddin used to be major fronts for IS, but now appear secondary. Diyala and Kirkuk in comparison, still have a high number of incidents most weeks. As usual, half the attacks in the former were in the Jalawla-Khanaqin district in the northeast. The central government took control of these areas from the Kurds after the 2017 independence referendum, but have not deployed enough security forces there to secure them. Likewise in Kirkuk, the southern districts appear to be wide open as well. Given those situations it’s surprising there aren’t more attacks there. As reports have recently pointed out however, the Islamic State is focusing upon rebuilding its cadres and preserving its leadership in Iraq right now, rather than violence, and that could account for the low numbers seen week to week.

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province
Province
Sep 1-7
Sep 8-14
Sep 15-21
Anbar
1
1
1
Babil
1
-
1
Baghdad
7
3
8
Diyala
14
9
4
Karbala
-
-
1
Kirkuk
2
11
5
Ninewa
9
3
2
Salahaddin
5
3
1
TOTAL
39
30
23

Casualties In Iraq By Province
Province
Sep 1-7
Sep 8-14
Sep 15-21
Anbar
-
15 (15K)
4 (4K)
Babil
3 (1K, 2W)
-
1 (1W)
Baghdad
16 (2K, 14W)
6 (2K, 4W)
17 (4K, 13W)
Diyala
19 (6K, 13W)
16 (5K, 11W)
3 (1K, 2W)
Karbala
-
-
17 (12K, 5W)
Kirkuk
2 (2W)
13 (2K, 11W)
7 (5K, 2W)
Ninewa
22 (17K, 5W)
21 (11K, 10W)
3 (1K, 2W)
Salahaddin
15 (13K, 2W)
7 (7W)
1 (1W)
TOTAL
77 (39K, 38W)
78 (35K, 43W)
53 (27 K, 26W)

Islamic State Activity in Iraq 2018-19
Diyala
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
2018
Totals
219
198
47
43
5
13
25
3
1
Jan 2019
21
2
3
8
-
-
1
-
-
Feb
18
2
5
7
-
-
3
-
-
Mar
7
6
1
2
-
-
-
-
-
Apr
13
15
2
4
1
-
1
-
-
May
11
13
3
5
-
-
13
(9 Farms Burned)
-
-
Jun
15
8
2
4
-
1
-
1
-
Jul
7
12
2
4
-
-
2
-
-
Aug
21
12
3
7
-
1
1
1
-
Sep
12
15
2
3
-
-
2
-
-
2019
Totals
125
85
23
44
1
2
23
2
-

Kirkuk
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
2018
Totals
172
182
39
18
10
14
29
9
6
Jan 2019
8
17
-
4
2
3
-
-
1
Feb
9
5
3
-
-
2
1
-
-
Mar
5
11
2
1
2
-
2
-
-
Apr
5
9
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
May
11
18
2
3
1
-
13
(13 Farms Burned)
-
-
Jun
5
10
1
2
-
-
-
-
-
Jul
2
10
-
-
-
1
2
-
-
Aug
9
6
10
-
-
1
-
-
-
Sep
5
8
-
1
1
1
-
-
-
2019
Totals
59
94
21
11
6
8
18
-
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
2018
Totals
139
74
43
7
5
6
6
2
3
Jan 2019
6
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
Feb
8
3
2
2
-
-
1
-
1
Mar
6
1
3
-
-
-
1
-
1
Apr
6
6
1
-
1
2
2
-
-
May
8
8
1
-
1
2
6
(5 Farms Burned)
-
1
Jun
2
5
-
-
1
-
4
(4 Farms Burned)
-
-
Jul
2
2
-
-
1
1
2
-
-
Aug
3
2
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
Sep
3
4
-
-
2
1
-
-
-
2019
Totals
44
31
7
2
7
6
17
-
3

Salahaddin
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
2018
Totals
110
102
41
18
1
16
4
9
5
Jan 2019
5
5
3
1
-
3
-
-
1
Feb
7
11
3
-
-
2
1
1
-
Mar
3
5
2
-
-
-
-
-
1
Apr
2
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
1
May
10
9
4
1
1
-
6
(5 Farms Burned)
-
-
Jun
4
3
2
-
1
-
-
-
-
Jul
3
6
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
Aug
5
1
1
-
-
1
1
-
1
Sep
5
3
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
2019
Totals
44
45
21
4
2
6
8
1
4

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
May
1
(1 – Baghdad)
3
(2 – Anbar
1 – Ninewa)
4
Jun
1
(1 – Diyala)
-
1
Jul
2 (2 – Baghdad/Malif)
-
2
Aug
1
(1 – Diyala)
1
(1 – Salahaddin)
2
Sep
-
1
(1 – Karbala)
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
94/31
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
114
139
130/128
Feb 1-7
29/28
76/16
30
Feb 8-14
24
26
18
Feb 15-21
40
112/37
12
Feb 22-28
25
36
70
FEB
118
250/115
130
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
61
147
101
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
Apr 29-30
2
1
4
APR
99
105
100
May 1-7
20/19
15
18
May 8-14
24
31
41
May 15-21
37/36
62/25
39
May 22-28
43
39
54
May 29-31
13
16
48
MAY
137/136
163/125
200
Jun 1-7
26
19
44
Jun 8-14
25/24
29
15
Jun 15-21
21/16
6
13/10
Jun 22-28
18
17
41
Jun 29-30
9
3
9
JUN
99/93
74
122/119
Jul 1-7
20
11
39
Jul 8-14
14
31
10
Jul 15-21
17
14
37
Jul 22-28
23
14
20
Jul 29-31
8
13
13
JUL
82
83
119
Aug 1-7
27
14
31
Aug 8-14
18
13
13
Aug 15-21
20
33
15
Aug 22-28
27
24
72
Aug 29-31
11
19
10
AUG
104/103
103
141
Sep 1-7
39
39
38
Sep 8-14
30
35
43
Sep 15-21
23
27
26

Violence By Province Sep 15-21, 2019
Province
Violence
Anbar
1 Incident
4 Killed
2 Civilians
2 Hashd

1 Shooting
Babil
1 Incident
1 Wounded
1 Hashd

1 Shooting
Baghdad
8 Incidents
4 Killed
2 Civilians
2 ISF
13 Wounded
13 Civilians

3 Shootings
5 IEDs
Diyala
4 Incidents
1 Killed
1 Civilian
2 Wounded
2 Civilians

2 Shootings
1 IED
1 Rockets
Karbala
1 Incident
12 Killed
12 Civilians
5 Wounded
5 Civilians

1 Car Bomb
Kirkuk
5 Incidents
5 Killed
5 ISF
2 Wounded
2 ISF

1 Shooting
3 IEDs
1 Mortar
Ninewa
2 Incidents
1 Killed
1 Civilian
2 Wounded
2 Hashd

1 Shooting
1 IED
Salahaddin
1 Incident
1 Wounded
1 Civilian

1 IED

SOURCES

Baghdad Post, "Civilian killed by armed attack north of Baghdad," 9/17/19
- "Death toll in Kirkuk blast rises to three," 9/20/19
- "A member of the crowd was wounded by sniper fire north of Babylon," 9/20/19

Bas News, "Bomb Blast Wounds Farmer in Tuz Khurmatu," 9/19/19
- "Kirkuk: Two Iraqi Policemen Killed in Bomb Blast," 9/17/19

Ebraheem, Mohammed, "Seven Iraqis wounded in two bomb blasts in Baghdad," Iraqi News, 9/16/19

Al Hurra, "Four members of one family…7 dead in an area north of Baghdad," 9/22/19

NINA, "A Civilian Shot Dead By Gunmen In Front Of A Court In Diyala," 9/19/19
- "Four members of one family were killed in an attack by ISIS on a village in Karma district," 9/22/19
- "Gunmen Kill A Mukhtar Of A Village In Mosul," 9/21/19
- "ISIS Attacks A Village And Burns 3 Houses On The Outskirts Of Khanaqin Northeast Of Baquba," 9/21/19
- "ISIS Terrorists Attack A Village In Kirkuk By Mortars," 9/21/19
- "ISIS Terrorists Open Fire At A Checkpoint Near Sheikh Anwar Al-Assi Village South Of Kirkuk," 9/21/19
- "A number of citizens were wounded when four explosive devices exploded in different areas of Baghdad," 9/16/19
- "The Number Of Victims Of An IED's Explosion In Karbala Up To 11 Dead And Injured," 9/20/19
- "A Policeman killed and an officer wounded in the federal police in a bomb explosion west of Kirkuk," 9/19/19
- "The Popular Mobilization Foils A Katyusha Plot To Target The Arba'in Pilgrims In Diyala, Heading To Karbala," 9/20/19
- "A Security source: A series of explosive devices hit the areas of Talbiya, Baladiyat and the 4th police targeting crowds of worshipers and processions of Husseini condolences," 9/7/19
- "Two farmers were injured when an explosive device went off northeast of Baquba," 9/20/19
- "Two members of the tribal crowd were wounded in a bomb explosion south of Mosul," 9/18/19

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, "Baghdad Rocked By Explosions, 14 Wounded," 9/7/19

Shafaaq News, "Iraqi authorities announce the killing of 12 people and wounding five others in the bombing at the entrance to Karbala," 9/20/19

Sputnik News, "Wounded by an explosive device in central Baghdad," 9/7/19

Al Sumaria, "The death toll near the control of Karbala rises to 11 dead and two wounded," 9/20/19
- "Five civilians wounded in two blasts south of Baghdad," 9/16/19
- "Four civilians were wounded in two explosions in eastern Baghdad," 9/7/19
- "Gunmen kill a food shop owner and wound his father north of Baghdad," 9/16/19
- "The outcome of the bombing of Bab al-Sheikh at five wounded," 9/16/19
- "Security source reveals details of Karbala bombing," 9/20/19
- "Two civilians wounded by an explosive device east of Baghdad," 9/7/19
- "Two civilians wounded by an explosive device southwest of Baghdad," 9/7/19
- "Wounded by an explosive device south of Baghdad," 9/7/19

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