Thursday, December 17, 2020

Security In Iraq Dec 8-14, 2020


Security in Iraq was basically unchanged between the first and second weeks of December. The main difference was that pro-Iran groups carried out two attacks for the first time in a month.

 

There were a total of 21 incidents in Iraq reported in the media. Two of those were by forces aligned with Iran leaving 19 by the Islamic State. The week before there were 19 attacks by the insurgents.

 

Attacks took place in Babil (1), Baghdad (1), Irbil (1), Muthanna (1), Salahaddin (1), Anbar (2), Kirkuk (4), Diyala (5), and Ninewa (5).

 

Those left 13 killed made up of 3 Hashd al-Shaabi, 4 civilians and 6 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and 26 wounded consisting of 1 Hashd, 12 civilians and 13 ISF. Ninewa had the most casualties with 15, followed by 8 in Diyala, 7 in Anbar, 4 in Kirkuk, 3 in Irbil, and one each in Babil and Salahaddin. 23 of the 39 dead and wounded were members of the security forces. Since the spring the Islamic State has been carrying out a war of attrition against the government.

 

The first attack by pro-Iran groups occurred on December 10 in Muthanna when a convoy carrying supplies for the U.S. was hit by an IED. Two days later the Baghdad International Airport received mortar fire. In November there was one incident by these groups and before that there were seven in October before a truce was announced. A new group declared that the ceasefire was over after the Muthanna incident. It’s yet to be seen whether this is just one or two groups breaking away from the rest or whether there will be a new wave of attacks.

 

For the second week in a row the militants went after infrastructure in Anbar. At the start of December 8 electricity towers were blown up in two incidents. On December 13 three more were taken down, this time using vehicles instead of explosives in the Qaim district in the west along the Syrian border. A checkpoint was also attacked in Hit leaving three soldiers dead and four wounded. The insurgents have definitely changed their tactics in the province recently. Before it was mostly used to move in men and material from Syria. What violence did occur were usually small shootings and IEDs. Now the incidents are much more serious.

 

A checkpoint in the Jurf al-Sakhr district of northeast Babil was hit by an IED in Babil. This is the area most likely to be attacked in the governorate because it is a large base for Kataib Hezbollah and therefore provides plenty of targets.

 

Incidents in Diyala dropped by more than half from the previous week. There were 12 incidents the start of December versus 5 the 2nd week of the month. 3 Hashd died from an earlier incident on December 3. Two towns were hit by mortar fire plus there was a shooting and an IED. One of these incidents was in Khanaqin in the northeast and two were in Muqdadiya in the center. These are the most violent parts of the governorate. Two more however occurred in Buhriz in the southwest. This was a change as nothing has happened there since the end of October. Previously IS was hitting the northwest by the Salahaddin border. It appears that IS is looking for new areas to expand to.

 

A rare suicide bombing happened in Irbil’s Makhmour district in the south. It targeted a passing army convoy. IS has been exploiting this disputed area since the start of the year, but this was one of the biggest incidents so far. The last suicide bombing was during the second week of September.

 

Kirkuk had four incidents topped off by the Khabbaz oil field having two wells blown up. The other major incident was when the army was searching tunnels in the Dibs area in the north and an IED went off which killed one soldier and wounded two more, one of which was a regimental commander. Almost all the attacks in Kirkuk are in the south, but this incident points to the insurgents having bases across the province.

 

The five incidents in Ninewa were all low level with one shooting and the rest being IEDs. IS has slowly picked up its operations in the province but they remain these types of attacks.

 

An IED went off in Alam in the Tikrit district in Salahaddin during the week.

 

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province

Province

Dec 1-7

Dec 8-14

Anbar

2

2

Babil

-

1

Baghdad

2

1

Pro-Iran

Diyala

12

5

Irbil

-

1

Kirkuk

1

4

Muthanna

-

1

Pro-Iran

Ninewa

1

5

Salahaddin

1

1

TOTAL

19

21/2

Pro-Iran

 

Casualties In Iraq By Province

Province

Dec 1-7

Dec 8-14

Anbar

-

7 (3K, 4W)

Babil

-

1 (1W)

Baghdad

5 (1K, 4W)

-

Diyala

22 (2K, 20W)

8 (3K, 5W)

Irbil

-

3 (1K, 2W)

Kirkuk

3 (1K, 2W)

4 (2K, 2W)

Ninewa

2 (2W)

15 (3K, 12W)

Salahaddin

2 (2W)

1 (1K)

TOTAL

34 (3K, 30W)

39 (13K, 26W)

 

Attacks by Pro-Iran Groups 2020

Date

Incident - Location

1/4/20

Mortar – Baghdad’s Jadriya – 5 wounded

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

 

Mortar – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base – 3 wounded

1/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

1/8/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

1/12/20

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base – 6 wounded

1/14/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

1/20/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

1/21/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

1/26/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone – 3 wounded

1/31/20

Rockets – Kirkuk’s Qayara Base

 

January Totals - 11

2/15/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

2/21/20

Rockets – Irbil’s Makhmour Base

 

February Totals - 2

3/1/20

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Sadiq Base

3/2/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

3/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

3/11/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji – 3 killed (2 US, 1 UK), 12 wounded

3/14/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji – 7 wounded (3 US)

3/16/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Besmaya Base

3/17/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

3/26/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

 

March Totals - 8

4/18/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Nahrawan Chinese company

4/6/20

Rockets – Basra’s Burjisiya US company

 

April Totals – 2

5/6/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

5/19/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

 

May Total - 2

6/8/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

6/10/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

6/13/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

6/14/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

6/15/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

 

Rockets found – Baghdad’s Rashidiya

6/18/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

6/22/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s International Airport

 

June Total - 8

7/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone – 1 wounded

 

Rockets found – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

7/10/20

Rockets found – Aimed at Baghdad’s Green Zone

7/11/20

Burned trucks carrying supplies to US - Muthanna

7/19/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

7/22/20

IEDs trucks carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

7/23/10

Drone and bomb found – Jadriya, Baghdad

7/24/10

Rockets – Baghdad’s Besmaya Base

7/27/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

 

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Camp Speicher

7/30/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s International Airport

7/31/20

Rockets found – Baghdad’s Jabour al-Shaarah

 

July Totals – 12

8/3/20

Rockets – 2 areas of Baghdad’s Meshada Dist

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

8/4/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

8/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

8/9/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

8/10/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US - Basra

8/11/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

 

Rockets – Landed in Tigris River, Baghdad

8/14/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

 

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

8/15/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

8/16/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

8/18/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

8/21/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad – 1 killed

8/22/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

8/23/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

8/28/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

8/29/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

8/30/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

 

August Totals – 24

9/2/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil – 1 wounded

9/3/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

 

Rockets UK security company – Baghdad

9/6/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad – 2 wounded

 

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

9/8/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil – 1 killed, 2 wounded

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad – 2 wounded

9/10/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

9/12/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin

9/14/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

9/15/20

IED on UK diplomatic convoy – Baghdad

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

9/16/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

9/17/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad also reported as Babil

9/18/20

IED American Inst for English Learning – Najaf

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin – 1 wounded

9/20/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

9/21/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin

9/22/20

Mortars – Baghdad’s Green Zone

9/23/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

9/27/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

9/28/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Radwaniya – 5 killed 2 wounded

9/29/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

9/30/20

Rockets – Irbil Airport

 

IED airport road – Baghdad

 

September Totals – 31

10/1/20

Rocket at convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

10/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Jadriya neighborhood

10/11/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

10/24/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra

 

October Totals – 7

11/17/20

Rockets – Bagdhad’s Green Zone 1 killed, 5 wounded

 

November Totals – 1

12/10/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

12/12/20

Mortar – Baghdad International Airport

 

December Totals - 2

 

Islamic State Activity in Iraq 2018-20

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

2019

Totals

185

112

33

63

2

6

29

2

-

Jan 2020

13

6

-

2

-

1

-

-

-

Feb

16

5

2

8

-

1

-

-

-

Mar

15

10

4

2

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

20

17

4

2

-

-

-

-

-

May

38

18

8

9

1

5

17

-

-

Jun

13

1

-

2

-

1

2

-

-

Jul

10

10

1

2

-

-

2

-

-

Aug

16

5

2

7

-

3

3

-

-

Sep

21

8

2

3

-

-

6

-

-

Oct

17

11

1

2

2

1

2

-

-

Nov

14

6

2

5

-

-

2

-

-

Dec

12

4

2

2

-

-

5

-

-

 

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

2019

Totals

77

116

24

19

6

8

18

-

1

Jan 2020

10

1

2

2

-

1

-

-

-

Feb

5

-

2

1

-

2

1

-

-

Mar

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

17

7

6

3

-

2

1

1

-

May

15

10

1

7

1

4

10

-

-

Jun

5

2

1

1

-

1

1

-

-

Aug

5

5

1

-

-

-

3

-

-

Sep

9

5

2

2

-

2

2

3

-

Oct

8

7

1

1

-

-

3

-

-

Nov

9

3

3

4

-

2

-

-

-

Dec

2

3

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

 

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

2019

Totals

63

49

14

3

9

6

17

-

3

Jan 2020

7

5

2

1

-

1

-

-

-

Feb

5

5

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

Mar

2

5

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

8

8

1

4

-

1

1

-

-

May

5

9

-

2

-

-

2

-

-

Jun

-

5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Jul

-

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

Aug

-

12

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Sep

5

7

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Oct

4

5

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

Nov

4

8

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

Dec

1

6

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

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

2019

Totals

60

54

32

5

2

6

8

2

6

Jan 2020

4

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

Feb

5

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

Mar

5

2

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

4

3

3

-

-

1

-

-

-

May

21

6

9

5

-

2

2

-

-

Jun

5

4

1

2

-

-

1

-

-

Jul

4

5

1

1

1

-

-

-

-

Aug

6

3

3

1

-

-

-

-

-

Sep

6

10

3

1

-

-

-

-

-

Oct

6

3

3

-

-

-

1

-

-

Nov

12

3

3

1

1

1

-

-

-

Dec

1

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

           

Security In Iraq 2019-20

Week

Security

Incidents

(Total/By IS)

Dead

(Total/By IS)

Wounded

(Total/By IS)

Jan 1-7

32

17/10

24

Jan 8-14

32

94/31

53

Jan 15-21

22

17/11

16/14

Jan 22-28

27

36/17

31

Jan 29-31

12

7

6

JAN 2019

114

139

130/128

Feb 1-7

29/1

76/16

30

Feb 8-14

24

26

18

Feb 15-21

40

112/37

12

Feb 22-28

25

36

70

FEB

118/1

250/115

130

Mar 1-7

13

22

45

Mar 8-14

19

75/10

37

Mar 15-21

12

66/37

21/11

Mar 22-28

13

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

9/8

26

Apr 22-28

19

45

15

Apr 29-30

2

1

4

APR

99

105

100

May 1-7

20

15

18

May 8-14

24

31

41

May 15-21

37/1

62/25

39

May 22-28

43

39

54

May 29-31

13

16

48

MAY

137/1

163/125

200

Jun 1-7

26

19

44

Jun 8-14

25/1

29

15

Jun 15-21

21/2

6

13/10

Jun 22-28

18

17

41

Jun 29-30

9

3

9

JUN

99/3

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

141

Sep 1-7

39

39

38

Sep 8-14

30

35

43

Sep 15-21

23

27

26

Sep 22-28

24/1

15

20

Sep 29-30

7

6

4

SEP

123/1

122

131

Oct 1-7

3

1

2

Oct 8-14

14

25

17

Oct 15-21

19

29

13

Oct 22-28

22/1

33

10

Oct 29-31

12/1

4

11

OCT

70/2

92

53

Nov 1-7

6/1

4

1

Nov 8-14

9/1

2

25

Nov 15-21

15/1

11

2

Nov 22-28

17/1

24

33

Nov 29-30

8/1

6

37

NOV

55/5

47

98

Dec 1-7

36/3

33

44

Dec 8-14

19/3

19

19

Dec 15-21

26

44

25

Dec 22-28

30/1

30

38

Dec 29-31

9

8

7

DEC

120/7

134

133

Jan 1-7

25/7

16

84

Jan 8-14

24/3

12

34

Jan 15-21

23/2

11

12

Jan 22-28

11/1

10

8

Jan 29-31

8/1

4

1

JAN 2020

91/12

53

139

Feb 1-7

22

13

11

Feb 8-14

18/1

5

38

Feb 15-21

16/2

42

18

Feb 22-28

25

15

34

Feb 29

4

5

2

FEB

85/3

80

103

Mar 1-7

17/3

11

17

Mar 8-14

15/2

13

33

Mar 15-21

14/2

5

19

Mar 22-28

14/1

13

11

Mar 29-31

9

5

10

MAR

69/8

47

90

Ap 1-7

27/1

27

37

Apr 8-14

24

25

51

Apr 15-21

33/1

19

34

Apr 22-28

22

8

40

Apr 29-30

5

2

4

APR

111/2

81

165

May 1-7

44/1

47

36

May 8-14

49

21

47

May 15-21

66/1

45

64

May 22-28

30

9

21

May 29-31

7

3

12

MAY

196/2

125

180

Jun 1-7

17

13

19

Jun 8-14

16/4

10

15

Jun 15-21

16/3

11

19

Jun 22-28

10/1

8

13

Jun 29-30

1

4

2

JUN

60/8

46

68

Jul 1-7

12/2

3

9

Jul 8-14

16/2

15

15

Jul 15-21

19/1

17

28

Jul 22-28

13/5

9

8

Jul 29-31

13/2

3

7

JUL

73/12

47

67

Aug 1-7

10/4

7

10

Aug 8-14

19/8

7

22

Aug 15-21

14/5

13

20

Aug 22-28

32/3

23

41

Aug 29-31

13/3

4

12

AUG

88/24

54

105

Sep 1-7

19/4

13

26

Sep 8-14

27/6

8

29

Sep 15-21

32/10

12

14

Sep 22-28

28/7

19

11

Sep 29-30

6/3

1

6

SEP

113/31

53

86

Oct 1-7

19/5

9

12

Oct 8-14

14/1

8

10

Oct 15-21

30/1

25

26

Oct 22-28

25/1

16

24

Oct 29-31

5

4

5

OCT

93/8

62

77

Nov 1-7

11

7

10

Nov 8-14

25

23

39

Nov 15-21

19/1

18

25

Nov 22-28

24

11

26

Nov 29-30

8

1

10

NOV

87/1

60

110

Dec 1-7

19

4

30

Dec 8-14

21/2

13

26

 

Violence By Province Dec 8-14, 2020

Province

Violence

Anbar

2 Incidents

3 Killed

3 ISF

4 Wounded

4 ISF

 

1 Shooting

Babil

1 Incident

1 Wounded

1 Hashd

 

1 IED

Baghdad

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 Mortar

Diyala

5 Incidents

3 Killed

3 Hashd

5 Wounded

2 ISF

3 Civilians

 

2 Shootings

1 IED

2 Mortars

Irbil

1 Incident

1 Killed

1 ISF

2 Wounded

2 ISF

 

1 Suicide Bomber

Kirkuk

4 Incidents

2 Killed

2 ISF

2 Wounded

2 ISF

 

1 Shooting

3 IEDs

1 Rockets

Muthanna

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

Ninewa

5 Incidents

3 Killed

3 Civilians

12 Wounded

3 ISF

9 Civilians

 

1 Shooting

5 IEDs

Salahaddin

1 Incident

1 Killed

1 Civilian

 

1 IED

 

SOURCES

 

Al Alam, "A convoy of the American coalition forces targeted by an explosion southern Iraq," 12/10/20

 

Bas News, "IS Destroys Transmission Towers in Anbar," 12/13/20

- "IS Suicide Bomber Kills One Iraqi Officer, Injures Several near Makhmour," 12/12/20

 

Iraq Oil Report, "Khabbaz wells burn as security in northern oil sector worsens," 12/9/20

 

NINA, "3 Members of The Army, Including An Officer, Wounded By An IED Southeast Of Mosul," 12/11/20

- "A farmer was injured when an explosive device exploded in a village in Diyala," 12/10/20

- "Four civilians were wounded by an explosive device, south of Mosul," 12/14/20

- "Gunmen assassinate a young man who was riding his motorcycle east of Mosul," 12/9/20

- "ISIS Attacks A Federal Police Site With Two Missiles In Hawija," 12/13/20

- "A Man And A Woman Wounded In An ISIS Attack ON A Village Northeast Of Baquba," 12/11/20

- "A Member Of The PMF Wounded By An IED, North Of Hilla," 12/11/20

- "Mortar shells fell in the vicinity of a village south of Baqubah," 12/11/20

- "An officer was killed and a regiment Commander and a soldier were wounded in a bomb explosion northwest of Kirkuk," 12/12/20

- "A Security Source: Baghdad Airport Explosion Caused By A Mortar Shell … No Human Or Material Casualties,' 12/12/20

- "Three Civilians Wounded By Two Explosive Devices, South Of Mosul," 12/11/20

- "Three fighters were killed in a terrorist attack in Diyala this week," 12/8/20

- "Two members of the Ministry of Defense were wounded in a terrorist attack northeast of Baqubah," 12/14/20

 

Shafaaq News, "8 casualties and wounded from the army in an attack in Anbar," 12/9/20

- "An explosion killed and wounded 4 children in Sinjar," 12/8/20

- "An explosion kills a farmer in Salahaddin," 12/14/20

- “A Shiite faction claims it targeted international coalition supplies in Iraq: The truce has ended,” 12/10/20

 

Al Sumaria, "A soldier was killed by sniper fire in Kirkuk," 12/9/20

 

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This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 14 British army ordered to seize Basra vilayet WWI

  1914 Sheikh of Islam called for jihad against British and French during WWI Call was repeated in all Sunni mosques in ...