Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Security In Iraq, Feb 22-28, 2021


Security in Iraq continued to go in two different directions in February. The Islamic State’s winter hiatus continued into the fourth week of the month. Pro-Iran groups however are ramping up their operations.

 

There were 13 security incidents reported in the media from February 22-28. Four of those were by groups aligned with Tehran leaving just nine by the Islamic State.


 

Three convoys carrying supplies for the U.S. were hit with IEDs laid by pro-Iran factions during the week. That happened in Babil, Baghdad and Diwaniya. More importantly rockets were fired at the Green Zone in the capital. That was the third such attack this month. There were a total of 16 attacks by these factions in February the most since September. Front groups take claim for all of these incidents but they are mostly linked to Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah who appear to be competing to be the head of the resistance groups.

 

IS attacks were in Anbar (1), Kirkuk (1), Ninewa (1), Baghdad (2), and Diyala (4).

 

They left 13 dead made up of 6 civilians and 7 Hashd al-Shaabi and 23 wounded consisting of 1 civilian, 7 Hashd, and 15 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).

 

In Anbar a contingent of soldiers and tribal Hashd were dismantling a car bomb in the Haditha district when it exploded. That left 7 dead and 10 wounded. IS was increasing its attacks in the province during the winter but that has subsided in February.

 

The insurgents carried out two attacks in Baghdad including an IED on a tea house and a man shot down. Both were in the north. Almost all the incidents in the governorate are in the north or south where IS maintains cells.

 

As usual Diyala was the most violent area of the country. There was an IED in the north, a shooting and kidnapping in Kanaan in the center, a shootout with militants and a village attacked both in the Khanaqin district in the northeast. IS has de facto control of much of the rural areas in the center and northeast. The group is mostly looking to rebuild and expand its area in the province right now.

 

There was just one incident each in Kirkuk and Ninewa. In the former an IED went off during a security sweep that wounded ten ISF. There was a bombing in south Ninewa as well that killed three civilians. These two governorates have seen the biggest drop in attacks during the winter.

 

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province

Province

Feb 1-7

Feb 8-14

Feb 15-21

Feb 22-28

Anbar

4

-

-

1

Babil

2 Pro-Iran

-

1

1 Pro-Iran

Baghdad

1

3/2 Pro-Iran

2/1 Pro-Iran

4/2 Pro-Iran

Basra

-

-

2 Pro-Iran

-

Dhi Qar

-

-

1 Pro-Iran

-

Diwaniya

-

1 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

Diyala

6

5

6

4

Irbil

-

-

1 Pro-Iran

-

Kirkuk

3

1

3

1

Ninewa

2

-

1

1

Salahaddin

1

1

2/1 Pro-Iran

-

TOTAL

20/2 Pro-Iran

11/3 Pro-Iran

20/7 Pro-Iran

13/4 Pro-Iran

 

Casualties In Iraq By Province

Province

Feb 1-7

Feb 8-14

Feb 15-21

Feb 22-28

Anbar

4 (4W)

-

-

17 (7K, 10W)

Babil

-

-

3 (1K, 2W)

-

Baghdad

-

-

6 (3K, 3W)

1 (1K)

Diyala

22 (9K, 13W)

2 (1K, 1W)

9 (3K, 6W)

5 (2K, 3W)

Irbil

-

-

10 (2K, 8W)

-

Kirkuk

7 (1K, 6W)

5 (3K, 2W)

4 (2K, 2W)

10 (10W)

Ninewa

-

-

-

3 (3K)

Salahaddin

1 (1K)

5 (5W)

2 (2W)

-

TOTAL

32 (11K, 23W)

12 (4K, 8W)

34 (11K, 23W)

36 (13K 23W)

 

Attacks by Pro-Iran Groups 2020-21

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 – Baghdad'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

12/20/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone – 1 wounded

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar – 1 wounded

12/21/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

12/23/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

12/25/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

12/27/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

12/28/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

12/29/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

12/31/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

December Totals - 13

1/1/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

1/4/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin

1/8/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

1/9/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

IED dismantled – Dhi Qar

1/18/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

1/20/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

1/21/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

1/22/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport/Jihad

1/26/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

1/31/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

January Totals – 13

2/4/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

2/7/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

2/8/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

2/10/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

2/11/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

2/15/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

Rockets – Irbil Airport – 2 Killed, 8 Wounded

2/17/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

2/18/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

2/19/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra

2/20/21

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base – 2 Wounded

2/22/21

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

2/25/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

2/26/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

2/27/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

 

February Totals - 16

 

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

-

2020

Totals

215

103

28

41

3

13

41

-

-

Jan

2021

11

4

1

3

-

1

1

-

-

Feb

16

2

3

3

-

2

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

2019

Totals

77

116

24

19

6

8

18

-

1

2020

Totals

87

44

20

24

1

14

21

4

-

Jan

2021

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Feb

5

2

-

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

2019

Totals

63

49

14

3

9

6

17

-

3

2020

Totals

43

77

5

10

4

3

3

-

1

Jan 2021

1

5

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Feb

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

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

2020

Totals

82

41

30

13

3

5

4

-

-

Jan 2021

4

3

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

Feb

1

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

           

Security In Iraq 2019-20

Week

Security

Incidents

(Total/By IS)

Dead

(Total/By IS)

Wounded

(Total/By IS)

JAN 2019

114

139

130/128

FEB

118/1

250/115

130

MAR

61

147

101

APR

99

105

100

MAY

137/1

163/125

200

JUN

99/3

74

122/119

JUL

82

83

119

AUG

104

103

141

SEP

123/1

122

131

OCT

70/2

92

53

NOV

55/5

47

98

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

Dec 15-21

15/2

6

8

Dec 22-28

17/6

3

22

Dec 29-31

11/2

3

4

DEC

83/12

29

90

Jan 1-7

21/2

13

19

Jan 8-14

17/3

12

6

Jan 15-21

20/3

52

133

Jan 22-28

10/3

13

12

Jan 29-31

9/1

2

6

JAN

77/13

92

176

Feb 1-7

19/2

11

23

Feb 8-14

11/3

4

8

Feb 15-21

20/7

11

23

Feb 22-28

13/4

13

23

 

Violence By Province Feb 22-28, 2021

Province

Violence

Anbar

1 Incident

7 Killed

7 Hashd

10 Wounded

5 Hashd

5 ISF

 

1 Car Bomb

Babil

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

Baghdad

4/2 Pro-Iran Incidents

1 Killed

1 Civilian

 

1 Shooting

2 IEDs

1 Rockets

Diwaniya

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

Diyala

4 Incidents

2 Killed

2 Civilians

3 Wounded

1 Civilian

2 Hashd

 

3 Shootings

1 IED

Kirkuk

1 Incident

10 Wounded

10 ISF

 

1 IED

Ninewa

1 Incident

3 Killed

3 Civilians

 

1 IED

 

SOURCES

 

Bas News, "At Least 20 IS Militants Killed in Diyala, 10 Iraqi Soldiers Injured: Official," 2/24/21

- "Bomb Blast Kills, Wounds 14 Iraqi Soldiers, Tribal Fighters," 2/28/21

- "Bomb Blast Targets Teahouse in Baghdad," 2/22/21

 

Jangiz, Khazan, "Peshmerga thwart attack by armed men in Khanaqin," Rudaw, 3/1/21

 

Al Maalomah, "Two shepherds were killed and a third was kidnapped in a terrorist attack in Diyala," 2/28/21

 

NINA, “An explosive device exploded south of Baghdad, without injuries,” 2/26/21

-, "Targeting a convoy of logistical support for the international coalition forces on the international highway," 2/25/21

- "Three civilians were killed when an explosive device exploded south of Mosul," 2/28/21

 

NRT, "Rockets Target US Embassy In Iraqi Capital: Military," 2/22/21

- "Seven Members Of Hashd Al-Ashairy Killed, Ten Wounded In Anbar," 2/28/21

 

Shafaaq News, "A farmer was injured when an explosive device exploded in a hot region in Diyala," 2/24/21

- "Two members of the crowd were wounded in response to an ISIS attack southwest of Kirkuk," 2/25/21

 

Al Sumaria, "A civilian was killed by a silenced weapon north of Baghdad," 2/25/21

- "An explosive device targeted a convoy of the International Coalition on the road to Diwanaiya," 2/27/21

 

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