Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Battle To Retake Iraq’s Anbar Province Continues
The operation to retake Anbar province entered into its
second week. Whenever there has been a large military offensive the press tends
to concentrate on it, while neglecting security incidents in the rest of the
country. That has resulted in two weeks with a very low number of attacks being
recorded. That also usually means a drop in casualties, but three press reports
gave a small glimpse into the losses in Anbar that kept those statistics up.
The Baghdad’s forces are making steady progress in the governorate, although
official propaganda often exaggerates how much.
From July 22-28, 2015 there were only 111 security incidents
in the media. That was just around the 109 reported the week before. In
comparison there were 162 attacks the first week of July and 140 the next. The
reason for the drop in incidents was the major offensive going on in Anbar.
That has sucked up all the media’s attention and the rest of the country is
being neglected as a result. There are always more attacks then what gets into
the news, but that is especially true during major military action.
As usual Baghdad had the most incidents with 52. Anbar had
37, Salahaddin 18, Diyala 14, Ninewa 10, 4 each in Dohuk and Kirkuk, 3 in
Babil, 2 in Basra, and 1 in Sulaymaniya.
Despite the low number of reported attacks there were high
casualties in the third week of July. 527 were killed and 590 wounded. This was
due to the heavy fighting in Anbar where 311 were reported dead and 173
wounded. Because the government does not report its losses in most combat
situations the real numbers are much higher for the province. After that there
were 84 dead in Baghdad, 68 in Salahaddin, 18 in Diyala, 20 in Ninewa, 12 in
Dohuk, 8 in Kirkuk, 4 in Babil, and one each in Diyala and Sulaymaniya.
The 527 fatalities were made up of 1 Peshmerga, 4 Sahwa, 12 Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK) fighters, 145 Hashd al-Shaabi, 170 members of the Iraqi
Security Forces (ISF), and 195 civilians.
The 590 wounded consisted of 1 Peshmerga, 4 Sahwa, 13 PKK
fighters, 78 ISF, 130 Hashd, and 364 civilians.
Violence
In Iraq By Week 2015
Date
|
Incidents
|
Dead
|
Wounded
|
Jan 1-7
|
189
|
466
|
464
|
Jan 8-14
|
172
|
733
|
518
|
Jan 15-21
|
189
|
403
|
528
|
Jan 22-28
|
195
|
492
|
899
|
Jan 29-31
|
91
|
306
|
568
|
JAN
|
836
|
2,400
|
2,977
|
Feb 1-7
|
155
|
408
|
688
|
Feb 8-14
|
177
|
443
|
566
|
Feb 15-21
|
169
|
592
|
383
|
Feb 22-28
|
171
|
391
|
705
|
FEB
|
672
|
1,834
|
2,342
|
Mar 1-7
|
176
|
373
|
595
|
Mar 8-14
|
137
|
398
|
656
|
Mar 15-21
|
146
|
1,304
|
505
|
Mar 22-28
|
174
|
273
|
406
|
Mar 29-31
|
72
|
205
|
219
|
MAR
|
705
|
2,553 + 4
|
2,381 + 150
|
Apr 1-7
|
127
|
218
|
422
|
Apr 8-14
|
137
|
676
|
542
|
Apr 15-21
|
172
|
729
|
717
|
Apr 22-28
|
163
|
497
|
483
|
Apr 29-30
|
50
|
162
+ 7
|
182
+ 299
|
APR
|
649
|
2,282
|
2,346
|
May 1-7
|
154
|
626
|
450
|
May 8-14
|
154
|
420
|
549
|
May 15-21
|
124
|
963
|
387
|
May 22-28
|
108
|
341
+ 1,499
|
348
|
May 29-31
|
38
|
66
|
164
+ 646
|
MAY
|
578
|
2,416 + 1,499
|
1,898 + 646
|
Jun 1-7
|
132
|
431
|
476
|
Jun 8-14
|
126
|
522
+ 405
|
394
|
Jun 15-21
|
141
|
365
|
373
|
Jun 22-28
|
162
|
306
|
474
|
Jun 29-30
|
61
|
122
|
189
|
JUN
|
622
|
1,804
|
2,012
|
Jul 1-7
|
162
|
436
|
725
|
Jul 8-14
|
140
|
384
|
570
|
Jul 15-21
|
109
|
359
|
597
+ 4,024
|
Jul 22-28
|
111
|
527
|
590
|
Violence
In Iraq July 2015 by Province
Province
|
July
1-7
|
July
8-14
|
Anbar
|
42 Incidents
216 Killed: 17 ISF, 19 Hashd, 180
Civilians
287 Wounded: 16 ISF, 20 Hashd, 251
Civilians
23 Shootings
1 Suicide Car Bomb
1 Car Bomb
4 Mortars
2 Rockets
1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed
18 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
32 Incidents
100 Killed: 24 ISF, 76 Civilians
135 Wounded: 9 ISF, 126 Civilians
14 Shootings
15 IEDs
17 Suicide Car Bombs
4 Mortars
1 Rockets
22 Suicide Bombers Killed
4 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
22 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
Babil
|
4 Incidents
7 Killed: 7 Civilians
15 Wounded: 15 Civilians
3 IEDs
|
5 Incidents
4 Killed: 4 Civilians
25 Wounded: 2 ISF, 23 Civilians
4 IEDs
1 Sticky Bomb
|
Baghdad
|
56 Incidents
112 Killed: 3 Hashd, 4 Sahwa, 13
ISF, 92 Civilians
282 Wounded: 6 Hashd, 12 Sahwa, 28
ISF, 236 Civilians
14 Shootings
28 IEDs
5 Sticky Bombs
5 Car Bombs
1 Mortar
|
53 Incidents
140 Killed: 2 Hashd, 29 ISF, 109
Civilians
336 Wounded: 13 ISF, 323 Civilians
11 Shootings
28 IEDs
6 Sticky Bombs
1 Suicide Bomber
1 Suicide Car Bomb
6 Car Bombs
1 Car Bomb Destroyed
|
Basra
|
1 Incident
1 IED
|
1 Incident
1 Killed: 1 Civilian
1 Shooting
|
Diyala
|
5 Incidents
13 Killed: 2 Hashd, 11 Civilians
22 Wounded: 22 Civilians
2 Shootings
2 IEDs
1 Car Bomb
|
12 Incidents
19 Killed: 2 ISF, 3 Hashd, 14 Civilians
25 Wounded: 4 ISF, 21 Civilians
3 Shootings
6 IEDs
2 Sticky Bombs
1 Car Bomb
|
Kirkuk
|
10 Incidents
9 Killed: 3 Civilians, 6 Peshmerga
33 Wounded: 1 Civilian, 32
Peshmerga
9 Shootings
1 IED
|
4 Incidents
2 Shootings
1 IED
1 Mortar
|
Ninewa
|
15 Incidents
31 Killed: 1 Peshmerga, 30
Civilians
4 Wounded: 4 Peshmerga
9 Shootings
3 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
3 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
12 Incidents
54 Killed: 10 ISF, 44 Civilians
7 Wounded: 7 Civilians
8 Shootings
|
Salahaddin
|
29 Incidents
48 Killed: 5 Civilians, 19 ISF, 24
Hashd
82 Wounded: 9 ISF, 35 Civilians,
38 Hashd
10 Shootings
7 IEDs
8 Suicide Car Bombs
1 Rocket
10 Suicide Bombers Killed
2 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
5 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
20 Incidents
65 Killed: 1 Sahwa, 7 Hashd, 13
Civilians, 44 ISF
40 Wounded: 10 Hashd, 15 ISF, 15
Civilians
9 Shootings
6 IEDs
1 Car Bomb
9 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
Wasit
|
-
|
1 Incident
1 Killed: 1 ISF
2 Wounded: 2 ISF
1 IED
|
Province
|
Jul
15-21
|
Jul
22-28
|
Anbar
|
23 Incidents
62 Killed: 6 Sahwa, 10 Hashd, 20
Civilians, 26 ISF
89 Wounded: 3 Sahwa, 13 ISF, 19
Hashd, 54 Civilians
12 Shootings
3 IEDs
2 Suicide Car Bombs
2 Mortars
2 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
3 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
37 Incidents
311 Killed: 46 Civilians, 103
Hashd, 162 ISF
173 Wounded: 32 Civilians, 55 ISF,
86 Hashd
21 Shootings
12 IEDs
3 Suicide Car Bombs
2 Car Bombs
2 Mortars
8 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
18 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
Babil
|
4 Incidents
8 Killed: 1 ISF, 7 Civilians
11 Wounded: 1 ISF, 10 Civilians
2 Shootings
1 IED
1 Grenade
|
3 Incidents
4 Killed: 1 ISF, 3 Civilians
12 Wounded: 4 ISF, 8 Civilians
1 Shooting
2 IEDs
|
Baghdad
|
39 Incidents
80 Killed: 3 Sahwa, 4 ISF, 73
Civilians
209 Wounded: 3 Hashd, 4 Sahwa, 7
ISF, 195 Civilians
8 Shootings
22 IEDs
3 Sticky Bombs
2 Suicide Bombers
2 Car Bombs
|
52 Incidents
84 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 ISF, 4
Sahwa, 77 Civilians
218 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 4 Sahwa, 5
ISF, 208 Civilians
10 Shootings
29 IEDs
7 Sticky Bombs
1 Suicide Bomber
3 Car Bombs
|
Basra
|
2 Incidents
1 Shooting
1 IED
|
2 Incidents
1 Killed: 1 Civilian
1 Shooting
|
Diyala
|
10 Incidents
165 Killed: 3 Hashd, 162 Civilians
218 Wounded: 218 Civilians
1 Shooting
2 IEDs
3 Car Bombs
1 Mortar
1 Rocket
|
14 Incidents
18 Killed: 1 Peshmerga, 2 ISF, 7
Hashd, 8 Civilians
23 Wounded: 1 Peshmerga, 22
Civilians
5 Shootings
7 IEDs
2 Mortars
|
Dohuk
|
-
|
4 Incidents
12 Killed: 12 PKK
16 Wounded: 3 Civilians, 13 PKK
2 Turkish Air Strikes
2 Turkish Shelling
|
Kirkuk
|
1 Incident
1 Killed: 1 Civilian
|
4 Incidents
8 Killed: 8 Civilians
1 Shooting
|
Ninewa
|
12 Incidents
9 Killed: 1 Peshmerga, 8 Civilians
8 Wounded: 8 Peshmerga
8 Shootings
1 Mortar
1 Stabbing
1 Suicide Bomber Killed
5 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
10 Incidents
20 Killed: 20 Civilians
25 Wounded: 25 Civilians
3 Shootings
3 IEDs
1 Rocket
|
Salahaddin
|
18 Incidents
34 Killed: 1 Sahwa, 5 Civilians,
13 ISF, 15 Hashd
62 Wounded: 7 Sahwa, 10 Civilians,
20 Hashd, 25 ISF
6 Shootings
6 IEDs
2 Suicide Car Bombs
1 Mortar
3 Suicide Bombers Killed
|
18 Incidents
68 Killed: 3 ISF, 31 Civilians, 34
Hashd
120 Wounded: 14 ISF, 43 Hashd, 63
Civilians
6 Shootings
6 IEDs
1 Suicide Bomber
1 Suicide Motorcycle Bomb
3 Car Bombs
3 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
Sulaymaniya
|
-
|
1 Incident
1 Killed: 1 Civilian
3 Wounded: 3 Civilians
1 Mortar
|
Car
Bombs In Iraq, July 2015
Date
|
Location
|
Dead
|
Wounded
|
Jul 1
|
Riyahah,
Salahaddin
|
1
|
|
Jul 2
|
Nukhaib,
Anbar
Fatah
& Tal Abu, Salahaddin
Baiji-Tikrit Road,
Salahaddin– 2 destroyed
|
9
|
12
|
Jul 3
|
|||
Jul 4
|
Baya
x2, Baghdad
Baiji
x2, Salahaddin
Khursabad &
Nouran, Ninewa – 3 destroyed
|
20
|
22
|
Jul 5
|
Amil
& Dora, Baghdad
Baladrooz,
Diyala
Hadith Dam, Anbar
– 7 destroyed
|
16
|
55
|
Jul 6
|
Jubba,
Anbar
New
Baghdad, Baghdad
Haditha, Outside
Haditha & Saqlawiya, Anbar - 12 destroyed
Baiji, Salahaddin
– 2 destroyed
|
11
|
11
|
Jul 7
|
Baiji
x3, Salahaddin
Sinjar, Ninewa – 3
destroyed
Tal Abu Jarad,
Salahaddin – 3 destroyed
|
10
|
35
|
Totals
|
16 & 32 Destroyed
|
66
|
136
|
Jul 8
|
Sakran,
Anbar
Ramadi, Anbar – 1
destroyed
|
1
|
1
|
Jul 9
|
Alwa,
Baghdad
Husaiba, Anbar – 1
destroyed
Tal Abu Jarad,
Salahaddin – 3 destroyed
|
1
|
|
Jul 10
|
Khalidiya
x7, Anbar
Amil
& Zafaraniya, Baghdad
|
23
|
48
|
Jul 11
|
Abu
Fleis x3, Anbar
Husaiba &
Saqlawiya, Anbar – 11 destroyed
Bjara, Salahaddin
– 2 destroyed
|
8
|
5
|
Jul 12
|
Bunuk,
Iskan, Kadhimiya, &Shaab, Baghdad
Tarmiya,
Salahaddin
Sadr City, Baghdad
– 1 destroyed
Albu Juari &
Hawi, Salahaddin – 4 destroyed
|
43
|
103
|
Jul 13
|
Fallujah
x5, Anbar
|
||
Jul 14
|
Nukhaib,
Anbar
Khalis,
Diyala
East of Husaiba,
Saqlawiya, Shehan, Anbar – 13 destroyed
|
8
|
16
|
Totals
|
26 & 36 Destroyed
|
83
|
174
|
Jul 15
|
Baiji,
Salahaddin
|
1
|
10
|
Jul 16
|
Nukhaib,
Anbar
|
||
Jul 17
|
Khan
Bani Saad, Diyala
East of Ramadi,
Anbar – 3 destroyed
|
130
|
155
|
Jul 18
|
Khalidiya,
Anbar
|
2
|
3
|
Jul 19
|
Hardan, Ninewa – 5
destroyed
|
||
Jul 20
|
Khalis,
Diyala
|
4
|
18
|
Jul 21
|
New
Baghdad & Zafaraniya, Baghdad
Mandali,
Diyala
Tarmiya,
Salahaddin
North of Fallujah,
Anbar – 2 destroyed
|
39
|
83
|
Totals
|
9 & 10 Destroyed
|
176
|
259
|
Jul 22
|
Fallujah,
Anbar
Baya
& Shaab, Baghdad
Fallujah, Anbar –
3 destroyed
East of Tikrit,
Salahaddin – 3 destroyed
|
50
|
58
|
Jul 23
|
East
& North of Fallujah, Anbar
|
81
|
|
Jul 24
|
Fallujah
x2, Anbar
Husaiba, Anbar – 1
destroyed
|
21
|
24
|
Jul 25
|
Albu Bali, Anbar –
1 destroyed
|
||
Jul 26
|
Anbar University,
Anbar – 3 destroyed
|
||
Jul 27
|
Bob
al-Sham, Baghdad
Sijer, Anbar – 3
destroyed
|
4
|
|
Jul 28
|
Baiji
x3, Salahaddin
Anbar University
& East Husaiba, Anbar – 4 destroyed
|
28
|
44
|
Totals
|
11 & 18 Destroyed
|
180
|
130
|
The Islamic State’s latest car bomb campaign continued into
the third week of July. There has been at least one car bomb per day from July
4 to 28. During the week there were 11 successful Vehicle Borne Improvised
Explosive Devices (VIBEDs) hitting their targets and another 18 destroyed.
Anbar had 5 car bomb explosions and another 15 destroyed. These were used by IS
to counter the government’s on going offensive there. Salahaddin had 3 car
bombs go off and another 3 destroyed. The three successful ones were in Baiji
against the government’s forces that were trying to retake the town. Finally
there were 3 car bombs in Baghdad, as that has become a major target again. IS
has been dividing its VBIEDs between hitting the joint forces and civilians
during its current campaign.
The attempt to re-take Fallujah and Ramadi in Anbar reached
its second week. The government’s forces were not only focusing upon the suburbs
of those two cities, but were attempting to clear the towns in between and
surrounding them as well. One of the major achievements of the week was
clearing the Anbar University on the outskirts of Ramadi on July
26, which IS was supposedly using as a base.
At other times government propaganda made it unclear what
was going on in Anbar. For instance, East Husaiba was declared cleared on July
21, then again on July 23, and then a sweep was made through the town on July
26. Similarly central Husaiba was said to be freed on July 13, but then the
government forces said they had just reached the town on July 18, before it was
called liberated again on July 27. The residential neighborhood of Saqlawiya
was swept through on July 15, and then the whole town was reported freed on
July 19 only to have fighting break out there again on July 21, the residential
area cleared again on July 23, and then the town attacked again by the
government forces on July 25. The outskirts of Ramadi also appeared to be contested.
On July 23 joint forces stated they had entered the Qadisiyah district, then
freed it by July 27 only to be fighting there again the next day. Finally, on
July 13 Tash 2 was supposed to have been free of IS elements. Then both Tash 1
and Tash 2 were said to be cleared on July 19. The joint forces were back there
on July 19 before both 1 and 2 were called liberated again on July 28. What do
these examples mean? In some cases like East and central Husaiba and Tash 1 and
Tash 2 the joint forces were exaggerating their advances by saying they had
freed the town as soon as they got there. In other cases like Saqlawiya and
Qadisiyah it looked like the Islamic State re-infiltrated and Baghdad’s troops
had to go back in to expel them. This has been a common practice throughout
much of the major fighting in the country and can be expected to continue.
Baghdad is in full propaganda mode and wants to report as many victories as
possible even before they actually happen.
An exception to that rule can be seen in the on going
operation in Garma. That began in the middle of May. A month later the town was
said to be surrounded, and then the effort stalled as weeks were spent trying
to get into the center. By the end of July IS still holds the middle of Garma
with a very small force.
Another effect of the Fallujah and Ramadi operation is that
reports on casualties in the province have been very inconsistent. For example,
Fallujah is shelled every day by the government forces and that used to get
covered before, but now that’s happening less and less. During the week there
was only one report on the artillery fire on the city. On the other hand, there
were three stories on a fraction of the losses the joint forces were suffering.
All together Al Jazeera, Rudaw and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported 256
dead and 128 wounded by car bombs and fighting with the Islamic State just in
the Fallujah area. The government does not officially release the vast majority
of its casualties during big offensives. Those news pieces however gave a
glimpse of what the ISF, Hashd and tribes were going through to take the area.
Baghdad remained a major target of the Islamic State. There
were 52 incidents there including three car bombs, but the weapon of choice of
IS was the IED with 29. By region, south Baghdad had 23 attacks followed by 14
in the east. The previous week the latter had the most incidents. Recently
Interior Minister Mohammed Ghabban said
that 164,000 of his forces were deployed in the capital for security. A large
number of soldiers are there as well under orders of Prime Minister Haider
Abadi who has made Baghdad a focus of his defense plans. That has not stopped
IS from being able to hit all parts of the province with increasing ferocity
over the last several months.
Attacks In Baghdad July 22-28
Center – 4: 2 Kidnappings, 3
IEDs
East – 11: 1 Suicide Bomber,
1 Robbery, 3 Shootings, 3 IEDs, 3 Sticky Bombs
North – 6: 2 Car Bombs, 2
IEDs, 2 Sticky Bombs
Outer East – 3: 3 IEDs
Outer North – 1: 1 IED
Outer South – 6: 1 Sticky
Bomb, 5 IEDs
Outer West – 2: 2 IEDs
South – 17: 1 Car Bomb, 1
Kidnapping, 6 Shootings, 9 IEDs
West – 3: 1 Shooting, 1
Sticky Bomb, 1 IED
The operation in Baiji in Salahaddin continues as well. Here
too government statements suffered from exaggeration. On July
23, a Hashd spokesman told the press that 80% of the Baiji Refinery had
been taken. Two days later Asaib Ahl Al-Haq said
that only 40% of the facility was under control. IS pulled out most of its
fighters from the area as soon as Ramadi was taken in May and only left a
holding unit there, but it still has been able to hold off a much larger
attacking force.
Finally, Turkey has begun air strikes and shelling of
northern Dohuk province to hit PKK bases. There were four reported incidents
during the week that killed 12 PKK fighters, wounded another 13 along with
three civilians. There were other civilian casualties mentioned but no numbers
were given. Turkey has been concerned about the PKK and its Syrian offshoot the
Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its militia the People’s Protection Units
(YPG) progress in Syria and Iraq. Ankara fears that the group will create an
autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria and gain greater influence in Iraq.
The Turkish government therefore said that its new anti-terrorism policy would
strike the Islamic State, but more importantly the PKK. Bombing and artillery
fire in Dohuk will likely continue for the next few weeks on an almost daily
basis as a result.
SOURCES
AIN,
"Federal Police announce the death of 26 Daash and advances into areas of
eastern Husaybah," 7/21/15
-
"Four people were injured by a car bomb north of Baghdad," 7/27/15
Al Forat,
"Saraya al-Jihad kills 4 ISIL suicide bombers, destroys 3 vehicles bombs
northern Fallujah," 7/28/15
Al
Jazeera, "Iraq forces suffer casualties as they advance in Anbar,"
7/24/15
NINA,
"8 Terrorists Killed, 3 Car Bombs Detonated East Of Tikrit," 7/22/15
-
"A number of terrorists killed in Anbar," 7/23/15
-
"Toll of victims of Alshuhada explosion up to 16 martyrs and 40
wounded," 7/22/15
Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty, "Car Bombs Kill At Least 26 In Baghdad,"
7/22/15
- "Iraqi Forces Retake University From IS In
Anbar," 7/2/15,
-
"Suicide Car Bombers Kill 21 Iraqi Troops, Allied Militia North Of
Fallujah," 7/25/15
Radio
Free Iraq, "22 July 2015," Daily Updates from Anbar, 7/22/15
-
"27 July 2015," Daily Updates from Anbar, 7/27/15
Shafaq
News, "62 people killed and injured in bombings in Baiji and
Samarra," 7/28/15
-
"About 50 people were killed and injured in bombing of fourth police
district in Baghdad," 7/22/15
- “Ghabban: 164 000 elements of the Ministry of Interior
keep security in Baghdad,” 7/26/15
-
"More than 30 casualties of the Iraqi forces in three bombings in
Baiji," 7/28/15
Sotaliraq,
"Security forces repel Daash attack and destroy "armored bomb"
in Ramadi," 7/25/15
Telesurtv,
"Iraq: 22 Killed in Islamic State Group Suicide Blast," 7/22/15
Xinhua,
"Iraqi security forces repel IS attack with 6 suicide car bombs,"
7/28/15
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 11 Turkish Pres Erdogan said didn’t need permission to operate in Iraq Told PM Abadi he needed to stay in his place
1920 UK military force set out from Hillah to relieve garrison at Kufa Burned houses of Fatla tribe along the way duri...
-
Dr. Michael Izady of Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs recently gave an interview to the Swiss-based International Relat...
-
Professor Nadje Al-Ali is a professor of gender studies at SOAS, University of London. She has authored several books and articles...
-
Recent media reports put into question the future of the U.S.-organized Sons of Iraq (SOI) program. Currently there are approximately 103,00...