Islamic State Continues With Car Bomb Campaign In Iraq

During the fourth week of August 2015 the security situation in Iraq was unchanged from the week before. The number of attacks and casualties were just about the same. The Islamic State (IS) continued with its latest car bomb campaign launching almost one hundred during the week. The government continued to push into Ramadi and fight for control of Baiji in Salahaddin, while the Kurds began a new campaign, which recaptured several towns in southern Kirkuk.

From August 22-28, 2015 there were 136 reported attacks. That was the exact same number as the week before. So far this month there has been an average of 19.9 attacks per day, almost exactly the same as July’s 19.6 average. There is always more violence in Iraq then what gets in the media.

Those incidents led to 342 killed and 296 wounded. The former consisted of 12 Sahwa, 19 Peshmerga, 32 Hashd al-Shaabi, 114 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and 165 civilians. The former was made up of 2 Hashd, 6 Sahwa, 29 Peshmerga, 73 ISF, and 186 civilians. The 638 total casualties were slightly below August 15-21’s 699. The number of dead and wounded is always undercounted in Iraq. There are many incidents that don’t get covered and the government is actively suppressing losses to maintain morale.

By province, there were 102 killed in Ninewa, 83 in Anbar, 73 in Salahaddin, 58 in Baghdad, 21 in Kirkuk, 4 in Babil, and 1 in Diyala. Usually the capital province leads the way in fatalities, but IS executions in Ninewa and heavy fighting in Anbar and Salahaddin made Baghdad fourth overall this week.

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	627	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	2,417 + 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	161	435	719
Jul 8-14	140	384	570
Jul 15-21	109	359	597 + 4,024
Jul 22-28	145	527	590
Jul 29-31	53	453 + 8	603
JUL	608	2,166	3,079 + 4,024
Aug 1-7	154	650 + 760	298
Aug 8-14	132	726	645
Aug 15-21	136	345	354
Aug 22-28	136	324	296

Violence In Iraq August 2015 by Province

Provinces	Aug 1-7	Aug 8-14
Anbar	46 Incidents 76 Killed: 5 Hashd, 6 Sahwa, 22 ISF, 43 Civilians 42 Wounded: 5 Sahwa, 17 ISF, 20 Civilians 22 Shootings 4 IEDs 3 Suicide Car Bombs 2 Mortars 4 Suicide Bombers Killed 12 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 2 Car Bombs Destroyed	18 Incidents 45 Killed: 14 ISF, 31 Civilians 44 Wounded: 10 ISF, 34 Civilians 6 Shootings 2 IEDs 10 Suicide Bombers 6 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 6 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil	6 Incidents 5 Killed: 2 Sahwa, 3 Civilians 15 Wounded: 1 ISF, 2 Sahwa, 12 Civilians 3 IEDs 2 Sticky Bomb	10 Incidents 14 Killed: 4 ISF, 10 Civilians 26 Wounded: 5 ISF, 21 Civilians 3 Shootings 3 IEDs 2 Sticky Bombs 1 Car Bomb Destroyed
Baghdad	46 Incidents 57 Killed: 1 Sahwa, 3 ISF, 53 Civilians 154 Wounded: 1 Sahwa, 2 ISF, 151 Civilians 9 Shootings 22 IEDs 7 Sticky Bombs 2 Car Bombs 1 Rocket 3 Car Bombs Destroyed	48 Incidents 130 Killed: 130 Civilians 404 Wounded: 404 Civilians 11 Shootings 29 IEDs 2 Sticky Bombs 3 Car Bombs 8 Car Bombs Destroyed
Diyala	8 Incidents 15 Killed: 1 Hashd, 3 ISF, 11 Civilians 29 Wounded: 29 Civilians 1 Shooting 4 IEDs 2 Car Bombs 1 Mortar	11 Incidents 73 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 Sahwa, 5 ISF, 65 Civilians 123 Wounded: 123 Civilians 2 Shootings 1 IED 2 Suicide Car Bombs 1 Car Bomb 1 Mortar
Irbil	1 Incident 12 Killed: 3 PKK, 9 Civilians 13 Wounded: 13 Civilians 1 Turkish Air Strike	-
Kirkuk	7 Incidents 64 Killed: 7 ISF, 57 Civilians 2 Wounded: 2 Civilians 6 Shootings 1 Grenade	9 Incidents 31 Killed: 11 Civilians, 20 ISF 13 Wounded: 13 Civilians 4 Shootings 3 IEDs 1 Car Bomb
Ninewa	24 Incidents 374 Killed: 30 ISF, 344 Civilians + 760 Civilians 4 Wounded: 4 Civilians 12 Shootings 2 Rockets	18 Incidents 254 Killed: 13 Peshmerga, 241 Civilians 10 Wounded, 5 Peshmerga, 5 Civilians 6 Shootings 10 IEDs 2 Rockets 3 Mortars
Salahaddin	16 Incidents 47 Killed: 5 ISF, 8 Civilians, 34 Hashd 39 Wounded: 5 ISF, 34 Civilians 11 Shootings 3 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 1 Suicide Motorcycle Bomb 1 Suicide Bomber Killed	17 Incidents 49 Killed: 7 Hashd, 12 ISF, 30 Civilians 24 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 4 Sahwa, 10 ISF, 9 Civilians 11 Shootings 1 IED 1 Sticky Bomb 1 Suicide Motorcycle Bomb 12 Car Bombs 1 Mortar 1 Car Bomb Destroyed

Provinces	Aug 15-21	Aug 22-28
Anbar	24 Incidents 71 Killed: 22 ISF, 49 Hashd 23 Wounded: 23 ISF 12 Shootings 4 Suicide Car Bombs 2 Rockets 8 Suicide Bombers Killed 1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed 27 Car Bombs Destroyed	30 Incidents 83 Killed: 12 Sahwa, 35 ISF, 36 Civilians 71 Wounded: 6 Sahwa, 12 Civilians 53 ISF 11 Shootings 2 IEDs 6 Suicide Car Bombs 1 Mortar 2 Rockets 11 Suicide Bombers Killed 9 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 6 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil	7 Incidents 9 Killed: 1 ISF, 8 Civilians 23 Wounded: 9 ISF, 14 Civilians 3 Shootings 4 IEDs	4 Incidents 4 Killed: 4 Civilians 3 Wounded: 3 Civilians 1 Shooting 1 IED
Baghdad	35 Incidents 67 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 Sahwa, 3 ISF, 61 Civilians 237 Wounded: 3 Sahwa, 13 ISF, 221 Civilians 5 Shootings 21 IEDs 2 Sticky Bombs 4 Car Bombs 1 Mortar	48 Incidents 58 Killed: 13 ISF, 45 Civilians 163 Wounded: 10 ISF, 153 Civilians 12 Shootings 21 IEDs 8 Sticky Bombs 2 Car Bombs 1 Car Bomb Destroyed
Diyala	10 Incidents 8 Killed: 1 ISF, 2 Hashd, 5 Civilians 12 Wounded: 2 Hashd, 10 Civilians 2 Shootings 5 IEDs	2 Incidents 1 Killed: 1 Civilian 1 Shooting 6 Car Bombs Destroyed
Irbil	2 Incidents 29 Killed: 29 PKK	-
Karbala	1 Incident 1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed	-
Kirkuk	11 Incidents 26 Killed: 1 Peshmerga, 25 Civilians 3 Wounded: 3 Civilians 2 Shootings 1 IED 1 Car Bomb 1 Rockets	15 Incidents 21 Killed: 2 Hashd, 3 ISF, 11 Peshmerga 34 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 8 ISF, 24 Peshmerga 5 Shootings 2 IEDs 1 Motorcycle Bomb 1 Suicide Car Bomb 1 Rocket
Ninewa	15 Incidents 76 Killed: 21 Peshmerga, 55 Civilians 1 Wounded: 1 Peshmerga 3 Shootings 4 Mortars 3 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed	15 Incidents 102 Killed: 8 Peshmerga, 47 ISF, 47 Civilians 13 Wounded: 5 Peshmerga, 8 Civilians 5 Shootings 3 IEDs 1 Mortar
Salahaddin	31 Incidents 59 Killed: 3 ISF, 17 Civilians, 39 Hashd 55 Wounded: 16 Civilians, 39 Hashd 14 Shootings 5 IEDs 1 Suicide Car Bomb 2 Car Bombs 1 Mortar 11 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed 98 Car Bombs Destroyed	22 Incidents 73 Killed: 16 ISF, 30 Hashd, 27 Civilians 12 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 2 ISF, 9 Civilians 15 Shootings 4 IEDs 2 Suicide Bombers Killed 61 Car Bombs Destroyed

Car Bombs In Iraq, August 2015

Date	Location	Dead	Wounded
Aug 1	Saqqara, Anbar – 8 destroyed
Aug 2
Aug 3
Aug 4	Balladries, Diyala	7	10
Aug 5	? x3, Anbar Sadr City x2, Baghdad Khalkis, Diyala Anbar Unit, Saqlawiya, South of Fallujah, Anbar – 6 destroyed Amiriya, Husseiniya & Sadiya, Baghdad – 3 destroyed	32	40
Aug 6
Aug 7
Totals	7 & 17 Destroyed	39	50
Aug 8	Ramadi, Anbar – 4 destroyed Amiriya, Baghdad – 1 dismantled
Aug 9	Abadi, Mukhayb, Tal Al-Mushahid, Anbar – 4 destroyed
Aug 10	Howaider & Kanaan, Diyala Baghdad – 7 destroyed	63	101
Aug 11	Samarra, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed
Aug 12	New Baghdad & Shomook, Baghdad Khalis, Diyala	10	40
Aug 13	Sadr City, Baghdad East Husaiba & Saqlawiya, Anbar – 2 destroyed Mahawil, Babil – 1 destroyed	76	221
Aug 14	Yarmouk, Kirkuk Baiji x 12, Salahaddin Albu Jassim, Anbar – 2 destroyed	3	4
Totals	19 & 22 Destroyed	152	366
Aug 15	Habibiya & Shuhada, Baghdad Salam Bridges, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed	17	75
Aug 16	Outside Fallujah x4, Anbar Jisr Diyala, Baghdad Husaiba, Anbar – 1 destroyed Ajeel & Baiji, Salahaddin – 3 destroyed	20	28
Aug 17	Habibiya, Baghdad 5 Kilo & Ramadi, Anbar – 4 destroyed Gwar, Ninewa – 3 destroyed Albu Jwari, Durr Tal Abu Jarad & Baiji, Salahaddin – 56 destroyed	15	35
Aug 18	Asri, Salahaddin Albu Athea, Garma & Humaira, Anbar – 12 destroyed Ain al-Tamur, Karbala – 1 destroyed Tal Abu Jarad, Salahaddin – 5 destroyed	21	4
Aug 19	Kirkuk, Kirkuk Baiji, Salahaddin Baiji & Tal Abu Jarad, Salahaddin – 16 destroyed	12	2
Aug 20	Hawish, Salahaddin Albu Athea & Zaqareed, Anbar – 10 destroyed Baiji, Salahaddin – 28 destroyed		27
Aug 21	Ramadi, Anbar – 1 destroyed
Totals	12 & 141 Destroyed	85	171
Aug 22
Aug 23	Albu Haya, Baghdadi, Haditha, Outside Fallijah – 4 destroyed
Aug 24	35 Kilo x3, Anbar Baghdadi, Anbar – 4 destroyed	8	6
Aug 25	Southeast of Ramadi Southeast of Ramadi – 1 destroyed Zafaraniya, Baghdad – 1 destroyed Baiji, Salahaddin – 60 destroyed	13	7
Aug 26	Shuhada, Baghdad Albu Shajal, Garma, Husaiba – 5 destroyed Hamrin Mountains, Diyala – 6 destroyed	2	9
Aug 27	North x2, Anbar Kirkuk-Debas Road, Kirkuk Albu Metairai – 1 destroyed Baiji & Samarra Island, Salahaddin – 2 destroyed	8	18
Aug 28	Zafaraniya, Baghdad	6	10
Totals	9 & 84 Destroyed	37	50

After taking one day off on August 22, the Islamic State launched 93 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) during the week. 84 of those were destroyed before reaching their target. IS has been using the vast majority of these bombs to repel the on going security offensives in Anbar, which had a total of 21 car bombs, and in Salahaddin with 62. Another 6 were destroyed in Diyala, two went off in Baghdad and one was dismantled, and another suicide bomber exploded in Kirkuk. All of those together led to 37 deaths and 50 wounded, but the real numbers are likely higher.

The government’s plans for Anbar appeared to be disjointed during the week. There was continued news of progress in Ramadi where the joint forces pushed into more of the city’s suburbs. At the same time, new security operations were announced in the west around Haditha, Hit, and Baghdadi. There was another offensive in Garma predating all of these as well, which has been deadlocked for months now. Baghdad only has roughly half the forces it used to attack Tikrit committed to Fallujah-Ramadi, which has led to constant problems holding territory it has cleared. For example, another operation in East Husaiba was reported on August 25, the fifth since July. Sending forces out to the west only increases these manpower difficulties.

In Diyala, a new operation was started to clear the insurgent base of the Hamrin Mountains. 30 villages were said to have been freed in the process. This area has never been firmly under government control leading to these sweeps. After the offensives are over, the militants move right back in.

The Peshmerga attacked the Daquq district of southern Kirkuk province during the week. Press reports had them freeing fourteen villages. The operation was meant to help bolster the defense of Kirkuk city. 11 Peshmerga were killed and 24 reportedly injuring as a result. This was a rather rare occurrence as the Kurds have dug into their positions and showed no real motivation to move forward having captured most of the disputed territories they seek to annex.

IS continued with its executions in Ninewa. During the week, 86 people were killed in Mosul, Qayara, and Issa. That included members of the security forces, a reporter, three lawyers, and nine people accused of being homosexuals.

The ISF and Hashd were still trying to take back lost ground in Baiji and the refinery there. The amount of propaganda being dispensed by those groups often makes it difficult to determine whether real progress is being made there or not. For example, on July 2 90% of the district was supposedly cleared but IS still held 60% of the refinery. By July 21 the center of Baiji town was reached along with the northern section of the refinery. Despite those advances the joint forces said that it was now in control of 85% of the area. Two days later a Hashd spokesman claimed it had 80% of the refinery, but then Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) contradicted that by saying only 40% of the facility was cleared. Finally, by the end of July all but one neighborhood was declared freed in Baiji town. After that IS counter attacked to try to draw forces away from the Anbar operation. Early in August IS took back several neighborhoods and surrounding towns, forcing AAH to send in reinforcements. Despite these setbacks the joint forces continued to claim that they were advancing with a series of contradictory announcements. For example, the Baiji Refinery went from 40% cleared to 60% to 70% at the beginning of August down to 50% towards the end of the month. Similarly 80%-90% of the district was claimed freed with only three neighborhoods of the town still under insurgent control, only to have reports putting that figure at only half of Baiji being under government control. This is all part of the victory narrative being promoted by government forces, which continually exaggerate their accomplishments. On the other hand, IS has consistently used attacks in Salahaddin to distract Baghdad away from its real goal, which is the taking of Anbar. The government played right into the insurgent’s hands with Prime Minister Abadi saying that taking Baiji was crucial in the war against IS and Hashd elements sending in more forces to retake the area during August. In fact, Baiji has lost its value after IS destroyed most of the facility after Ramadi was taken in May. There are questions of whether the facility will ever be used again. Despite that, Baghdad continues to throw forces into the area whenever IS threatens it, which will not end as the group controls the surrounding towns. The district has already changed hands several times, something that will continue into the foreseeable future.

SOURCES

Abdul-Zahra, Qassim, “Iraq PM says defense of refinery town crucial to IS defeat,” Associated Press, 8/25/15

- "Iraq's top Shiite cleric says government must show nation it's seeking genuine change," Associated Press, 8/28/15

- "Iraqi officials say 2 army generals killed in Islamic State suicide bombing in Anbar province," Associated Press, 8/27/15

- "Iraqi PM says defense of refinery town crucial to IS defeat," Associated Press, 8/25/15

- "Suicide attacks against Iraqi security outpost kill 8," Associated Press, 8/24/15

Al Mada, "Freed 30 villages in security operation in the Hamrin mountains northeast of Baquba," 8/29/15

- "Killing and injuring five police officers from the Oil Police including an officer in a car bomb northwest of Kirkuk," 8/27/15

- "The killing of seven members of Daash including four car bombs in western Anbar," 8/24/15

- "Popular Crowd confirms freeing 80% of the Baiji refinery and stresses: We need reinforcements," 7/23/15

- "Security forces dismantle a car bomb southeast Baghdad," 8/25/15

- "Toll rises northwest of Kirkuk in bombing to 11 dead and wounded and the arrest of 19 suspects," 8/27/15

Mamoun, Abdelhak, "Kurdish Peshmerga and Anti-Terrorism forces liberate 7 villages south of Kirkuk," Iraqi News, 8/26/15

- "Peshmerga liberates villages of Albu-Najam and tel al-Basel south of Kirkuk," Iraqi News, 8/26/15

Al Masalah, "Brigade announces Baiji nearly fully purged," 7/22/15

- "League of the Righteous: Arrival of reinforcements to Baiji to resolve the battle there," 8/16/15

- "Obeidi: Baily fully liberated except for one neighborhood," 7/30/15

- "Popular crowd: We control 90% of Baiji," 8/25/15

New Sabah, "Extensive preparations for the liberation of Baiji refinery and adjacent areas," 8/15/15

- "Security file," 8/25/15

- "Security file," 8/26/15

NINA, "/18/ Terrorists killed, /20/ others injured in Albu Shajal area north of Fallujah," 8/26/15

- "An armored destroyed and killed those in it fro the terrorists in al-Qarma," 8/26/15

- "A cache and a cannon to Daash elements destroyed in the operation of cleaning the island of Samarra," 8/27/15

- "Federal Police Kill 6 Terrorists In Ramadi," 8/25/15

- "The joint security forces continue to liberate the Island of Samarra from Daash dens," 8/22/15

- "A number of terrorists killed in al-Qarma," 8/27/15

- "The Security Forces Kill A Suicide Bomber West Of Anbar," 8/23/15

- "Three policemen killed and seven others wounded in southern outskirts of Baghdad," 8/28/15

- "Two people killed, nine others wounded in southwest Baghdad," 8/26/15

Qassim, Abdul Zahra, "Iraq PM says defense of refinery town crucial to IS defeat," Associated Press, 8/25/15

Al Rafidayn, "Popular crowd leading. Our fighters fought off more than sixty car bombs in Baiji," 8/25/15

Al Rayy, "The destruction of a tank bomb aimed at a convoy loaded with food in Baghdadi," 8/23/15

- "Killing of five terrorists and the destruction of a bulldozer bomb on the outskirts of Fallujah," 8/23/15

- "Popular crowd move into area north of Husaybah city and destroy three car bombs," 8/26/15

-"The Security forces and popular crowd move towards the north of Baiji refinery," 7/21/15

Rudaw, "Iraqi forces recapture Samara, kill 150 ISIS," 8/21/15

Sarhan, Amre, "Iraqi security forces repel ISIS attack west of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 8/25/15

- "Security forces destroy 2 boast for ISIS, kill 9 militants west of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 8/22/15

Shafaq News, "13 ISIS elements killed and control regained on Baiji's Deputy Governor's building," 8/27/15

- "16 Iraqi security elements killed in ISIS progress in Baiji," 8/3/15

- "Car bomb explosion targeted Kirkuk oil company workers causes casualties," 8/27/15

- "ISIS controls three new areas in Baiji," 8/15/15

- "ISIS dismantles the thermal energy devices in Baiji and transfers them to Reqqa," 8/6/15

- "ISIS penetrates five areas in Baiji," 8/8/15

- "New deployment of Iraqi forces and ISIS in Baiji after Sunday's attacks," 7/6/15

- "Nine months of fierce fighting turned Baiji to rubble..and details of the methods used by Daash," 8/5/15

- "Security forces and fighters of PMU begin to liberate west of Hit Anbar process," 8/24/15

- "Security operation for the Liberation of al-Baghdadi outskirts starts," 8/24/15

- "Sources: Half of Baiji is controlled by ISIS , we lost 17 elements of our forces," 8/24/15

- "Sources: Most of Baiji neighborhoods re-controlled from ISSI except three regions," 8/23/15

- "We made a special plan for the Liberation of Baiji refinery plan , League of the Righteous says," 7/25/15

Sotaliraq, "The destruction of a car driven by a suicide bomber west Anbar," 8/23/15

- "Joint Operations announces its control over 80% of Baiji," 8/16/15

Today's Zaman, "Iraqi forces say most of Baiji town recaptured from ISIL," 7/2/15

Xinhua, "Kurdish troops launch offensive against IS in northern Iraq," 8/26/15