Sunday, July 31, 2016
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Musings On The Iraq In The News
I was interviewed by Alex MacDonald for “Iraqi
militias to be given official army status, says prime minister” in Middle
East Eye.
Friday, July 29, 2016
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Rough Alliance Between Iraq’s Protest Movement And Sadrists
In the middle of July 2016 Iraq’s protests re-started after
a short hiatus caused by Ramadan and the huge Karrada bombing in Baghdad. The
demonstrations highlighted the difficult alliance forged between the secular
civic groups that started the movement and Moqtada al-Sadr who successfully
co-opted them to push his own political agenda on the country.
Moqtada al-Sadr called forth the latest round of Iraq
protests over the objections of the government. On July 11 he let it be
known that his followers would turn out in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square on Friday.
The next day tanks rolled
through the streets of the capital, not to put down the marchers or to commit a
coup, but to partake in a military parade to celebrate the 1958 coup that
overthrew the country’s monarchy as well as recent victories over the Islamic
State that was held on July 14. This was
a direct challenge to Sadr by Prime Minister Haidar Abadi. The cabinet then
called on Sadr to postpone his demonstration, followed by the premier
making the same request warning that there could be chaos in the country as a
result, and finally a group of clerics called on Abadi to go to Najaf to talk
Sadr out of his plans. Finally, the Joint Operations Command declared
Sadr’s demonstration’s illegal and told people not to show up. Tens of
thousands gathered in Baghdad anyway on July
15 calling for reform. There were also similar events in Maysan,
Babil,
Najaf,
Dhi
Qar, Karbala,
Muthanna,
and Qadisiyah
led by secular civil groups. In that last province people complained about the
co-option of the protests by religious groups, and called on independents to
denounce the Islamists and their partisan and sectarian goals, obviously
referring to Sadr. Even though it was only in one governorate Qadisiyah did
bring up the differences between the original groups that started the marches
and the Sadrists who have taken them over in the capital.
The protests began with leftist and secular groups such as
the Communist party. One of their groups was known as Mustamerroun,
We Will Not Back Down. While their events were large in the beginning, their
numbers began to slip as the summer dragged on. Then they made a deal with the
Sadr movement. The latter was able to add thousands of people to the streets of
Baghdad every Friday. However, Sadr wanted to use the demonstrations for his
own political program of bullying the prime minister and other ruling parties
to follow his lead in reforming the government, which he hoped would make him
the new political boss of the country. Many of the demonstrators were willing
to go along believing that together they were able to push the prime minister
into some of his political changes. Not everyone was so happy though as some
broke off and created Madaniyoun, the Civil Movement at the start of July. It
appears to be in the minority, but showed that not all would go along with Sadr
who not only has been part of the government since its inception, which the
demonstrators have complained about, but is a religious leader as well.
The secularists and Sadrists seem to have a marriage of
convenience right now, and maintain their independence from each other. On July
22 for example, there were protests in six provinces with no participation from
the Sadrists. Despite their willingness to work together they possess
diametrically opposed goals. The secularists want the institutional structure
of the government changed by eliminating corruption, the quotas, etc. which
empower the ruling parties. Sadr on the other hand, is only interested in
reforms because he can use it against his political rivals. For now the two are
united, but it might be only a matter of time before their differences come to
the fore.
SOURCES
Associated Press, “Supporters of Shiite cleric rally in Baghdad, demand
reform,” 7/15/16
Al-Jaffal, Omar, “Will political party emerge out of Iraqi popular
protests?” Al Monitor, 7/15/16
Al Mada, “Dhi Qar protesters denounce Adeeb’s remarks on free education
and human rights,” 7/22/16
- “Diwaniyah protesters claim to sustain the momentum of the
demonstrations and objected to its kidnapping,” 7/15/16
- “Diwaniyah protesters warn of procrastinating on demands and demand
the expulsion of partisan reforms,” 7/22/16
- “Joint Operations: Friday unlicensed demonstration and we will deal
with any arms as terrorist threat,” 7/14/16
- “Karbala protesters demanding the amendment of the electora law and
resolving its office,” 7/15/16
- “Maysan protesters call for sacking three presidencies and warn of
iraq’s external debt burdens,” 7/22/16
- “Maysan protesters claim all politicians are corrupt and ask
government to resign or be expelled,” 7/15/16
- “Muthanna protesters are demanding reform of state institutions and
step the bleeding,” 7/15/16
- “Muthanna protesters renew their demands for reform and purging state
institutions of corruption,” 7/22/16
- “Najaf protesters condemned the Karrada terrorist bombing and demand
the government implement reforms,” 7/15/16
- “Najaf protesters criticize the government’s performance and demand
accountability of electricity officials,” 7/22/16
- “Nassiriya protesters demanding the execution of those convicted of
terrorism and renews their demands for reform,” 7/15/16
- “Protesters demanding the overthrow of Babylon’s “sectarian quota
system” and condemning the bombing of Karrada,” 7/15/16
- “The spread of tanks in the streets surprise Baghdadis and paralyze
traffic across the capital,” 7/12/16
- “Tahrir protesters hail the resignations of ministers and demanding
choice of technocratic personalities,” 7/22/16
New Sabah, “Sadr calls fro demonstration in Tahrir Square next Friday,”
7/11/16
Reuters, “Iraqi
forces link up south of Mosul, tightening noose around Islamic State,” 7/13/16
Rudaw, “Iraq holds military parade in central Baghdad, seen as show of
force against Sadr,” 7/14/16
Sattar, Omar, “On eve of mass protests, what’s next for Iraq’s
political crisis?” Al Monitor 7/14/16
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Security In Iraq, July 15-21, 2016
The third week of July saw another low level of violence.
That follows the Islamic State’s spring/Ramadan offensive, which lasted several
months. Now the group is only carrying out low level attacks punctuated by at
least one or two attempts at a mass casualty bombing.
From July 15-21, 2016 there were 122 incidents reported in
the press. That compared to 125 the previous week, and 114 the first week of
the month. Those low figures marked the end of the Islamic State’s spring
campaign that was marked by a high number of attacks as well as a new wave of
car and suicide bombings.
During the week there were 167 deaths and 266 wounded the
lowest numbers since February. The dead consisted of 1 Sahwa, 4 Peshmerga, 9
Hashd, 12 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) members, 20 fighters from the Turkish
PKK, and 121 civilians. There were also 1 Sahwa, 11 Hashd, 20 ISF, and 234
civilians who were injured. As usual Baghdad was the deadliest province with 72
killed followed by 43 in Ninewa, 20 in Kurdistan, 11 in Salahaddin, 9 in
Kirkuk, 6 in Diyala, 4 in Anbar, and 2 in Dohuk.
In Anbar there were just ten reported incidents. Those were
mostly in western Anbar and Khalidiya Island where the Iraqi forces were
carrying out their latest operations. Dolab for example, west
of Hit was just liberated. That is the next goal of the government, to free the
areas along the Iraq-Syrian border, which is one of the last areas IS controls
in Anbar. Only four deaths and 8 injured were mentioned during the week along
with one successful suicide car bomb in an attack on Rutba.
Since Fallujah was freed there has been a huge drop in violence in the
province.
There were 70 incidents in Baghdad leading to 72 dead and
234 wounded. IS’s efforts at mass casualties bombings were foiled with one
suicide bomber killed and one
car bomb being dismantled. As
usual the main killer in the governorate were IEDs with 42 during the week,
along with 5 sticky bombs. The south was the area hit the most by the Islamic
State with 28 incidents, followed by 18 in the north, 14 in the east, and 10 in
the west. The villages in the outer south had 18 incidents along including the
dead suicide bomber and 13 IEDs.
The third week of July saw another high number of attacks in
Diyala with 20. These are still low level like drive by shootings and IEDs, but
this is still stepped up activity from previous months. The insurgents are also
trying to carry out mass casualty bombings there as well as exemplified by
eight suicide bombers being arrested or killed there during the week. Diyala
also serves as the source for many car bombs that target Baghdad, which has
been the traditional role of the province as a base for IS operations into
other areas of the country.
The Turks claimed
they killed 20 PKK fighters during the week in an air strike n Kurdistan. Turkey
usually bombs Kurdistan every few weeks now that the war with the PKK has
re-started.
Incidents in Ninewa were a mix of executions and attacks
upon the Kurds. IS killed 43 people during the week. It also attacked Tal Afar,
Zummar and Sinjar. The Iraqi forces also freed
another town in the Qayara district.
Things were generally quite in Kirkuk and Salahaddin as well
with 6 and 4 incidents respectively. That was after a large number of
operations by IS there previously.
There was only one successful car bombings during the week,
which happened in Rutba, Anbar. Another 12 were said to be destroyed in Anbar
and Baghdad. The low number of car bombings was another sign that the spring
offensive was over.
Violence
In Iraq 2015-16
Date
|
Incidents
|
Dead
|
Wounded
|
JAN
|
911
|
2,656
|
3,032 + 150
|
FEB
|
730
|
2,345
|
2,366
|
MAR
|
820
|
2,665
|
2,529
|
APR
|
751
|
2,753
|
2,621
|
MAY
|
674
|
2,565 + 1,499
|
1,952 + 646
|
JUN
|
708
|
2,153 + 405
|
2,174
|
JUL
|
688
|
2,716
|
3,198 + 4,024
|
AUG
|
684
|
2,440 + 760
|
1,777
|
SEP
|
649
|
1,731
|
1,668 + 3,003
|
OCT
|
589
|
1,144
|
1,555
|
NOV
|
530
|
1,174
|
1,455 + 124 + 1,322
|
DEC
|
553
|
1,155
|
1,252 + 5,920
|
Jan 1-7
|
150
|
808
|
421
|
Jan 8-14
|
140
|
436
|
417
|
Jan 15-21
|
135
|
275
|
227
|
Jan 22-28
|
132
|
392
|
322
|
Jan 29-31
|
41
|
81
|
334
|
JAN
|
598
|
2,052
|
1,721
|
Feb 1-7
|
146
|
575
|
313
|
Feb 8-14
|
119
|
146
|
323
|
Feb 15-21
|
130
|
225
|
239
|
Feb 22-29
|
153
|
371
|
690
|
FEB
|
549
|
1,281
|
1,566
|
Mar 1-7
|
183
|
321
|
478
|
Mar 8-14
|
168
|
408
|
415
|
Mar 15-21
|
130
|
349
|
409
|
Mar 22-28
|
135
|
213
|
420
|
Mar 29-31
|
49
|
172
|
121
|
MAR
|
665
|
1,463
|
1,843
|
Apr 1-7
|
144
|
239
|
444
|
Apr 8-14
|
141
|
271
|
391
|
Apr 15-21
|
124
|
436
|
242
|
Apr 22-28
|
160
|
413
|
524
|
Apr 29-30
|
30
|
61
|
121
|
APR
|
599
|
1,420
|
1,722
|
May 1-7
|
160
|
325
|
420
|
May 8-14
|
141
|
311
|
674
|
May 15-21
|
121
|
349
|
604
|
May 22-28
|
142
|
200
|
397
|
May 29-31
|
83
|
119
|
313
|
MAY
|
647
|
1,304
|
2,408
|
Jun 1-7
|
162
|
389
|
1,738
|
Jun 8-14
|
132
|
234
|
461
|
Jun 15-21
|
148
|
352
|
497
|
Jun 22-28
|
119
|
277
|
362
|
Jun 29-30
|
36
|
409
|
125
|
JUN
|
598
|
1,666
|
6,315
|
Jul 1-7
|
114
|
463
|
633
|
Jul 8-14
|
125
|
214
|
316
|
Jul 15-21
|
122
|
167
|
266
|
Security
By Province July 15-21, 2016
Province
|
Incidents
|
Anbar
|
10 Incidents
4 Killed: 1 Hashd, 3 ISF
8 Wounded: 3 Hashd, 5 Civilians
4 Shootings
1 IED
1 Suicide Car Bomb
1 Mortar
4 Suicide Bombers Killed
5 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
6 Car Bombs Destroyed
|
Babil
|
2 Incidents
1 Wounded: 1 Civilian
4 IEDs
|
Baghdad
|
70 Incidents
72 Killed: 1 Sahwa, 3 Hashd, 6
ISF, 62 Civilians
234 Wounded: 1 Sahwa, 7 Hashd, 20
ISF, 206 Civilians
15 Shootings
42 IEDs
5 Sticky Bombs
1 Suicide Bomber Killed
1 Car Bomb Dismantled
|
Basra
|
1 Incident
1 IED
|
Diyala
|
20 Incidents
6 Killed: 1 Hashd, 5 Civilians
8 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 7 Civilians
3 Shootings
8 IEDs
1 Sticky Bomb
2 Mortars
8 Suicide Bombers Arrested
|
Dohuk
|
1 Incident
2 Killed: 2 Civilians
2 Wounded: 2 Civilians
1 IED
|
Kirkuk
|
6 Incidents
9 Killed: 4 Peshmerga, 5 Civilians
3 Shootings
1 IED
1 Suicide Bomber Killed
|
KRG
|
1 Incident
20 Killed: 20 PKK
1 Turkish Air Strike
|
Ninewa
|
6 Incidents
43 Killed: 43 Civilians
1 Shooting
1 Suicide Bomber
7 Suicide Bombers Kill
|
Salahaddin
|
4 Incidents
11 Killed: 3 ISF, 4 Hashd, 4
Civilians
13 Wounded: 13 Civilians
2 Shootings
2 IEDs
|
Wasit
|
1 Incident
1 Sound Bomb
|
Car
Bombs In Iraq July 2016
Date
|
Car Bombs
|
Dead
|
Wounded
|
Jul 1
|
Sheikh Ali,
Taloul al-Baj, Salahaddin – 9 destroyed
|
||
Jul 2
|
Khalidiya
Island, Anbar – 4 destroyed
Tal Skurf,
Ninewa – 5 destroyed
Makhoul,
Salahaddin – 1 destroyed
|
||
Jul 3
|
Karrada,
Baghdad
Jawaanh, Anbar
– 3 destroyed
|
292
|
200
|
Jul 4
|
Khan Bani Saad
& north of Baquba, Diyala – 2 destroyed
Makhoul,
Salahaddin – 1 destroyed
|
||
Jul 5
|
Haditha Dist,
Anbar – 2 destroyed
|
||
Jul 6
|
Jazeera, Anbar
– 3 destroyed
Shirqat,
Salahaddin - 2 destroyed
|
||
Jul 7
|
|||
Totals
|
1 – 32 Destroyed
|
292
|
200
|
Jul 8
|
Hit, Anbar – 4
destroyed
Alam &
Shirqat, Salahaddin – 2 Destroyed
|
||
Jul 9
|
|||
Jul 10
|
|||
Jul 11
|
Muqtadiya,
Diyala – 1 Destroyed
|
||
Jul 12
|
Rashidiya,
Baghdad
|
12
|
37
|
Jul 13
|
Rashidiya,
Baghdad
Albu Alwan
& Hit, Anbar – 5 Destroyed
|
8
|
23
|
Jul 14
|
Hit, Anbar – 5
Destroyed
Qayara, Ninewa
– 2 Destroyed
|
||
Totals
|
2 – 18 Destroyed
|
20
|
60
|
Jul 15
|
Amil, Anbar –
2 destroyed
|
||
Jul 16
|
Haditha, Anbar
– 4 destroyed
|
||
Jul 17
|
Khalidiya
Island & Hit, Anbar – 4 destroyed
|
||
Jul 18
|
Rutba,
Anbar
Rutba, Anbar –
1 Destroyed
|
3
|
5
|
Jul 19
|
Tarmiya,
Baghdad – 1 destroyed
|
||
Jul 20
|
|||
Jul 21
|
|||
Totals
|
1 – 12 Destroyed
|
3
|
5
|
SOURCES
ARA
News, "92 ISIS militants killed in operations by Iraqi army in
Anbar," 7/16/16
Buratha News, "Military convoy killed a suicide bomber trying
to target it south Baghdad," 7/17/16
Iraqi
News, "Awsaja village liberated from ISIS control," 7/18/16
Al
Maalomah, "Destroyed four suicide car bombs western Anbar," 7/16/16
Al
Mada, "Killing of a number of Daash members and the destruction of a car
bomb by Iraqi air strikes in Khalidiya Island," 7/17/16
Al Masalah, "Killing Daash members and
destroyed two car bombs in western Anbar," 7/15/16
New
Sabah, "Security forces freed the Dolab area and killed 69 Daash,"
7/18/16
NINA,
"Killing 30 terrorists destroy 3 car bombs and 250 IEDs defused in west
Hit region," 7/17/16
Shafaq
News, "Foiled car bombing in raid in north Baghdad," 7/19/16
Sultania, Devyani, "Iraq: 20 killed after Turkey carries out
airstrikes against Kurdish militants," International Business Times,
7/20/16
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