Jurf al-Sakhr
was once the Islamic State’s capital in Babil province. It gave the group
access to southern Iraq, Baghdad province to the north, and Anbar to the west.
In 2014, the district was liberated, the entire population expelled, and
violence dramatically dropped off in the governorate afterward. This year, Babil
is getting it from both sides. The Islamic State is picking up its terrorist
attacks, while the Hashd is trying to drive out and intimidate people before
the coming Ashura ceremony in September.
(IraqSlogger)
The number of
monthly security incidents in Babil is low. For the first seven months of 2017,
there was only an average of one incidents per week. Starting in January there
were 8, followed by 4 in February, 5 in March, 6 in April, 6 in May, 9 in June,
and then 12 in July. That was by far the lowest rate in the central Iraq where
most provinces are averaging at least one incident per day if not more.
There were
more attacks in 2016, but what has changed are the types of operations the
Islamic State is carrying out. Last year, there was an average of two incidents
per week. The vast majority of those were shootings and IEDs. There were two
suicide bombers, one of which was killed, and two suicide truck bombs. In
comparison, during the first seven months of 2017 there have been three suicide
motorcycle bombers, two of which were killed, five suicide bombers, three of
which were successful, and five car bombs, three that were destroyed. Almost
all of these occurred in the Jurf al-Sakhr-Musayib area, showing that IS is
attempting a comeback there. Not all originated in Babil either. IS has also
been sending in units from east Anbar, which adjoins Babil.
On the other
hand, pro-Iran Hashd groups were accused of forcing people out of that same
area. Throughout July, politicians such as Speaker of Parliament Salim
al-Jabouri and other parliamentarians have
claimed that Hashd outfits like Kataib
Hezbollah, the Khorasani Brigade, the Imam Ali Brigade, and Asaib Ahl al-Haq
have been kidnapping, detaining, and threatening people in the
Musayib district. Leaflets were reportedly
handed out telling people they had to leave or be killed. As Michael Knights of
the Washington Institute for Near East Policy pointed out, the Hashd were
probably preparing for the Ashura ceremony in September. That includes pilgrims
heading for the shrine city of Karbala. The main route for people from Baghdad,
Salahaddin, etc. goes right through Musayib-Jurf al-Sakhr. As one security
expert told Al Maalomah, the key to
securing Karbala, and other shrine areas was to control Jurf al-Sakhr. That was
the original cause of the district being emptied of people in 2014.
No one has been allowed back into the town since then, and it has been turned
into a military base for the Hashd. That is all meant to guard the pilgrimage
route.
Northwest
Babil is getting the worst of two worlds. On the one hand, the Islamic State is
picking up its mass casualty bombings in the area. The goal is to not only mark
the group’s return to the province via terror, but to rebuild its networks, now
that it has been defeated in Mosul. On the other hand, Hashd groups are trying
to scare and drive out residents to secure the way for pilgrims to the south
for next month’s Ashura. Those that are supposed to be in charge of security
are intimidating the populace, while failing to stem the latest wave of attacks
by the Islamic State.
Violence In Babil 2016
Month
|
Incidents
|
Dead
|
Wounded
|
Jan
|
12
|
13
|
9
|
Feb
|
6
|
4
|
6
|
Mar
|
11
|
106
|
214
|
Apr
|
11
|
5
|
9
|
May
|
10
|
8
|
25
|
Jun
|
10
|
1
|
4
|
Jul
|
9
|
4
|
5
|
Aug
|
12
|
4
|
7
|
Sep
|
12
|
2
|
8
|
Oct
|
3
|
-
|
2
|
Nov
|
7
|
94
|
107
|
Dec
|
7
|
1
|
3
|
Violence In Babil 2017
Month
|
Incidents
|
Dead
|
Wounded
|
Jan
|
8
|
2
|
1
|
Feb
|
4
|
151
|
8
|
Mar
|
5
|
19
|
12
|
Apr
|
6
|
4
|
22
|
May
|
6
|
2
|
14
|
Jun
|
9
|
37
|
42
|
Jul
|
12
|
24
|
13
|
Major Attacks In Babil 2016 vs 2017
(Jan-Jul)
2016
1 Suicide
Bomber
1 Suicide
Bomber Killed
2 Suicide
Truck Bombs
2017 (Jan-Jul)
1 Suicide
Motorcycle Bomber
2 Car Bombs
3 Suicide
Bombers
2 Suicide
Bombers Killed
2 Suicide
Motorcycle Bombers Killed
3 Car Bombs
Destroyed
SOURCES
Adel, Loaa, "Bomb
blast near house north of Babel, nor casualties," Iraqi News, 1/30/17
-"Booby-trapped
vehicle explodes in al-Iskandariyah, Babel," Iraqi News, 4/4/17
- "Security forces
kill suicide bomber southeast of Baghdad," Iraqi News, 2/23/17
Associated Press,
"Death toll rises to 41 after ISIS bombing at Iraq stadium," 3/26/16
Baghdad Post, "5 IMIS
militants injured in blast in Hillah," 3/25/17
- "11 killed, injured
in suicide attack in southern Baghdad," 5/1/17
- "12 civilians
killed, injured in car bomb blast in northern Iraq," 4/29/17
- “IMIS terrorists threaten to kill Sunnis residents in
Babil Governorate,” 7/16/17
- “Iran-allied IMIS terrorists storm Jurf al-Sakhr,
arrest 53,” 7/31/17
- "Iraqi police foil
ISIS attack on power pylons, says official," 5/3/17
-, "Pictures: Iraqi
police foil car bomb attack in Hillah city," 7/1/17
- "Unidentified armed
men attack house of Nojaba TV channel's reporter," 6/23/17
Faraj, Murtada, "Death
Toll From Last Months IS Bombing in Iraq Rises to 92," Associated Press,
12/3/16
Al Ghad Press, "Daesh
attacks Jurf al-Sakhr with a car bomb," 7/26/17
- "The dismantling of
a suitcase bomb north Babylon," 7/28/17
- "Two civil defense
members injured by a bomb explosion in Jurf al-Sakhr," 7/26/17
Iraq News Network, “Deputy: Popular crowd groups threaten
people of northern Babylon to leave or be killed,” 7/16/17
Al Maalomah, “Security expert: urging control of Jurf
al-Nadah to protect the holy shrines,” 7/31/17
Al Mada, “Babil talks about the return of terrorist
activities to Jurf al-Sakhr two years after its liberation,” 7/19/17
- “Jurf al-Sakhr is returning to the frontlines with
arrests and renewed security violations,” 8/3/17
Mostafa, Mohamed, “MP: 1000 Babil Sunnis kidnapped by
Shia militias in 3 years,” Iraqi News, 7/18/17
- "Officer, civilian
killed, in attempted, fatal suicide bombings in Babil," Iraqi News,
6/26/17
- “Parliament chief says kidnapping of Sunnis in Babel
“intolerable,”” Iraqi News, 7/9/17
NINA, "2 PMF's
Fighters Injured By a Bike Bomb Explosion North Of Babylon," 7/26/17
- "Eight members of
the popular crowd wounded in a roadside bomb northwest of Hilla," 2/7/17
- "Five members of the
popular crowd injured in a bomb explosion in Jurf Al-Sakhar in Babylon,"
4/10/17
- "Five people were
injured by eight mortar shells fired north Babylon," 7/12/17
- "Four elements of
the popular crowd killed and wounded in a bomb explosion north of
Babylon," 7/8/17
- "Four members of the
popular crowd injured in a roadside bomb north of Babylon," 3/3/17
- "Gunmen kidnap a
policeman north of Hilla," 1/18/17
- "Gunman killed while
planting an explosive device near a cemetery north of Hilla," 1/8/17
- "Gunmen Attack Two
Cars Of The Hilla Municipality," 7/28/17
- "Gunmen Storm A
House In Karbala And Kill A Whole Family," 4/28/17
- "Head Of The
Security Committee In Babylon: Victims Toll Rose To 24 Martyrs And 44
Wounded," 6/9/17
- "Injuring the owner
of a barber shop in a roadside bomb north of Hilla," 1/31/17
- “The Iraq Forces Coalition: Armed groups kidnapped 61
citizens in Musayyib in Babylon,” 7/9/17
- "The Iskandiriya
district police director and a lieutenant died of their wounds from suicide
bombing north Babylon," 3/25/16
- "A leader of the
popular crowd assassinated north of Hilla," 1/9/17
- "Three people
injured by a grenade explosion in Musayib in Babil," 6/15/17
- "Three people were
injured in a stun grenade in a café in North of Babylon," 3/15/17
- "Three policemen
injured in a bomb explosion while trying to dismantle it in Jurf Al-Sakhar in
Babylon," 4/3/17
- "Two Armed Persons,
With Two Explosive Belts Arrested North Of Hilla," 6/24/17
- "Two people wounded
in grenade attack north of Babylon," 5/16/17
- "Two police men
wounded in a bomb explosion north of Babylon," 5/9/17
- "Urgent..A local
official: The death toll of the victims of the tanker bomb explosion south of
Hilla rose to more than 110 people killed and wounded," 11/24/16
Al Rafidain, “MP Kamel Al-Ghurairi Threatens To Go To The
UN If The Government Fails To Stop The Abduction of Civilians,” 7/16/17
Reuters, "Suicide
bomber kills at least 31 in crowded Iraqi market," 6/9/17
Rohan, Brian and Faraj,
Murtada, "Death Toll in Iraq Bombing Claimed by IS Rises to 73,"
Associated Press, 11/25/16
Rudaw, “Sunni-Shia tensions stoked in Iraq’s Babil
province,” 7/16/17
Salaheddin, Sinan,
"Iraq: Death Toll From Sunday's Suicide Attack Climbs to 61," Associated
Press, 3/7/16
Sotaliraq, “The popular crowd denies that accusations
demanding residents of northern Babylon leave their homes in 24 hours,” 7/16/17
Al Sumaria, "Found the
body of a young men left shot dead south Baghdad," 2/23/17
- "Interior Ministry:
Martyrdom of a security member embracing a suicide bomber who tried to target a
funeral north Babylon," 4/3/17
- "Two members of the
popular crowd were killed during infiltration of Daash members into Jurf
al-Nadr," 7/22/17
Al Taghier TV, "Two
people were killed and three others injured in a suicide bombing in
Iskandiriya," 4/3/17
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