Security In Iraq, Apr 1-7, 2018

After a surge in violence at the end of March things went the opposition direction with the fewest attacks in years during the first week of April. That suggests that the Islamic State was not able to sustain its operations after its increase last month. The number of fatalities remained high however due to more mass graves being discovered in Iraq. That led to just 40 incidents from April 1-7, 2018, 174 dead, and 29 wounded.

Of the 174 deaths, 126 were from mass graves leaving just 48 violent deaths during the week. There were 3 casualties in Anbar, 3 in Salahaddin, 9 in Kirkuk, 10 in Diyala, 13 in Baghdad, 14 in Irbil, 20 in Kurdistan, and 131 in Ninewa. The dead consisted of 4 Hashd al-Shaabi, 12 Turkish Soldiers, 20 members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), 56 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 82 civilians, while 3 Hashd and 26 civilians were injured.

Casualties In Iraq By Province Apr 1-7, 2018

Anbar 3 (1 Killed, 2 Wounded)

Salahaddin 3 (3 Wounded)

Kirkuk 9 (6 Killed, 3 Wounded)

Diyala 10 (6 Killed, 4 Wounded)

Baghdad 13 (2 Killed, 11 wounded)

Irbil 14 (12 Killed, 2 Wounded)

KRG 20 (20 Killed)

Ninewa 131 (127 Killed, 4 Wounded)

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province Apr 1-7, 2018

Irbil 2

KRG 2

Salahaddin 3

Anbar 4

Ninewa 5

Baghdad 6

Kirkuk 6

Diyala 12

Things were very quiet across Iraq. There were just four incidents in Anbar. That included 3 suicide bombers being killed, and 3 car bombs destroyed, but that was from insurgents being trapped in a raid and air strikes rather than in attacks. This was the fourth full week of declining incidents in Baghdad with just 6. In Ninewa, 70 bodies were found in two different locations in west Mosul’s Old City, and a mass grave with 58 bodies of members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) killed by the Islamic State was discovered in Albu Saif. Finally, in Salahaddin there were only 3 incidents.

Diyala had the most insurgent activity during the week with 12 incidents. That included mortar fire in the Hamrin basin, a shooting of a bus, and an infiltration attempt being foiled in the Sadiya district. This is one of the main provinces where IS is rebuilding.

Kirkuk had 6 incidents. That included mortar fire, an ambush, and another fake checkpoint that left 4 Hashd dead and 3 wounded. Since the federal forces moved into Kirkuk in October security has deteriorated. There are large open spaces between the Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga, and the south was never really cleared of militants.

In Kurdistan Turkey continued its latest campaign against the PKK. Air strikes claimed to kill 20 PKK members and wounded two civilians. The Kurdish group also retaliated resulting in the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers.

The government had continuous operations going on across central Iraq to try to keep the Islamic State off balance. There was a sweep from Fallujah to the east and another in the west from Qaim into the Jazeera desert in Anbar. There were three operations in Diyala mostly in the northwest, the Iraqi forces went through the towns surrounding Kirkuk city, and there was clearing work in Makhmour in western Ninewa. While these are necessary as part of a larger effort, they have failed to retard the rebuilding of the insurgency. The Iraqi forces go through an area and then leave. Until they create a permanent presence in the rural and remote areas of these provinces either through deploying to towns or setting or bases or arming and empowering locals, the militants will always be able to move back in after the government forces leave.

Security In Iraq 2017-18

Week	Security Incidents	Dead	Wounded
JAN 2017	719	1,923	4,374
FEB	628	1,891 + 399	2,511 + 1,634
MAR	720	3,504 + 278	3,302 + 2,925
APR	578	2,933	1,955
MAY	528	2,038	1,563
JUN	534	2,038	1,563
JUL	478	1,490	650
AUG	359	1,949	584
SEP	306	728	549
OCT	286	913	865 + 1,700
NOV	296	1,282	425
DEC	261	763	300
Jan 1-7	71	50	66
Jan 8-14	64	62	70
Jan 15-21	68	156	151
Jan 22-28	68	148	66
Jan 29-31	27	23	22
JAN 2018	298	439	375
Feb 1-7	66	196	67
Feb 8-14	65	63	93
Feb 15-21	59	346	43
Feb 22-28	55	44	72
FEB	245	649	275
Mar 1-7	78	120	84
Mar 8-14	60	84	61
Mar 15-21	67	168	98
Mar 22-28	81	213	61
Mar 29-31	21	26	35
MAR	307	611	339
Apr 1-7	40	174	29

Violence By Province Apr 1-7, 2018

Province	Violence
Anbar	4 Incidents 1 Killed 1 Civilian 2 Wounded 2 Civilians 1 IED 1 Grenade 3 Suicide Bombers Killed 3 Car Bombs Destroyed
Baghdad	6 Incidents 2 Killed 2 Civilians 11 Wounded 11 Civilians 1 Shooting 2 IEDs 2 Sticky Bobs
Diyala	12 Incidents 6 Killed 6 Civilians 4 Wounded 4 Civilians 6 Shootings 2 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 1 Mortar
Irbil	2 Incidents 12 Killed 12 Turkish Soldiers 2 Wounded 2 Civilians 1 Shooting 1 Turkish Air Strike
Kirkuk	6 Incidents 6 Killed 2 Civilians 4 Hashd 3 Wounded 3 Hashd 3 Shootings 1 Mortar
Kurdistan	2 Incidents 20 Killed 20 PKK 2 Turkish Air Strikes
Ninewa	5 Incidents 127 Killed 56 ISF 71 Civilians 4 Wounded 4 Civilians 1 Shooting 1 IED
Salahaddin	3 Incidents 3 Wounded 3 Civilians 2 IEDs

SOURCES

Baghdad Post, "22 corpses of children dug out from Old City of Mosul," 4/6/18

- "Iraqi forces, ISIS terrorists clash near Kirkuk," 4/6/18

- "ISIS terrorists raid village in Kirkuk kill, injure 6 civilians," 4/8/18

- "Military operation launched to hunt down ISIS remnants in Diyala," 4/2/18

Buratha News, "The destruction of three car bombs and a number of barrels and arrests of wanted in large operation west Anbar," 4/7/18

Al Forat, "Diyala operations start wide-scale search in six areas," 4/3/18

- "The popular crowd is starting a process to track down fugitive remnants of Daesh in eastern Anbar," 4/3/18

Al Ghad Press, "The crowd and army carry out a raid and search operation northeast Diyala," 4/5/18

Iraq Newspaper, "Daesh Terrorist Issue Statement Signed By Kirkuk Province For The Battle Of Dibis Last Night," 4/8/18

Al Maalomah, "Daesh Terrorists Commit A Massacre Against Civilians Near The Iranian Border," 4/5/18

- "Mortar shell kills a farmer in Hawija," 4/3/18

Mostafa, Nehal, "Four Islamic State members killed in operation on borders between Iraq, Syria," Iraqi News, 4/5/18

- "Mass grave with remains of 48 civilians found in Mosul's Old City," Iraqi News, 4/1/18

- "Over 20 Islamic State members arrested in several security operations in Nineveh," Iraqi News, 4/7/18

- "Remains of tens of security personnel found in mass grave, south of Mosul," Iraqi News, 4/6/18

NINA, "3 Suicide Bombers Killed In Anbar," 4/4/18

- "The Federal Police cleared (8) villages and destroyed tunnels and found improvised explosive devices in Kirkuk," 4/4/18

- "The PMF Foil An Attack To Daesh North-East Of Baquba," 4/5/18

- "Three mortar shells landed northeast of Baquba," 4/4/18