Monday, March 4, 2019

Islamic State Might Be Coming Out Of Its Winter Hibernation In Iraq

(Iraqi News)

After a large drop in violence at the end of 2018 attacks have slowly tracked upwards in the new year. That being said, there were roughly the same number of attacks and casualties from January to February 2019.



 
There were 118 security incidents in February 2019. Minus mass graves being found and rockets set up by a pro-Iran Hashd group targeting U.S. forces in Anbar there were 114 attacks likely perpetrated by the Islamic State during the month. That was around the same as the 112 in January. Anbar with 28, Diyala with 26 and Ninewa with 20 had the most incidents in February.

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province
Province
Feb 1-7
Feb 8-14
Feb 15-21
Feb 22-28
TOTALS
Anbar
4
3
13
8
28
Babil
1
-
-
1
2
Baghdad
-
2
3
2
7
Diyala
8
5
8
5
26
Kirkuk
3
8
5
1
17
Ninewa
4
2
10
4
20
Salahaddin
9
4
1
4
18
TOTALS
29
24
40
25
118

Casualties In Iraq By Province
Province
Feb 1-7
Feb 8-14
Feb 15-21
Feb 22-28
TOTALS
Anbar
3 (2K, 1)
7 (4K, 3W)
26 (19K, 7W)
36 (21K, 15W)
72 (46K, 26W)
Babil
-
-
-
2 (2W)
2 (2W)
Baghdad
-
2 (2K)
3 (3K)
2 (2K)
7 (7K)
Diyala
7 (3K, 4W)
5 (2K, 3W)
5 (1K, 4W)
7 (2K, 5W)
24 (8K, 16W)
Kirkuk
2 (1K, 1W)
10 (6K, 4W)
11 (10K, 1W)
1 (1W)
24 (17K, 7W)
Ninewa
65 (64K, 1W)
-
78 (78K)
35 (5K, 30W)
178 (147K, 31W)
Salahaddin
29 (6K, 23W)
20 (12K, 8W)
1 (1K)
23 (6K, 17W)
73 (25K, 48W)
TOTALS
106 (76K, 30W)
44 (26K, 18W)
124 (112K, 12W)
106 (36K, 70W)
380 (250K, 130W)

There were 380 casualties during the month, up from 267 the month before. Minus the old bodies found the numbers were nearly the same with 108 violent deaths and 128 wounded in January versus 115 violent deaths and 130 injured in February. Salahaddin with 73 casualties and Anbar with 72 led the country. Ninewa had 178 but most of those were due to several mass graves that were discovered.

Broken down 22 Hashd al-Shaabi, 35 ISF, and 193 civilians lost their lives. Another 1 Peshmerga, 18 ISF, 25 Hashd, and 86 civilians were wounded in February.

Anbar saw a large jump in attacks. Like the rest of the country violence went down in the winter with 16 in October dropping to 6 in November and 8 in December. In comparison, in 2019 there were 16 attacks in January and 27 in February. This might be the result of Islamic State fighters flowing into the province from Syria where the group is about to lose the last bit of territory it controls in the region. During the month a sheikh was attacked, a checkpoint was fired upon, a village was hit by mortars, and there were four gun battles with insurgents. The boldest operations were four separate kidnappings where over a dozen members of the Iraqi forces and civilians were seized. Some of them have turned up dead already.

Islamic State Activity in Iraq 2018-19
Anbar
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Mortars/
Rockets
Kidnappings
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
8
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
1
Feb
3
8
1
-
-
-
-
1
-
Mar
6
15
3
2
-
1
1
-
-
Apr
1
5
1
-
-
-
-
3
-
May
2
7
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
Jun
4
3
2
-
-
-
1
-
-
Jul
3
5
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
Aug
4
4
2
1
-
-
-
-
1
Sep
3
8
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
Oct
9
5
3
1
1
-
2
1
1
Nov
1
3
-
-
1
-
1
-
-
Dec
1
4
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
Jan 2019
6
4
1
-
2
-
1
1
1
Feb
10
11
4
1
1
1
4
-
-


Baghdad continues to be a forgotten front by the militants. It was once the major target of terrorism, but as IS rebuilds it has removed most of its assets from there. As a result there were 13 incidents in November, 14 in December, 12 in January and just 7 in February. All seven were shootings in the outer towns and villages of the province.

Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salahaddin remain the core areas of the Islamic State’s insurgency.

Attacks have remained relatively constant in Diyala. There were 26 in February, 32 in January, 28 in December, 34 in November, 35 in October, and 36 in September. While that is only roughly one incident per day, the types of attack show that the group is attempting to assert its control in the governorate. In February three towns were attacked, there were four mortar incidents, 5 gun battles with the Iraqi forces and 7 checkpoints were assaulted. IS has access to all the rural parts of Diyala. It has especially been hitting the Khanaqin district in the northeast. The federal forces took control of that area after the 2017 Kurdish independence referendum, but doesn’t have enough forces to hold it, and those there lack coordination offering plenty of opportunities for the militants to exploit. When the security forces launch a sweep through one area they simply relocate to another and return later on.

Diyala
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Mortars
Rockets
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
20
24
2
7
-
1
-
6
1
1
Feb
14
13
4
3
-
-
-
-
1
-
Mar
29
21
14
5
1
2
1
5
-
-
Apr
13
18
2
2
-
-
-
2
-
-
May
11
11
1
3
1
1
3
4
1
-
Jun
32
17
5
12
-
1
5
4
-
-
Jul
20
19
2
3
-
2
3
1
-
-
Aug
17
18
2
2
1
1
3
3
-
-
Sep
20
12
5
1
-
2
5
5
-
-
Oct
11
22
2
-
1
1
-
4
-
-
Nov
17
13
5
2
1
1
4
4
-
-
Dec
15
10
3
3
-
1
1
2
-
-
Jan 2019
21
2
3
8
-
-
1
5
-
-
Feb
18
2
5
7
-
-
3
4
-
-

Attacks went down again in Kirkuk. There was a huge drop during the winter from 52 in October to just 18 in November and 16 in December. In January that went up to 28, but then back down to 17 in February. That included a town being attacked, 2 kidnappings, and 3 gun battles. Almost all of these occur in the north and south, with a few in Kirkuk city.

Kirkuk
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Mortars
Rockets
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
13
6
4
1
-
-
-
3
3
1
Feb
21
10
7
3
-
-
-
4
1
-
Mar
22
15
11
2
-
2
1
3
1
1
Apr
18
4
3
1
-
-
8
1
-
1
May
14
28
2
-
2
1
1
4
4
-
Jun
25
12
4
2
-
2
10
6
-
-
Jul
7
20
1
2
-
-
-
-
-
1
Aug
7
20
2
1
2
-
-
2
-
1
Sep
14
25
2
2
1
3
4
2
-
-
Oct
16
29
1
4
4
1
4
2
-
1
Nov
7
7
2
-
-
2
-
1
-
-
Dec
8
6
-
-
1
3
1
2
-
-
Jan 2019
8
17
-
4
2
3
-
2
-
1
Feb
9
5
3
-
-
2
1
1
-
-

Ninewa was another province where IS activity went up. There were only 9 attacks in January. In comparison there were 20 in February. That included an assault on a town, a car bomb in Mosul, 2 gun battles, and 2 checkpoints were shot at. Most of these happened to the west and south of Mosul. Another 11 suicide bombers were killed and a suicide car bomber was arrested in four separate incidents showing a dramatic increases in attempts at mass casualty bombings not seen in any other province during the month. Like Anbar, the governorate might have received an influx of fighters from Syria recently accounting for the jump in attacks.

Ninewa
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
18
8
7
1
1
-
-
-
-
Feb
19
7
8
1
-
1
-
1
-
Mar
20
6
7
1
-
1
-
-
-
Apr
8
6
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
May
11
6
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
Jun
7
2
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
Jul
9
9
1
1
1
1
2
-
-
Aug
9
9
2
-
-
1
1
-
-
Sep
8
3
2
-
-
-
-
1
-
Oct
13
5
-
1
-
1
-
-
1
Nov
9
7
2
1
-
-
3
-
1
Dec
8
6
1
-
3
1
-
-
1
Jan 2019
6
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
Feb
8
3
2
2
-
-
1
-
1

Salahaddin was the third area that saw attacks going up. There were 8 in December, 14 in January and 18 in February. As a sign of an emboldened IS the group attacked the Baiji refinery and the Alas oil field in the east. Overall, suicide bombers were employed during an assault upon a town, there were 2 kidnappings, and 3 gun battles during the month.

Salahaddin
Shootings
(Totals)
IEDs/
Sticky Bombs
(Totals)
Gun Battles
Attacks on Checkpoints
Attacks on Mukhtars/
Sheikhs
Kidnappings
Attacks on Towns
Mortars
Rockets
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Jan 2018
11
9
8
-
-
-
-
2
-
1
Feb
7
5
1
1
-
2
-
-
-
-
Mar
23
8
9
2
-
3
-
-
1
-
Apr
6
8
2
2
-
-
-
-
1
-
May
14
10
10
1
1
-
-
1
1
-
Jun
15
15
4
1
-
7
-
-
-
1
Jul
9
6
-
4
-
-
2
1
1
-
Aug
9
15
1
3
-
1
1
1
1
-
Sep
5
10
1
1
-
-
1
1
3
1
Oct
2
9
1
-
-
1
-
1
1
-
Nov
5
7
2
2
-
1
-
1
-
2
Dec
4
-
2
1
-
1
-
1
-
-
Jan 2019
5
5
3
1
-
3
-
-
-
1
Feb
7
11
3
-
-
2
1
1
1
-
(Gun Battles, Attacks on Checkpoints, Attacks on Mukhtars, Attacks on Towns are all subsets of the total number of shootings and IEDs/Sticky Bombs reported)

Suicide-Car Bombs In Iraq 2018-19
Month
Suicide Bombers
Car Bombs
Totals
Jan
7
(1- Diyala,
3 – Baghdad/Baghdad,
3 - Kirkuk)
6
(1- Anbar,
1 – Diyala,
1 – Kirkuk,
1 – Salahaddin,
2 - Babil)
13
Feb
4
(1 – Anbar/Ramadi
1 – Diyala
1 – Kirkuk
1 - Ninewa)
-
4
Mar
2
(1 – Kirkuk/Kirkuk
1 - Salahaddin)
1
(1 – Kirkuk)
3
Apr
4
(1 - Salahaddin
3 – Anbar)
1
(1 – Kirkuk/Kirkuk)
5
May
8
(1 – Diyala
1 - Salahaddin)
2 – Baghdad/1 - Baghdad
4 - Kirkuk)
-
8
Jun

1
(1 – Salahaddin/Tikrit)
1
Jul
1
(1 – Salahaddin/Tikrit)
1
(1 – Kirkuk/Kirkuk)
2
Aug
1
(1 – Salahaddin)
2
(1 – Anbar,
1 – Kirkuk)
3
Sep
6
(1 – Ninewa)
2 – Anbar
3 – Salahaddin)
2
(1 – Kirkuk
1 – Salahaddin)
8
Oct
2
(1 – Anbar/Fallujah
1 – Salahaddin)
3
(1 – Anbar/Fallujah
1 – Kirkuk/Kirkuk
1 - Ninewa)
5
Nov
-
3
(1 – Ninewa/Mosul
2 – Salahaddin/Tikrit)
3
Dec
-
1
(1 – Ninewa)
1
Jan
1
(1 – Anbar)
3
(1 – Anbar
1 – Kirkuk
1 – Salahaddin/Tikrit)
4
Feb
1
(1 – Salahaddin)
1
(1 – Ninewa/Mosul)
2

Security In Iraq 2018-19
Week
Security
Incidents
(Total/By IS)
Dead
(Total/By IS)
Wounded
(Total/By IS)
Jan 1-7
62/60
45
63
Jan 8-14
58/56
58/56
66/63
Jan 15-21
62/59
151
151
Jan 22-28
59/51
140/136
65/63
Jan 29-31
24
21
21
JAN 2018
265/
250 by IS
417/
409 by IS
(196 Violent Deaths)
366/
361 by IS
Feb 1-7
58/56
192/141
62/60
Feb 8-14
57
58
91
Feb 15-21
53/52
343
43
Feb 22-28
46/44
38/37
70/68
FEB
214/
209 by IS
631/
579 by IS
(215 Violent Deaths)
266/
262 by IS
Mar 1-7
68/64
115/108
79/77
Mar 8-14
52
75
59
Mar 15-21
64/59
165/119
98
Mar 22-28
77/64
210/87
61/60
Mar 29-31
19/18
26/25
34
MAR
280/
257 by IS
591/
414 by IS
(446 Violent Deaths)
331/
328 by IS
Apr 1-7
38/34
172/140
27/25
Apr 8-14
60/52
173/136
81/72
Apr 15-21
43/35
63/18
72/70
Apr 22-28
40/31
60/30
39/33
Apr 29-30
12/11
14/11
4
APR
193/
163 by IS
482/
335 by IS
(236 Violent Deaths)
223/
204 by IS
May 1-7
45/39
52/43
55/54
May 8-14
55/51
68/46
49
May 15-21
35/32
55/26
80/75
May 22-28
49/46
72/62
51/49
May 29-31
16/13
39/30
15
MAY
200/
181 by IS
286/
207 by IS
(261 Violent Deaths)
250/
242 by IS
Jun 1-7
50/44
96/87
29/28
Jun 8-14
67/59
107/47
88
Jun 15-21
40/35
82/28
19
Jun 22-28
45/44
53/38
62
Jun 29-30
17/15
21/16
14
JUN
219/
197 by IS
359/
216 by IS
(315 Violent Deaths)
212/
211 by IS
Jul 1-7
50/49
56/52
90
Jul 8-14
42/39
56/47
31
Jul 15-21
50/45
59/42
63
Jul 22-28
29/24
61/53
19/15
Jul 29-31
23/21
25/13
11
JUL
194/
178 by IS
257/
207 by IS
(212 Violent Deaths)
214/
210 by IS
Aug 1-7
43/39
49/45
30/29
Aug 8-14
43/42
38
44
Aug 15-21
38/35
24/21
40/37
Aug 22-28
35/31
25/19
61
Aug 29-31
27/24
68/30
43
AUG
186/
171 by IS
204/
153 by IS
(189 Violent Deaths)
218/
214 by IS
Sep 1-7
38
44
54
Sep 8-14
48/43
63/55
127
Sep 15-21
44/38
90/74
70
Sep 22-28
36/33
22/17
27/26
Sep 29-30
9/6
19/10
29/25
SEP
175/
158 by IS
237/
200 by IS
(179 Violent Deaths)
307/
302 by IS
Oct 1-7
54/49
85/25
92
Oct 8-14
43/41
161/152
41
Oct 15-21
54/50
87/72
35
Oct 22-28
24/23
24/20
53
Oct 29-31
23
10
24
OCT
198/
186 by IS
367/
279 by IS
(177 Violent Deaths)
245 by IS
Nov 1-7
32/31
75/69
36
Nov 8-14
39/31
111/63
19
Nov 15-21
30/27
51/43
29
Nov 22-28
26/21
35/25
30
Nov 29-30
9/8
4
27
NOV
136/
118 by IS
276/
204 by IS
(183 Violent Deaths_
141 by IS
Dec 1-7
22/15
21/8
11
Dec 8-14
22
15
22
Dec 15-21
23/21
23/16
17
Dec 22-28
30/28
24/18
37
Dec 29-31
15/14
225/220
4
DEC
112/
100 by IS
308/
277 by IS
(96 Violent Deaths)
91 by IS
Jan 1-7
32/31
17/10
24
Jan 8-14
32/30
97/94
53
Jan 15-21
22/18
17/11
16/14
Jan 22-28
27/22
36/17
31
Jan 29-31
12
7
6
JAN
125/
114 by IS
174/
139 by IS
(108 Violent Deaths)
130/
128 by IS
Feb 1-7
29/28
76
30
Feb 8-14
24
26
18
Feb 15-21
40
112
12
Feb 22-28
25
36
70
FEB
118/
117 by IS
250 by IS
(115 Violent Deaths)
130 by IS

Violence By Province Feb 2019
Province
Violence
Anbar
28 Incidents
46 Killed
7 Hashd
13 ISF
26 Civilians
26 Wounded
6 Hashd
6 ISF
14 Civilians

10 Shootings
11 IEDs
1 Rockets
Babil
2 Incidents
2 Wounded
2 Hashd

1 Shooting
1 IED
Baghdad
7 Incidents
7 Killed
1 ISF
6 Civilians

7 Shootings
Diyala
26 Incidents
8 Killed
3 Civilians
5 ISF
16 Wounded
1 Peshmerga
2 Hashd
4 ISF
9 Civilians

18 Shootings
2 IEDs
1 Grenade
4 Mortars
1 Suicide Bomber Killed
Kirkuk
17 Incidents
17 Killed
4 Hashd
6 Civilians
7 ISF
7 Wounded
1 Hashd
4 ISF
2 Civilians

9 Shootings
4 IEDs
1 Sticky Bomb
1 Grenade
1 Mortar
Ninewa
20 Incidents
147 Killed
2 Hashd
4 ISF
141 Civilians
31 Wounded
4 Hashd
27 Civilians

8 Shootings
3 IEDs
1 Car Bomb
11 Suicide Bombers Killed
1 Suicide Car Bomber Arrested
1 Car Bomb Destroyed
Salahaddin
18 Incidents
25 Killed
5 ISF
9 Hashd
11 Civilians
48 Wounded
4 ISF
10 Hashd
34 Civilians

7 Shootings
11 IEDs
1 Suicide Bomber
1 Rocket

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