Thursday, October 1, 2020

Security In Iraq Sep 22-28, 2020


Islamic State attacks in Iraq have leveled off in September, but they are still higher than the previous two months. Pro-Iran groups have also picked up their operations this month.

 

There were a total of 28 security incidents reported in Iraq from September 22-28. 7 of those were by pro-Iran groups. Convoys carrying supplies to the Americans were struck by IEDs in Baghdad, Dhi Qar, Salahaddin, and twice in Babil. There was also a mortar attack upon Baghdad’s Green Zone and a rocket fell short of the Baghdad airport and landed in the Radwaniya area killing five and leaving two wounded. These casualties finally brought public outrage in the country. Before that one truck driver was killed and eight more were wounded in September with no real remarks by politicians or the public. In total there have been 28 attacks by these groups from September 1-28 versus 24 for all of August, 12 in July and 8 in June when this latest wave of incidents began.

 

That left 21 incidents by the Islamic State during the week. That was roughly the same amount as the previous two weeks. Those were spread across Anbar (1), Babil (1), Irbil (1), Kirkuk (3), Ninewa (3), Salahaddin (3), and Diyala (9).

 

19 were killed and 11 wounded during the week. That was made up of 1 member of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), 4 Hashd al-Shaabi and 14 civilians that lost their lives and 1 ISF and 10 civilians that were injured. Diyala had the most casualties with 13. This was one of the rare weeks when members of the security forces which IS has been targeting in a war of attrition did not make up the majority of the dead and wounded.

 

In Anbar’s Rutba a car bomb blew up on a group of IS members who were assembling it. Vehicle bombs are extremely rare in Iraq these days. This was a sign that insurgents might be starting a fall offensive.

 

Besides the two incidents by pro-Iran groups a man was gunned down in Hilla, Babil. IS usually solely operates in the Jurf al-Sakhr district, but when it ventures out it usually hits nearby Hilla.

 

Diyala had the most violence as usual. All of the incidents were low level shootings and IEDs except for an attack upon a checkpoint in the Muqdadiya district in the center. Most attacks usually occur there and in the Khanaqin district in the northeast. The last two weeks however IS has been hitting targets in the west with two in the Khalis area along the Baghdad border this week and three in Edheim sub-district by Salahaddin last week.

 

In the southern district of Makhmour in Irbil province an IED killed a Hashd member. There are only incidents in this area when the insurgency has picked up the pace of its operations.

 

There were 3 attacks in Kirkuk including a village being hit by mortars, an assault upon a town with 2 Hashd members being kidnapped and killed, and an Agricultural Ministry worker being abducted and executed. These were the first kidnappings since June and again pointed to a possible insurgent offensive kicking off.

 

Salahaddin provided more examples of a possible fall offensive. An IED hit a parliamentarian’s convoy in Shirqat killing his nephew and wounding his son. Then two homes were attacked and blown up in the Yathrib district, while there was a shootout in the Samarra area.

 

Attacks by Pro-Iran Groups 2020

Date

Incident - Location

1/4/20

Mortar – Baghdad’s Jadriya – 5 wounded

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

 

Mortar – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base – 3 wounded

1/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

1/8/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

1/12/20

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base – 6 wounded

1/14/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

1/20/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

1/21/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

1/26/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone – 3 wounded

1/31/20

Rockets – Kirkuk’s Qayara Base

 

January Totals - 11

2/15/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

2/21/20

Rockets – Irbil’s Makhmour Base

 

February Totals - 2

3/1/20

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Sadiq Base

3/2/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

3/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

3/11/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji – 3 killed (2 US, 1 UK), 12 wounded

3/14/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji – 7 wounded (3 US)

3/16/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Besmaya Base

3/17/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

3/26/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

 

March Totals - 8

4/18/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Nahrawan Chinese company

4/6/20

Rockets – Basra’s Burjisiya US company

 

April Totals – 2

5/6/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

5/19/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

 

May Total - 2

6/8/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

6/10/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

6/13/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

6/14/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

6/15/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

 

Rockets found - Rashidiya, Baghdad

6/18/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

6/22/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s International Airport

 

June Total - 8

7/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone – 1 wounded

 

Rockets found – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

7/10/20

Rockets found – Aimed at Baghdad’s Green Zone

7/11/20

Burned trucks carrying supplies to US - Muthanna

7/19/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

7/22/20

IEDs trucks carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

7/23/10

Drone and bomb found – Jadriya, Baghdad

7/24/10

Rockets – Baghdad’s Besmaya Base

7/27/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

 

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Camp Speicher

7/30/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s International Airport

7/31/20

Rockets found – Jabour al-Shaarah, Baghdad

 

July Totals – 12

8/3/20

Rockets – 2 areas of Meshada Dist, Baghdad

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

8/4/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

8/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

8/9/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

8/10/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US - Basra

8/11/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

 

Rockets – Landed in Tigris River, Baghdad

8/14/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

 

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

8/15/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Taji

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

8/16/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

8/18/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

8/21/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad – 1 killed

8/22/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

8/23/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

8/28/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

8/29/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

8/30/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

 

August Totals – 24

9/2/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil – 1 wounded

9/3/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

 

Rockets UK security company – Baghdad

9/6/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad – 2 wounded

 

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

9/8/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil – 1 killed, 2 wounded

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad – 2 wounded

9/10/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

9/12/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin

9/14/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

9/15/20

IED on UK diplomatic convoy – Baghdad

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

9/16/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

9/17/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad also reported as Babil

9/18/20

IED American Inst for English Learning – Najaf

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin – 1 wounded

9/20/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

9/21/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin

9/22/20

Mortars – Baghdad’s Green Zone

9/23/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

9/27/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

9/28/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Radwaniya – 5 killed 2 wounded

 

September Totals - 28

 

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province

Province

Sep 1-7

Sep 8-14

Sep 15-21

Sep 22-28

Anbar

2

1

-

1

Babil

1 Pro-Iran

2 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

3/

2 Pro-Iran

Baghdad

3/

2 Pro-Iran

2 Pro-Iran

7/

6 Pro-Iran

3 Pro-Iran

Dhi Qar

1 Pro-Iran

-

-

1 Pro-Iran

Diwaniya

-

1 Pro-Iran

-

-

Diyala

5

8

9

9

Irbil

-

1

-

1

Kirkuk

4

4

5

3

Najaf

-

-

1 Pro-Iran

-

Ninewa

2

4

4

3

Salahaddin

1

2/

1 Pro-Iran

5/

2 Pro-Iran

4/

1 Pro-Iran

TOTAL

19/

4 Pro-Iran

27/

6 Pro-Iran

32/

10 Pro-Iran

28/

7 Pro-Iran

 

Casualties In Iraq By Province

Province

Sep 1-7

Sep 8-14

Sep 15-21

Sep 22-28

Anbar

8 (2K, 6W)

3 (3W)

-

-

Babil

1 (1W)

3 (1K, 2W)

-

1 (1K)

Baghdad

2 (2W)

2 (2W)

1 (1K)

7 (5K, 2W)

Diyala

11 (5K, 6W)

7 (3K, 4W)

10 (5K, 5W)

13 (5K, 8W)

Irbil

-

3 (3W)

-

1 (1K)

Kirkuk

8 (2K, 6W)

11 (1K, 10W)

4 (4K)

3 (3K)

Ninewa

4 (2K, 2W)

7 (3K, 4W)

5 (1K, 4W)

2 (2K)

Salahaddin

5 (2K, 3W)

1 (1W)

6 (1K, 5W)

3 (2K, 1W)

TOTAL

39 (13K, 26W)

37 (8K, 29W)

26 (12K, 14W)

30 (19K, 11W)

 

Islamic State Activity in Iraq 2018-20

Diyala

Shootings

(Totals)

IEDs/

Sticky Bombs

(Totals)

Gun Battles

Attacks on Checkpoints

Attacks on Mukhtars/

Sheikhs

Kidnappings

Attacks on Towns

Suicide Bombers

Car Bombs

2018

Totals

219

198

47

43

5

13

25

3

1

2019

Totals

185

112

33

63

2

6

29

2

-

Jan 2020

13

6

-

2

-

1

-

-

-

Feb

16

5

2

8

-

1

-

-

-

Mar

15

10

4

2

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

20

17

4

2

-

-

-

-

-

May

38

18

8

9

1

5

17

-

-

Jun

13

1

-

2

-

1

2

-

-

Jul

10

10

1

2

-

-

2

-

-

Aug

16

5

2

7

-

3

3

-

-

Sep

21

8

2

3

-

-

6

-

-

 

Kirkuk

Shootings

(Totals)

IEDs/

Sticky Bombs

(Totals)

Gun Battles

Attacks on Checkpoints

Attacks on Mukhtars/

Sheikhs

Kidnappings

Attacks on Towns

Suicide Bombers

Car Bombs

2018

Totals

172

182

39

18

10

14

29

9

6

2019

Totals

77

116

24

19

6

8

18

-

1

Jan 2020

10

1

2

2

-

1

-

-

-

Feb

5

-

2

1

-

2

1

-

-

Mar

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

17

7

6

3

-

2

1

1

-

May

15

10

1

7

1

4

10

-

-

Jun

5

2

1

1

-

1

1

-

-

Aug

5

5

1

-

-

-

3

-

-

Sep

8

5

2

2

-

2

1

3

1

 

Ninewa

Shootings

(Totals)

IEDs/

Sticky Bombs

(Totals)

Gun Battles

Attacks on Checkpoints

Attacks on Mukhtars/

Sheikhs

Kidnappings

Attacks on Towns

Suicide Bombers

Car Bombs

2018

Totals

139

74

43

7

5

6

6

2

3

2019

Totals

63

49

14

3

9

6

17

-

3

Jan 2020

7

5

2

1

-

1

-

-

-

Feb

5

5

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

Mar

2

5

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

8

8

1

4

-

1

1

-

-

May

5

9

-

2

-

-

2

-

-

Jun

-

5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Jul

-

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

Aug

-

12

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Sep

5

7

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

Salahaddin

Shootings

(Totals)

IEDs/

Sticky Bombs

(Totals)

Gun Battles

Attacks on Checkpoints

Attacks on Mukhtars/

Sheikhs

Kidnappings

Attacks on Towns

Suicide Bombers

Car Bombs

2018

Totals

110

102

41

18

1

16

4

9

5

2019

Totals

60

54

32

5

2

6

8

2

6

Jan 2020

4

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

Feb

5

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

Mar

5

2

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

4

3

3

-

-

1

-

-

-

May

21

6

9

5

-

2

2

-

-

Jun

5

4

1

2

-

-

1

-

-

Jul

4

5

1

1

1

-

-

-

-

Aug

6

3

3

1

-

-

-

-

-

Sep

6

9

3

1

-

-

-

-

-

           

Security In Iraq 2019-20

Week

Security

Incidents

(Total/By IS)

Dead

(Total/By IS)

Wounded

(Total/By IS)

Jan 1-7

32

17/10

24

Jan 8-14

32

94/31

53

Jan 15-21

22

17/11

16/14

Jan 22-28

27

36/17

31

Jan 29-31

12

7

6

JAN 2019

114

139

130/128

Feb 1-7

29/1

76/16

30

Feb 8-14

24

26

18

Feb 15-21

40

112/37

12

Feb 22-28

25

36

70

FEB

118/1

250/115

130

Mar 1-7

13

22

45

Mar 8-14

19

75/10

37

Mar 15-21

12

66/37

21/11

Mar 22-28

13

8/5

1

Mar 29-31

6

8

7

MAR

61

147

101

Apr 1-7

20

22

13

Apr 8-14

41

28

42

Apr 15-21

17

9/8

26

Apr 22-28

19

45

15

Apr 29-30

2

1

4

APR

99

105

100

May 1-7

20

15

18

May 8-14

24

31

41

May 15-21

37/1

62/25

39

May 22-28

43

39

54

May 29-31

13

16

48

MAY

137/1

163/125

200

Jun 1-7

26

19

44

Jun 8-14

25/1

29

15

Jun 15-21

21/2

6

13/10

Jun 22-28

18

17

41

Jun 29-30

9

3

9

JUN

99/3

74

122/119

Jul 1-7

20

11

39

Jul 8-14

14

31

10

Jul 15-21

17

14

37

Jul 22-28

23

14

20

Jul 29-31

8

13

13

JUL

82

83

119

Aug 1-7

27

14

31

Aug 8-14

18

13

13

Aug 15-21

20

33

15

Aug 22-28

27

24

72

Aug 29-31

11

19

10

AUG

104

103

141

Sep 1-7

39

39

38

Sep 8-14

30

35

43

Sep 15-21

23

27

26

Sep 22-28

24/1

15

20

Sep 29-30

7

6

4

SEP

123/1

122

131

Oct 1-7

3

1

2

Oct 8-14

14

25

17

Oct 15-21

19

29

13

Oct 22-28

22/1

33

10

Oct 29-31

12/1

4

11

OCT

70/2

92

53

Nov 1-7

6/1

4

1

Nov 8-14

9/1

2

25

Nov 15-21

15/1

11

2

Nov 22-28

17/1

24

33

Nov 29-30

8/1

6

37

NOV

55/5

47

98

Dec 1-7

36/3

33

44

Dec 8-14

19/3

19

19

Dec 15-21

26

44

25

Dec 22-28

30/1

30

38

Dec 29-31

9

8

7

DEC

120/7

134

133

Jan 1-7

25/7

16

84

Jan 8-14

24/3

12

34

Jan 15-21

23/2

11

12

Jan 22-28

11/1

10

8

Jan 29-31

8/1

4

1

JAN 2020

91/12

53

139

Feb 1-7

22

13

11

Feb 8-14

18/1

5

38

Feb 15-21

16/2

42

18

Feb 22-28

25

15

34

Feb 29

4

5

2

FEB

85/3

80

103

Mar 1-7

17/3

11

17

Mar 8-14

15/2

13

33

Mar 15-21

14/2

5

19

Mar 22-28

14/1

13

11

Mar 29-31

9

5

10

MAR

69/8

47

90

Ap 1-7

27/1

27

37

Apr 8-14

24

25

51

Apr 15-21

33/1

19

34

Apr 22-28

22

8

40

Apr 29-30

5

2

4

APR

111/2

81

165

May 1-7

44/1

47

36

May 8-14

49

21

47

May 15-21

66/1

45

64

May 22-28

30

9

21

May 29-31

7

3

12

MAY

196/2

125

180

Jun 1-7

17

13

19

Jun 8-14

16/4

10

15

Jun 15-21

16/3

11

19

Jun 22-28

10/1

8

13

Jun 29-30

1

4

2

JUN

60/8

46

68

Jul 1-7

12/2

3

9

Jul 8-14

16/2

15

15

Jul 15-21

19/1

17

28

Jul 22-28

13/5

9

8

Jul 29-31

13/2

3

7

JUL

73/12

47

67

Aug 1-7

10/4

7

10

Aug 8-14

19/8

7

22

Aug 15-21

14/5

13

20

Aug 22-28

32/3

23

41

Aug 29-31

13/3

4

12

AUG

88/24

54

105

Sep 1-7

19/4

13

26

Sep 8-14

27/6

8

29

Sep 15-21

32/10

12

14

Sep 22-28

28/7

19

11

 

Violence By Province Sep 22-28 2020

Province

Violence

Anbar

1 Incident

 

1 Car Bomb Exploded

Babil

3/2 Pro-Iran Incidents

1 Killed

1 Civilian

 

1 Shooting

2 IEDs

Baghdad

3 Pro-Iran Incidents

5 Killed

5 Civilians

2 Wounded

2 Civilians

 

1 IED

1 Mortar

1 Rockets

Dhi Qar

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

Diyala

9 Incidents

5 Killed

1 Hashd

4 Civilians

8 Wounded

1 ISF

7 Civilians

 

5 Shootings

2 IEDs

1 Grenade

Irbil

1 Incident

1 Killed

1 Hashd

 

1 IED

Kirkuk

3 Incidents

3 Killed

1 Civilian

2 Hashd

 

2 Shootings

1 Mortar

Ninewa

3 Incidents

2 Killed

2 Civilians

 

1 Shooting

1 Suicide Bomber Arrested

Salahaddin

4/1 Pro-Iran Incidents

2 Killed

1 Civilian

1 ISF

1 Wounded

1 Civilian

 

2 Shootings

4 IEDs

 

SOURCES

 

AIN, "The son of a deputy was wounded and his nephew was martyred in an explosion targeting him north of Salahaddin," 9/27/20

 

ANI, "Five terrorists killed in explosion while planning attack in Iraq," 9/27/20

 

Bas News, "Iraqi Forces Launch Fresh Operation against IS in North of Baghdad," 9/24/20

- "IS Militant Injure Two Civilians in Diyala," 9/22/20

 

Iraq Newspaper, "ISIS terrorists kill a member of the Badr Corps Muhammad Khudair, affiliated with the 23rd Brigade in Diyala," 9/24/20

- "The killing of Iskandar Mahmoud Salah from the crowd and the burning of his car when a bomb exploded near the village of Lakja, south Makhmour," 9/22/20

 

Al Maalomah, "The crowd thwarted an infiltration attempt by ISIS south of Mosul," 9/24/20

- "Executing a preemptive operation north of Babil, before the launch of the Arbaeen Plan," 9/22/20

- "Falah was killed when an explosive device exploded in eastern Diyala," 9/25/20

- "The popular crowd begins a raid and search operation in western Mosul," 9/23/20

- "The Popular Mobilization Forces and the security forces begin a raid and search operation in East Amerli," 9/24/20

 

Al Mada, "ISIS is bypassing military homes as the campaign to pursue its militants enters its third week," 9/27/20

 

NINA, "2 Convoys Transporting Logistical Materials to the Int'l Coalition Targeted By 2 IEDs In Abu Ghraib And Hilla," 9/23/20

- "A Civilian assassinated by unidentified gunmen fire in Diyala," 9/22/20

- "A Convoy Of Logistical Support For The Int'l Coalition Targeted By An IED, Near Babylon," 9/27/20

- "A Govt Employee Killed And His Son Wounded In An Armed Attack North Of Baqubah," 9/28/20

- "Gunmen Kill A Man And His Wife Southeast Of Mosul," 9/23/20

- "ISIS Attacks A Village In Kirkuk, Killing And Kidnapping Two Members Of The Security Services," 9/25/20

- "ISIS Kidnap And Kill An Employee In Kirkuk Department of Agriculture," 9/26/20

- "An ISIS suicide bomber was arrested in Nineveh," 9/27/20

-  "A joint pre-emptive security operation in the desert to secure the forty visit," 9/25/20

- "Al-Kadhimi directs to arrest the security force and open an immediate investigation into the Al-Radwaniyah incident," 9/28/20

- "Mortar Shells Land At The Outskirts Of Alton Kubri District In Kirkuk," 9/23/20

- "The Popular Mobilization Forces repels an attack by ISIS terrorist remnants in Salah al-Din Governorate," 9/28/20

- "Sales manager Of Hilla Sugar Factory Assassinated," 9/26/20

- "Three people from the same family were killed and wounded when an explosive device went off northeast of Baqubah," 9/25/20

 

NRT, "Federal Security Forces Launch "Operation Lions of Al-Jazeera,"" 9/22/20

- "IED Targets Contractor Convoy In Dhi Qar's Batha District," 9/27/20

 

Rudaw, "Five Baghdad civilians killed in rocket attack," 9/28/20

 

Shafaaq News, "ISIS blows up the homes of the family of a high-ranking Iraqi border guard officer," 9/28/20

- "Thwarted ISIS attack targeting Kassara, the second largest city in Diyala," 9/23/20

- "two wounded in an explosion and the arrest of an ISIS leader in two governorates," 9/26/20

 

Sherwani, Halgurd, "Three mortars fall in Baghdad's Green Zone: Military," 9/22/20

 

Al Sumaria, "An explosion targets a logistical support convoy for the International Coalition in Salahaddin," 9/23/20

- "A sniper injures an affiliate of the police in Abu Said in Diyala," 9/24/20

 

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Review Return To Ruin, Iraqi Narratives of Exile and Nostalgia

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