Monday, January 25, 2021

Security In Iraq Jan 15-21, 2021


The third week of January was marked by a mass casualty bombing in the heart of Baghdad in a popular square with markets that left over 140 people dead and wounded. The last such attack took place in September 2019 when a car bomb hit
Karbala but that only left 17 casualties. Baghdad hadn’t seen such an incident since July 2019 when two suicide bombers caused the deaths of five people and wounded another 20. The last truly horrific event in the capital was in January 2018 when two suicide bombers hit the exact same square with 143 casualties.


 

Since November 2020 the number of weekly attacks has remained relatively stable. There were 20 incidents total from January 15-21 but three of those were by pro-Iran groups. Three convoys carrying supplies for the U.S. were hit by IEDs during the week, two in Baghdad and one in Dhi Qar. That makes 9 attacks so far this month by these organizations versus 13 in December. That left 17 incidents by the Islamic State compared to 13 the week before and 20 the first week of January. That’s been about the average for the last two months.

 

Those attacks were spread across Salahaddin (1) Anbar (3), Babil (3), Baghdad (3), Ninewa (3) and Diyala (4).

 

52 people were killed made up of 17 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and 35 civilians and 133 were wounded including 7 ISF, 11 Hashd al-Shaabi, and 115 civilians. Baghdad obviously had the most casualties with 33 dead and 111 wounded. If not for the capital bombing members of the security forces would make up the majority of casualties as the Islamic State has launched a war of attrition against them.

 

IS is back to regular operations in Anbar. There were three IEDs during the week spread across Qaim, Haditha and Rutba. Before December there were hardly any incidents in the province as the insurgents used it mostly for moving men and material in from Syria. Since then there have been bombings and shootings every week. They are still few in number but it is a decided change from before.

 

Another area where IS may be ramping up its work is in the Jurf al-Sakhr district in northeast Babil. There were three attacks there with power towers being blown up, a sniper incident, and an IED on a checkpoint. All of these took place in the same area, Bahbahan. There were only four incidents total in the province in December, 3 in November, and 2 each in October and September. Jurf is the militants favorite target because it is a large Kataib Hezbollah base with lots of targets. The attack on the power towers also points to a new campaign by the militants to go after infrastructure.

 

Besides the two bombings by pro-Tehran groups a checkpoint was hit by a sniper in the Tamim district in the north, an  old IED went off in the south, and of course there was the twin suicide bombing in Baghdad. 32 people died and 110 were wounded in that attack. For the last two years IS has attempted to infiltrate into the city. It was able to get into the center and set off multiple bombs on a single day a few times but then backed off. It’s not clear whether this was due to new security measures or it simply decided to focus upon its rural strongholds. Likewise only time will tell whether the suicide attack was a one off or will start a new trend of assaults upon Baghdad and/or mass casualty bombings. The sparsity of such incidents in the last year, only three car bombs and seven suicide bombers versus 15 vehicles bombs and 12 suicide bombers in 2019, point to the group’s networks being disrupted and barely able to operate so a new wave of such attacks is unlikely.

 

Diyala saw the most incidents as usual with four. A power station was destroyed, along with a shooting, a body being found, and an infiltration attempt being foiled. All four took place in the Khanaqin district in the northeast which has been one of the most violent areas of the country since IS’s defeat in the war. Again, the assault on the power station was part of the new IS campaign.

 

For the second week there were no incidents in Kirkuk. This is a decided change since the Islamic State has de facto control of much of the southern section of the governorate.

 

There were three IEDs in Ninewa during the week. The first two, one in Tal Afar and one in Sinjar both in the west left a large number of casualties. The first saw 5 soldiers die and two more wounded while the second killed 9 and injured 2. One of the deaths was an army regimental commander. High ranking officers have been targeted since last spring as part of IS’s war of attrition against the security forces.

 

Things were relatively quiet in Salahaddin where only a group of IS fighters was intercepted.

 

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province

Province

Jan 1-7

Jan 8-14

Jan 15-21

Anbar

4

1

3

Babil

-

2/1 Pro-Iran

3

Baghdad

2

1 Pro-Iran

5/2 Pro-Iran

Dhi Qar

-

1 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

Diyala

4

7

4

Kirkuk

2

-

-

Muthanna

1

Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

-

Ninewa

5

-

3

Salahaddin

2/1

Pro-Iran

3

1

Sulaymaniya

1

1

-

TOTAL

22/2

Pro-Iran

17/4 Pro-Iran

20/3 Pro-Iran

 

Casualties In Iraq By Province

Province

Jan 1-7

Jan 8-14

Jan 15-21

Anbar

3 (3W)

3 (3K)

12 (3K, 9W)

Babil

-

2 (2W)

3 (3W)

Baghdad

1 (1K)

-

144 (33K, 111W)

Diyala

14 (4K, 10W)

11 (8K, 3W)

5 (2K, 3W)

Kirkuk

4 (3K, 1W)

-

-

Ninewa

7 (4K, 3W)

-

21 (14K, 7W)

Salahaddin

1 (1K)

-

-

Sulaymaniya

2 (2 W)

2 (1K, 1W)

-

Salahaddin

2 (2W)

-

-

TOTAL

33 (13K, 19W)

16 (11K, 5W)

185 (52K, 133W)

 

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 – Baghdad’s Rashidiya

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 – Baghdad’s Jabour al-Shaarah

 

July Totals – 12

8/3/20

Rockets – 2 areas of Baghdad’s Meshada Dist

 

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

9/29/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

9/30/20

Rockets – Irbil Airport

 

IED airport road – Baghdad

 

September Totals – 31

10/1/20

Rocket at convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

10/5/20

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport

 

Rockets – Baghdad’s Jadriya neighborhood

10/11/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

10/24/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra

 

October Totals – 7

11/17/20

Rockets – Baghdad's Green Zone 1 killed, 5 wounded

 

November Totals – 1

12/10/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

12/12/20

Mortar – Baghdad International Airport

12/20/20

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone – 1 wounded

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar – 1 wounded

12/21/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

12/23/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

12/25/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

12/27/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

12/28/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

12/29/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

12/31/20

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

December Totals - 13

1/1/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

1/4/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin

1/8/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

1/9/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

IED dismantled – Dhi Qar

1/18/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

1/20/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

1/21/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

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

-

2020

Totals

215

103

28

41

3

13

41

-

-

Jan

2021

8

3

-

3

-

1

-

-

-

 

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

2020

Totals

87

44

20

24

1

14

21

4

-

Jan

2021

-

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

2020

Totals

43

77

5

10

4

3

3

-

1

Jan 2021

-

5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

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

2020

Totals

82

41

30

13

3

5

4

-

-

Jan 2021

3

2

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

           

Security In Iraq 2019-20

Week

Security

Incidents

(Total/By IS)

Dead

(Total/By IS)

Wounded

(Total/By IS)

JAN 2019

114

139

130/128

FEB

118/1

250/115

130

MAR

61

147

101

APR

99

105

100

MAY

137/1

163/125

200

JUN

99/3

74

122/119

JUL

82

83

119

AUG

104

103

141

SEP

123/1

122

131

OCT

70/2

92

53

NOV

55/5

47

98

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

Sep 29-30

6/3

1

6

SEP

113/31

53

86

Oct 1-7

19/5

9

12

Oct 8-14

14/1

8

10

Oct 15-21

30/1

25

26

Oct 22-28

25/1

16

24

Oct 29-31

5

4

5

OCT

93/8

62

77

Nov 1-7

11

7

10

Nov 8-14

25

23

39

Nov 15-21

19/1

18

25

Nov 22-28

24

11

26

Nov 29-30

8

1

10

NOV

87/1

60

110

Dec 1-7

19

4

30

Dec 8-14

21/2

13

26

Dec 15-21

15/2

6

8

Dec 22-28

17/6

3

22

Dec 29-31

11/2

3

4

DEC

83/12

29

90

Jan 1-7

21/2

13

19

Jan 8-14

17/3

12

6

Jan 15-21

20/3

52

133

 

Violence By Province Jan 15-21, 2021

Province

Violence

Anbar

3 Incidents

3 Killed

1 Civilian

2 ISF

9 Wounded

1 Civilian

8 Hashd

 

3 IEDs

Babil

3 Incidents

3 Wounded

3 Hashd

 

1 Gunfire

2 IEDs

Baghdad

5/2 Pro-Iran Incidents

33 Killed

1 ISF

32 Civilians

111 Wounded

1 ISF

110 Civilians

 

1 Shooting

3 IEDs

2 Suicide Bombers

Dhi Qar

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

Diyala

4 Incidents

2 Killed

1 Civilian

1 ISF

3 Wounded

1 Civilian

2 ISF

 

1 Shooting

1 IED

Ninewa

3 Incidents

14 Killed

1 Civilian

13 ISF

7 Wounded

3 Civilians

4 ISF

 

3 IEDs

Salahaddin

1 Incident

 

SOURCES

 

Aldroubi, Mina and Mahmoud, Sinan, "ISIS bombed high-voltage power lines near Baghdad, Iraqi military claims," The National, 1/19/21

 

Associated Press, "The Latest: Iraq raises death toll in Baghdad attack to 38," 1/15/18

 

Baghdad Post, "Eight members of the crowd were wounded by an explosive device in western Anbar," 1/16/21

 

Bas News, "Bomb Blast Kills Nine People in Sinjar," 1/17/21

- "Explosion at Iraqi Military Base Kills One," 1/18/21

 

Al Forat, "URGENT Death toll rises to 25," 7/15/19

 

Al Hurra, "Two Iraqi soldiers were killed in a bombing in western Anbar," 1/21/21

 

Iraq Newspaper, "Lieutenant Colonel Haider Adel, commander of the 2nd Regiment, 15th Division in the Iraqi army, was killed by a booby-trapped hut planted by ISIS north of Tal Afar," 1/17/21

 

Al Maalomah, "4 people were killed and wounded including two policemen as a result of the Jalawla attack," 1/15/21

- "The Popular Mobilization Forces fend off a terrorist attack in Jalawla, Diyala," 1/20/21

- "The Popular Mobilization Forces thwarted an infiltration attempt by ISIS in Salahaddin," 1/16/21

- "Thwarting a terrorist attack on the outskirts of Jalawla sub-district, Diyala," 1/15/21

 

Al Monitor, "Dozens killed in Baghdad suicide bombings," 1/21/21

 

NINA, "2 Fighters Of The PMF Wounded BY An IED, In Western Anbar," 1/15/21

- "3, Including A Woman, Wounded By An IED's Explosion, South Of Mosul," 1/19/21

- "A Body Of A Meat Seller Killed By ISIS Found And His Body Mutilated In The Outskirts Of Jalawla In Diyala," 1/16/21

- "Four soldiers were killed when a bomb exploded west of Mosul," 1/17/21

- "An IED Explodes On A Convoy Of Logistical Support For The Int'l Coalition South Of Baghdad," 1/20/21

- "ISIS Blows Up A Power Station On The Outskirts Of Jalawla In Diyala," 1/19/21

- "A popular crowd fighter was wounded by sniper fire north of Babylon," 1/19/21

- "Targeting a logistical convoy of the International Coalition with an explosive device west of Baghdad," 1/21/21

- "Two members of the Popular Mobilization  Forces were wounded by an explosive device north of Babylon," 1/21/21

 

Shafaaq News, "A girl was killed and her sister was seriously injured in an explosion in western Anbar," 1/17/21

- "Iraqi authorities announce the killing of 12 people and wounding five others in the bombing at the entrance to Karbala," 9/20/19

 

Al Sumaria, "Two explosions target a convoy to support the international coalition in Dhi Qar," 1/18/21

 

Xinhua, "7 killed in bomb explosion in northern Iraq," 1/17/21

 

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