Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Security In Iraq Mar 15-21, 2021


There was a slight jump in attacks in Iraq the third week of March. The total number of incidents by the Islamic State was still in the teens which has been the norm since November 2020 however. Whether this bump was the insurgents returning to the field or just a temporary event cannot be discerned right now. On the other hand pro-Iran groups have kept up a steady stream of attacks upon U.S. targets.

 

There were a total of 24 incidents in Iraq from March 15-21. 6 of those were by groups aligned with Iran and 18 by the Islamic State.


 

Pro-Iran groups carried out one rocket attack upon the Balad Air Base in Salahaddin and five IEDs on convoys carrying supplies for the United States. The latter occurred across Babil, Diwaniya, Muthanna and Salahaddin. These operations took off in December as the anniversary of the deaths of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds Force Commander General Qasim Suleimani and Hashd leader Abu Muhandis was nearing. Since then they have increased in intensity with regular rocket attacks upon Iraqi bases that house Americans. The IED in Salahaddin also showed that these factions are expanding into new provinces because most bombings are in the south and Baghdad.

 

The IS incidents took place across Ninewa (1), Kirkuk (2), Baghdad (3), Salahaddin (4), Diyala (8) and left 8 dead and 7 wounded. 1 Hashd al-Shaabi, 3 civilians and 4 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) lost their lives and 1 civilian, 2 Hashd and 4 ISF were injured.

 

There were three shooting incidents in Baghdad. One was an infiltration attempt in the south and the other two occurred in Tarmiya in the north where there was a gun battle and a soldier was wounded by a sniper. This is where IS regularly carries out its operations in the outer regions of the province.

 

The 8 incidents in Diyala were the most in the province since the start of the year. Besides the usual shootings and IEDs, two electricity towers were blown up in the north and four men were kidnapped. Six of the attacks were in Muqdadiya in the center, and two were in the northeast. IS started its rebuilding in Iraq in the Khanaqin district in the northeast and then expanded into Muqdadiya where it has established itself in rural areas. Attacks in the northeast are far more sporadic.

 

A checkpoint was attacked in south Kirkuk that left two police and a Hashd fighter dead and one more wounded. The other incident was an IED also in the south. IS has a strong presence in the southern part of the governorate but attacks have dramatically fallen off during the winter.

 

There was another infiltration attempt in Ninewa, this time in the southeast. There are hardly any incidents in this province anymore. It was quiet before because it was mostly used as a transit point for Syria, but like Kirkuk IS has been almost silent since November.

 

There were two shootings and an IED on a police convoy in Salahaddin. Three farmers were also abducted in the Tuz Kharmato district in the east. Like the kidnappings in Diyala these are usually done to extort money out of people by the insurgents.

 

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province

Province

Mar 1-7

Mar 8-14

Mar 15-21

Anbar

2/1 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

-

Babil

1 Pro-Iran

-

2 Pro-Iran

Baghdad

3/1 Pro-Iran

1

3

Diwaniya

1 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

Diyala

5

3

8

Kirkuk

3

2

2

Muthanna

1 Pro-Iran

-

1 Pro-Iran

Ninewa

-

2

1

Salahaddin

3

2

6/2 Pro-Iran

TOTAL

20/2 Pro-Iran

12/2 Pro-Iran

24/6 Pro-Iran

 

Casualties In Iraq By Province

Province

Mar 1-7

Mar 8-14

Mar 15-21

Anbar

1 (1W)

-

-

Baghdad

1 (1K)

4 (1K, 3W)

1 (1W)

Diyala

4 (4W)

2 (1K, 1W)

5 (4K, 1W)

Kirkuk

4 (1K, 3W)

9 (1K, 8W)

4 (3K, 1W)

Ninewa

-

3 (1K, 2W)

-

Salahaddin

3 (3K)

10 (9K, 1W)

5 (1K, 4W)

TOTAL

13 (5K, 8W)

28 (13K, 15W)

15 (8K, 7W)

 

Attacks by Pro-Iran Groups 2020-21

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 – 17 wounded

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 – 3 killed, 19 wounded

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 – 1 wounded

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 – 1 killed

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 – 6 killed, 10 wounded

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 – 1 killed, 5 wounded

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 – 2 wounded

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

1/22/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

Rockets – Baghdad International Airport/Jihad

1/26/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

1/31/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

January Totals – 13

2/4/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

2/7/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

2/8/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

2/10/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

2/11/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

2/15/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

Rockets – Irbil Airport – 2 Killed, 8 Wounded

2/17/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

2/18/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

2/19/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra

2/20/21

Rockets – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base – 2 Wounded

2/22/21

Rockets – Baghdad’s Green Zone

2/25/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

2/26/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

2/27/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

 

February Totals – 16 – 2 killed, 10 wounded

3/2/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

3/3/21

Rockets – Anbar’s Al-Asad Air Base

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

3/11/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar

3/13/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

 

Rockets- Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base

3/15/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

3/18/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

3/20/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Salahaddin

3/21/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

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

11

4

1

3

-

1

1

-

-

Feb

16

2

3

3

-

2

2

-

-

Mar

4

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

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Feb

5

2

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

Mar

1

4

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

1

5

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Feb

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Mar

1

1

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

2020

Totals

82

41

30

13

3

5

4

-

-

Jan 2021

4

3

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

Feb

1

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

Mar

4

1

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

Jan 22-28

10/3

13

12

Jan 29-31

9/1

2

6

JAN

77/13

92

176

Feb 1-7

19/2

11

23

Feb 8-14

11/3

4

8

Feb 15-21

20/7

11

23

Feb 22-28

13/4

13

23

FEB

63/16

39

77

Mar 1-7

19/5

5

8

Mar 8-14

12/2

13

15

 

Violence By Province Mar 8-14, 2021

Province

Violence

Anbar

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

Baghdad

1 Incident

1 Killed

1 Civilian

3 Wounded

3 Civilians

 

1 Grenade

Diwaniya

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

Diyala

3 Incidents

1 Killed

1 ISF

1 Wounded

1 Civilian

 

2 Shootings

1 Grenade

Kirkuk

2 Incidents

1 Killed

1 ISF

8 Wounded

8 ISF

 

1 Shooting

1 IED

Ninewa

2 Incidents

1 Killed

1 ISF

2 Wounded

2 Civilians

 

1 Shooting

1 IED

Salahaddin

2 Incidents

9 Killed

1 ISF

1 Hashd

7 Civilians

1 Wounded

1 Civilian

 

2 Shootings

 

SOURCES

 

Azzaman, "Losses to the crowd and Federal Police in an ISIS attack near Kirkuk," 3/18/21

 

Bas News, "Bomb Blast Targets Convoy of Coalition Forces in Iraq," 3/15/21

- "Iraqi Forces Repel IS Attack in Baghdad," 3/18/21

- "Senior Iraqi Commander Survives Roadside Bombing," 3/20/21

 

Al Maalomah, "The Popular Mobilization Forces thwarted an infiltration attempt by ISIS in Injana, Diyala," 3/20/21

- "Thwarting ISIS infiltration south of Baghdad," 3/17/21

 

NINA, "An Explosive Device Explodes On A Convoy Of The Int'l Coalition In Diwaniyah," 3/18/21

- "A Farmer Killed By An IED, Northeast Of Baquba, Diyala," 3/20/21

- "An Int'l Coalition Convoy Targeted With An IED In Babylon," 3/21/21

- "ISIS blow Up Two Homes In One Of The Villages In Diyala," 3/15/21

- "ISIS kidnapped /4/ poultry workers in Diyala," 3/21/21

- "News of the targeting of a logistical support convoy of the American forces in Salah al-Din," 3/20/21

- "An officer was wounded by an explosive device, south of Kirkuk," 3/17/21

- "A policeman assassinated and the wounding of a civilian, when an explosive device exploded in one of Diyala suburbs," 3/19/21

- "A Policeman Killed By ISIS Sniper Northeast Of Baquba, Diyala Governorate," 3/19/21

- "Reports of the fall of seven missiles on Balad Air Base," 3/15/21

- "Security Forces Thwart An Infiltration Of ISIS In Southeast Mosul," 3/15/21

- "Unidentified gunmen blow up two towers to transmit electric power north of Baqubah," 3/17/21

 

Shafaaq News, "Civilian assassinated for unknown reasons in Diyala," 3/15/21

- "ISIS kidnapped three farmers in Salahaddin," 3/21/21

- "A second explosion of its kind targets the international coalition," 3/18/21

- "Two wounded policemen in an ISIS attack near Albo Dour south of Tikrit," 3/16/21

 

Sotaliraq, "The Popular Mobilization Forces thwarted an infiltration attempt by ISIS, east of Salahaddin," 3/17/21

 

Al Sumaria, "A soldier was wounded by sniper fire north of Baghdad," 3/21/21

 

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