Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Security In Iraq Mar 22-28, 2021


The insurgency in Iraq remained at one of its lowest points since 2003 during the fourth week of March. This started in November with weekly incidents being in the single digits to the teens since then. Pro-Iran factions on the other hand have continued their steady pace of attacks upon American targets.

 

There were a total of 14 security incidents reported in Iraq from March 22-28. 2 of those were by groups aligned with Iran leaving 12 by the Islamic State.


 

Two convoys carrying supplies for the U.S. were hit by IEDs during the week. One was in Babil, the other in Baghdad. There have been a total of 15 attacks by pro-Iran groups in March versus 16 in February and 13 in January. The latest round of incidents started in December to commemorate the deaths of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds Force commander General Qasim Suleimani and Hashd leader Abu Muhandis. Several groups take responsibility for these attacks but it’s believed that they are connected to Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq. In addition to opposing the American presence in Iraq Al Mada reported there may be an ulterior motive as well. That is to force the trucking companies to hire the factions as security companies. Hashd groups are involved in a number of extortion and business endeavors and this would fit into their M.O.

 

The 12 incidents by the Islamic State took place in Salahaddin (1), Anbar (2), Baghdad (2), Ninewa (2) and Diyala (5) and left 8 dead and 13 wounded. 1 Hashd al-Shaabi, 2 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 5 civilians were killed and 3 ISF, 5 Civilians and 5 Hashd were injured. Diyala had the most casualties during the week at 8. Since the spring IS has been carrying out a war of attrition against the security forces. Hence they routinely account for the most casualties like this week with 11 out of the 21.

 

There was an infiltration attempt in the Fallujah district and an IED in Ramadi that left 2 soldiers and 2 Hashd wounded. Anbar rarely sees incidents as it is mostly used as a transit point for IS to move in men and material in from Syria.

 

There were two incidents in Baghdad including a motorcycle bomb that killed one and a sheikh’s house that was bombed in Tarmiya in the north. Motorcycle bombs are rare these days with the last one occurring in October 2020. There are few attacks in the capital province overall, and most happen in the outer rings in the north and south.

 

Diyala remains the most violent area of Iraq. There were four shootings and an IED during the week. Three were in the Muqdadiya district in the center and two were in the Khanaqin district in the northeast. These are where IS has re-established itself with de facto control of many of the rural areas.

 

Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salahaddin have seen the biggest drop off in incidents since the winter. There were no incidents in Kirkuk. Ninewa saw two IEDs, while Salahaddin witnessed an attack upon a checkpoint in the eastern Tuz Kharmato district.

 

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province

Province

Mar 1-7

Mar 8-14

Mar 15-21

Mar 22-28

Anbar

2/1 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

-

2

Babil

1 Pro-Iran

-

2 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

Baghdad

3/1 Pro-Iran

1

3

3/1 Pro-Iran

Diwaniya

1 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

1 Pro-Iran

-

Diyala

5

3

8

5

Kirkuk

3

2

2

-

Muthanna

1 Pro-Iran

-

1 Pro-Iran

-

Ninewa

-

2

1

2

Salahaddin

3

2

6/2 Pro-Iran

1

TOTAL

20/2 Pro-Iran

12/2 Pro-Iran

24/6 Pro-Iran

14/2 Pro-Iran

 

Casualties In Iraq By Province

Province

Mar 1-7

Mar 8-14

Mar 15-21

Mar 22-28

Anbar

1 (1W)

-

-

4 (4W)

Baghdad

1 (1K)

4 (1K, 3W)

1 (1W)

4 (1K, 3W)

Diyala

4 (4W)

2 (1K, 1W)

5 (4K, 1W)

8 (5K, 3W)

Kirkuk

4 (1K, 3W)

9 (1K, 8W)

4 (3K, 1W)

-

Ninewa

-

3 (1K, 2W)

-

3 (1K, 2W)

Salahaddin

3 (3K)

10 (9K, 1W)

5 (1K, 4W)

2 (1K, 1W)

TOTAL

13 (5K, 8W)

28 (13K, 15W)

15 (8K, 7W)

21 (8K, 13W)

 

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

3/25/21

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

March Totals - 15

 

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

8

2

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

3

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

5

1

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

Mar 15-21

24/6

8

7

Mar 22-28

14/2

8

13

 

Violence By Province Mar 22-28, 2021

Province

Violence

Anbar

2 Incidents

4 Wounded

2 Hashd

2 ISF

 

1 IED

Babil

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

Baghdad

3/1 Pro-Iran Incidents

1 Killed

1 Civilian

3 Wounded

3 Civilians

 

2 IEDs

1 Motorcycle Bomb

Diyala

5 Incidents

5 Killed

1 Hashd

1 ISF

3 Civilians

3 Wounded

3 Hashd

 

4 Shootings

1 IED

Ninewa

2 Incidents

1 Killed

1 Civilian

2 Wounded

2 Civilians

 

2 IED

Salahaddin

1 Incident

1 Killed

1 ISF

1 Wounded

1 ISF

 

1 Shooting

 

SOURCES

 

Bas News, "IS Steps Up Attacks on Civilians and Security Personnel in Iraq," 3/27/21

- "VIDEO | Motorbike Explosion Kills One in Baghdad," 3/23/21

 

Iraq Newspaper, "The terrorists ISIS issue a statement of the capture and execution of Shiite citizens in the ferry area, Diyala," 3/23/21

 

Al Maalomah, "4 members of the army and the Popular Mobilization Forces were injured in an explosion west of Ramadi," 3/25/21

- "The security forces thwarted the attempt by ISIS to enter into Fallujah," 3/25/21

 

Al Mada, “Security companies affiliated with armed parties and factions control the file of targeting logistical support convoys,” 3/29/21

 

NINA, "An Explosive Device Targeting An Int'l Coalition Convoy South Of Baghdad," 3/25/21

- "The PMF Repels A Terrorist Attack In Diyala," 3/27/21

- "A Soldier Killed Another Wounded In An ISIS Attack, South Of Kirkuk," 3/24/21

- "Unidentified Gunmen Assassinate A Civilian In Diyala," 3/24/21

 

NRT, "PMF Fighter Killed, Three Others Wounded In Explosion Near Diyala's Hamrin," 3/28/21

 

Shafaaq News, "A tribal leader survived an assassination attempt north of Baghdad," 3/27/21

 

Al Sumaria, "The fact that the international coalition convoys were targeted in Babil," 3/25/21

 

No comments:

This Day In Iraqi History - Oct 12 Dawa Party founded

  1920 Tribes lost Rwairij to British during 1920 Revolt Led to clerics in Karbala to begin to surrender ( Musings On Ir...