Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Security In Iraq Jun 8-14, 2021


The Islamic State has gone back into hibernation after a very unimpressive Ramadan offensive. Pro-Iran groups however are continuing with their campaign against U.S. targets in Iraq.

 

There were a total of 22 incidents recorded from June 8-14, 2021. That was up from 12 the first week of the month.


 

10 of those incidents were by pro-Iran groups. IEDs hit logistics convoys working for the Americans in Baghdad, Dhi Qar, Diwaniya, Muthanna and Salahaddin. The Dhi Qar attack led to one foreign contractor and two Iraqis being wounded. A bomb was dismantled in Dhi Qar as well. Additionally, drones hit the Baghdad International Airport twice and rockets were fired at the Balad Air Base in Salahaddin. Rockets that were reportedly meant for Balad were also discovered in Diyala. Most of these types of incidents have become routine but the drone strikes are something new. Some Hashd groups recently held a military parade where they showed off the array of drones they have received from Iran. While the explosive payloads on these vehicles are likely small they can be more accurate then unguided missiles which have been the traditional way to hit targets like bases and airports.

 

There were just 14 casualties during the week. 7 were killed including 3 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 4 civilians and another 1 ISF and 6 civilians were injured. The low number of dead and wounded are another sign that IS is hardly active in the country right now.

 

The 12 attacks by IS took place in Anbar (1), Babil (1), Baghdad (1), Diyala (2), Irbil (1), Kirkuk (5), and Ninewa (1).

 

In Anbar a car bomb was dismantled in the Rawa district. Vehicle bombs are very rare and there are hardly any attacks in Anbar so the device was likely heading to another province. In Babil an IED exploded in the Jurf al-Sakhr district in the northeast. Insurgents infiltrate into this area from neighboring Anbar because it is a large Hashd base with army units on the outskirts providing plenty targets. In the Tarmiya district of northern Baghdad a farmer was killed. IS has recently activated its cell there with attacks happening there about once a week now. The killing might be intimidation or to extort money from the man’s family. There were two incidents in Diyala in the Muqdadiya are in the center. That included an IED and an attack upon the army which left 1 civilian wounded and two soldiers dead respectively. Diyala is the center for the Islamic State in Iraq but this week it was hardly active even there. An old IED went off in the Makhmour area of southern Irbil killing 1 and wounding 2 others. It might have been a relic of the war versus IS. In Ninewa two electricity towers were blown up in the southeast.

 

Kirkuk ended up being the most violent governorate in Iraq during the week. Powers towers were destroyed in two separate incidents. There was also a kidnapping and two shootings, one on a police convoy. IS has major camps in southern Kirkuk where it was never expelled. Attacks have gone up and down there however. With incidents being up since the start of the year after declining at the conclusion of 2020.

 

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province

Province

Jun 1-7

Jun 8-14

Anbar

1 Pro-Iran

1

Babil

-

1

Baghdad

5/2 Pro-Iran

4/3 Pro-Iran

Basra

1 Pro-Iran

-

Dhi Qar

1 Pro-Iran

2 Pro-Iran

Diwaniya

-

1 Pro-Iran

Diyala

2

3/1 Pro-Iran

Irbil

-

1

Kirkuk

-

5

Muthanna

-

1 Pro-Iran

Ninewa

1

1

Salahaddin

1

2 Pro-Iran

TOTAL

12/5 Pro-Iran

22/10 Pro-Iran

 

Casualties In Iraq By Province

Province

Jun 1-7

Jun 8-14

Baghdad

28 (5K, 23W)

1 (1K)

Dhi Qar

-

3 (3W)

Diyala

5 (1K, 4W)

3 (2K, 1W)

Irbil

-

3 (1K, 2W)

Kirkuk

-

4 (3K, 1W)

Ninewa

2 (2W)

-

TOTAL

35 (6K, 29W)

14 (7K, 7W)

 

Attacks by Pro-Iran Groups 2021

 

Date - Incident - Location

Jan, 2021

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 & 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 - Rockets – Baghdad International Airport/Jihad, IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

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

Feb

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 - Rockets – Irbil Airport – 2 Killed, 8 Wounded, IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

2/17/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

2/18/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra & 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

Mar

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, Diwaniya & Muthanna

3/11/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar

3/13/21 – Rockets - Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base, IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

3/15/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

3/18/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya & 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 & Baghdad

3/29/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil & Dhi Qar

3/30/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar & Salahaddin

3/31/21 - IED dismantled – Diwaniya

 

March Totals – 20

Apr

4/1/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

4/4/21 – Rockets -  Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base, IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

4/5/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Baghdad & Diwaniya

4/7/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar, Babil x2 & Salahaddin

4/8/21 – Rockets found – Anbar, Ain Al-Asad Base, IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

4/13/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna

4/14/21 – Drone/Rockets – Irbil Airport, IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Dhi Qar

4/15/21 – Rockets – Dohuk Turkish Army Base – 1 Turk killed, 1 wounded

4/16/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar

4/17/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

4/18/21 – Rockets – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base – 5 wounded

4/22/21 – Rockets – Baghdad’s Camp Victory

4/25/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar

4/27/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar, Dhi Qar, Diwaniya

4/28/21 – Gunfire checkpoint – Anbar

4/29/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar

 

April Totals – 27 – 1 Killed (Turk), 6 Wounded

May

5/2/21 – Rockets – Baghdad’s International Airport, IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Muthanna

5/3/21 – Rockets – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base – 1 wounded

5/4/21 – Rockets – Anbar’s Ain Al-Asad Base, IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra

5/6/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar, Salahaddin

5/8/21 – Rockets – Anbar’s Ain Al-Asad Base

5/11/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya

5/13/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar

5/14/21 - IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar

5/18/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar, Diwaniya

5/23/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar – 1 wounded, Babil, Dhi Qar, Diwaniya, Muthanna

5/24/21 – Rockets – Anbar’ Ain Al-Asad Base

5/27/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna, Diwaniya

5/28/21 – Rockets dismantled - Baghdad

 

May Totals – 24 – 2 Wounded

Jun

6/3/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra, Dhi Qar

6/6/21 – Drone attack – Anbar’s Ain Al-Asad Base, Rockets intercepted – Baghdad International Airport

6/8/21 – IED dismantled – Dhi Qar

6/9/21 – Drone attack – Baghdad’s International Airport, Rockets – Salahaddin’s Balad Air Base

6/11/21 – Rockets dismantled - Diyala

6/13/21 – Drone attack – Baghdad’s International Airport, IED on convoy carrying supplies for U.S. – Dhi Qar, Diwaniya, Muthanna, Salahaddin – 3 wounded

6/14/21 – IED on convoy carrying supplies for U.S. - Baghdad

 

Jun Totals – 14 – 3 Wounded

 

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

12

8

1

1

-

1

-

-

-

Apr

12

13

3

4

-

-

2

-

-

May

20

6

3

9

-

2

2

-

-

Jun

2

1

1

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

4

5

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

7

4

3

2

1

3

1

-

-

May

16

8

8

1

-

1

2

-

-

 

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

8

4

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

Apr

10

6

6

1

1

1

-

-

-

May

9

5

4

3

-

-

-

-

-

Jun

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

           

Security In Iraq 2019-20

Week

Security

Incidents

(Total/By IS)

Dead

(Total/By IS)

Wounded

(Total/By IS)

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

Mar 29-31

9/5

2

1

MAR

79/20

39

44

Apr 1-7

16/10

3

5

Apr 8-14

15/6

6

18

Apr 15-21

32/4

19

44

Apr 22-28

31/6

15

42

Apr 29-30

12/1

11

23

APR

107/27

54

132

May 1-7

36/8

33

37

May 8-14

30/5

14

25

May 15-21

15/2

3

3

May 22-28

20/9

3

24

May 29-31

11

6

11

MAY

113/24

59

100

Jun 1-7

12/5

6

29

Jun 8-14

22/10

7

7

 

Violence By Province Jun 8-14, 2021

Province

Violence

Anbar

1 Incident

 

1 Car Bomb Dismantled

Babil

1 Incident

 

1 IED

Baghdad

4/3 Pro-Iran Incidents

1 Killed

1 Civilian

 

1 Shooting

1 IED

2 Drone Attacks

Dhi Qar

2 Pro-Iran Incidents

3 Wounded

1 Foreigner

2 Civilians

 

2 IEDs

Diwaniya

1 Pro-Iran Incidents

 

1 IED

Diyala

3/1 Pro-Iran Incidents

2 Killed

2 ISF

1 Wounded

1 Civilian

 

1 IED

Irbil

1 Incident

1 Killed

1 Civilian

2 Wounded

2 Civilians

 

1 IED

Kirkuk

5 Incidents

3 Killed

1 ISF

2 Civilians

1 Wounded

1 ISF

 

2 Shootings

2 IEDs

Muthanna

1 Por-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

Ninewa

1 Incident

 

3 IEDs

Salahaddin

2 Pro-Iran Incidents

 

1 IED

1 Rockets

 

SOURCES

 

Al Araby, "Rockets land on Iraq air base housing US contractors and Baghdad airport," 6/9/21

 

Bas News, "Bombing Hits Transmission Towers in Kirkuk, Cuts Electricity," 6/13/21

- "Iraq Confirms Three Drones Attacked Baghdad Airport on Wednesday," 6/10/21

- "Iraq Foils Another Rocket Attack on Balad Air Base," 6/11/21

- "IS Militants Kill a Father and Son in Kirkuk," 6/10/21

- "Old IS-Made IED Kills 11-Year-Old in Makhmour," 6/9/21

 

Iraq Newspaper, "Iran detonates an explosive device targeting a convoy of the international coalition's supplies on the outskirts of Salahaddin without losses," 6/13/21

- "ISIS terrorist attacks the army in Muqdadiya, Diyala, killing two," 6/13/21

 

NINA, "3 Convoys Of Logistical Support For The Int'l Coalition Targeted With IEDs In Three Governorates," 6/13/21

- "A farmer was injured in an explosive device explosion in Diyala," 6/12/21

- "An IED Explodes On Two Armed Men While Trying To Infiltrate Jurf Al-Nasr District, North Of Babylon," 6/10/21

- "An officer was martyred after being attacked by a sniper fire west of Kirkuk," 6/12/21

- "A Terrorist Operation With A Car Bomb Thwarted in Anbar," 6/9/21

- "Two electric power towers targeted southeast of Mosul," 6/13/21

 

Shafaaq News, "Drone targets a military base at Baghdad airport," 6/13/21

- "Explosion targeting a military convoy near Baghdad," 6/14/21

- "Explosion puts a power line out of service in Kirkuk," 6/9/21

- "Injuries in an explosion targeting a support convoy for the international coalition in southern Iraq," 6/13/21

- "Thwarting an explosion that was intended to target a logistical support convoy for the coalition in southern Iraq," 6/8/21

 

Al Sumaria, "A farmer was killed in an armed attack north of Baghdad," 6/10/21

- "An officer was killed and an affiliate wounded in an attack south of Kirkuk," 6/12/21

 

Tollast, Robert, “Iran-backed militias display long-range drone power in regional escalation,” The National, 6/14/21

 

 

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