Violence in Iraq continues to fluctuate up and down month to month. August was the last month of the Islamic State’s summer offensive. That resulted in a large drop in incidents in September. Pro-Iran groups also backed off on their campaign against U.S. targets in the country.
There were a total of 81 security incidents reported in the media in September. That was down from 133 in August.
11 incidents were by pro-Iran factions. That was the lowest monthly total for 2021. They hit 9 logistics convoys working for the U.S. in Babil (3), Baghdad (1), Dhi Qar (2), Diwaniya (2), and Muthanna (1). There was also a drone attack upon Irbil Airport and rockets were fired at a Turkish base in Ninewa. Hashd factions have warned Ankara about their presence in northern Iraq and this was another warning that they are not welcomed. In September these groups carried out 28 attacks the highest figure of the year. The drop was likely at the behest of Iran.
There were 70 incidents by the Islamic State in September. There were 103 the month before, the highest monthly total of the year and the climax of IS’s summer campaign. The incidents occurred in Anbar (4), Babil (4), Diyala (3), Irbil (6), Kirkuk (7), Ninewa (10), Salahaddin (8), and Sulaymaniya (1).
54 people were killed and 86 wounded. 2 Hashd al-Shaabi, 20 civilians and 32 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) lost their lives while 18 Hashd, 30 civilians and 38 ISF were injured. Diyala had the most casualties with 61 followed by 29 in Kirkuk, 18 in Irbil, 12 in Ninewa, 7 in Anbar, 6 in Sulaymaniya, 4 in Babil and 3 in Salahaddin.
Anbar and Ninewa continued to be used as logistics hubs by the insurgency and saw few incidents. There were 4 in Anbar down from 5 in August. IS attacked a Hashd unit in Amiriya and a border guard who was kidnapped in August was found beheaded by the Waleed border crossing with Syria. Incidents went from 14 to 10 in Ninewa from August to September. Most of the attacks were IEDs planted to keep the security forces and civilians away from areas IS works in.
Babil remains a target of opportunity for IS. Of the four incidents three were in the Jurf al-Sakhr district in the northeast which is a large Kataib Hezbollah base. An IED was also dismantled targeting a power tower in Iskandiriya.
There were no attacks by IS in Baghdad during the month. In the previous months the insurgents had reactivated its cell in Tarmiya in the north. The government responded with several security sweeps through the district which would account for the lack of activity in September.
Kirkuk and Salahaddin were major targets during the insurgents’ summer offensive but that ended in September. Incidents in Kirkuk went from 20 to 7 and 31 to 8 in Salahaddin from August to September. The biggest incidents in Kirkuk were a village being attacked along with a checkpoint and there were two gun battles. There were similar attacks in Salahaddin with an assault on a town, a checkpoint shot at and a shootout. IS has major bases in both provinces but doesn’t use them much except for the spring and summer campaigns. Otherwise, it appears they are focusing upon rebuilding.
With the summer push over Diyala returned as the main focus of the Islamic State. The major change during the month was that IS started hitting the northwest along the Salahaddin border. It often moves men and materials between the two provinces but now it looks like the insurgents are trying to establish de facto control over the area just as they have over the Muqdadiya and Khanaqin districts in the center and northeast respectively.
Security Incidents In Iraq By Province
|
Province |
Sep 1-7 |
Sep 8-14 |
Sep 15-21 |
Sep 22-28 |
Sep 29-30 |
Totals |
|
Anbar |
1 |
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
4 |
|
Babil |
4/2 Pro-Iran |
- |
1 |
1 Pro-Iran |
1 |
7/3 Pro-Iran |
|
Dhi Qar |
- |
- |
1 Pro-Iran |
1 Pro-Iran |
- |
2 Pro-Iran |
|
Diwaniya |
1 Pro-Iran |
1 Pro-Iran |
- |
- |
- |
2 Pro-Iran |
|
Diyala |
4 |
15 |
6 |
5 |
- |
30 |
|
Irbil |
3 |
2/1 Pro-Iran |
1 |
1 |
- |
7/1 Pro-Iran |
|
Kirkuk |
3 |
3 |
- |
1 |
- |
7 |
|
Muthanna |
- |
1 Pro-Iran |
- |
- |
- |
1 Pro-Iran |
|
Ninewa |
2 |
3 |
1 |
5/1 |
- |
11/1 Pro-Iran |
|
Salahaddin |
3 |
2 |
|
2 |
1 |
8 |
|
Sulaymaniya |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
20/3 Pro-Iran |
28/3 Pro-Iran |
13/1 Pro-Iran |
17/4 Pro-Iran |
2 |
81/11 Pro-Iran |
Casualties In Iraq By Province
|
Province |
Sep 1-7 |
Sep 8-14 |
Sep 15-21 |
Sep 22-28 |
Totals |
|
Anbar |
1 (1K) |
3 (3W) |
3 (3W) |
- |
7 (1K, 6W) |
|
Babil |
3 (1K, 2W) |
- |
1 (1K) |
- |
4 (2K, 2W) |
|
Diyala |
6 (6W) |
30 (13K, 17W) |
10 (2K, 8W) |
15 (9K, 6W) |
61 (24K, 37W) |
|
Irbil |
5 (4K, 1W) |
12 (4K, 8W) |
- |
1 (1K) |
18 (9K, 9W) |
|
Kirkuk |
19 (6K, 13W) |
9 (4K, 5W) |
- |
1 (1W) |
29 (10K, 19W) |
|
Ninewa |
2 (2W) |
4 (2K, 2W) |
2 (2W) |
4 (2K, 2W) |
12 (4K, 8W) |
|
Salahaddin |
- |
2 (1K, 1W) |
|
1 (1K) |
3 (2K, 1W) |
|
Sulaymaniya |
- |
- |
6 (2K, 4W) |
- |
6 (2K, 4W) |
|
TOTAL |
36 (12K, 24W) |
60 (24K, 36W) |
22 (5K, 17W) |
22 (13K, 9W) |
140 (54K, 86W) |
Attacks by Pro-Iran Groups Aug-Sep 2021
|
8/1/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil 3 Fijians killed, Diwaniya |
|
8/4/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar |
|
8/5/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Diwaniya |
|
8/8/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Baghdad, Dhi Qar |
|
8/10/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil |
|
8/13/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Diwaniya |
|
8/15/21 |
IED dismantled - Diwaniya |
|
8/16/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad |
|
8/17/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Anbar, Baghdad, Dhi Qar, Salahaddin |
|
8/19/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, |
|
|
IEDs dismantled – Babil, Diwaniya |
|
8/24/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil x2, Baghdad, Dhi Qar, Diwaniya x2, Muthanna |
|
8/27/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Basra |
|
8/28/21 |
Rockets – Kuwait |
|
8/31/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Diwaniya |
|
|
August Totals – 28 (2) – 3 Fijians killed |
|
9/4/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Diwaniya |
|
9/6/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil |
|
9/8/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Diwaniya |
|
9/11/21 |
Drone – Irbil International Airport |
|
9/12/12 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna |
|
9/21/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar |
|
9/22/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Baghdad |
|
9/25/21 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar |
|
|
Rockets – Turkish Base, Ninewa |
|
|
September Totals - 11 |
Security In Iraq 2021
|
Week |
Security Incidents (Total/By IS) |
Dead (Total/By IS) |
Wounded (Total/By IS) |
|
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 |
31/5 |
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 |
|
Jun 15-21 |
24/4 |
14 |
14 |
|
Jun 22-28 |
19/2 |
10 |
17 |
|
Jun 29-30 |
5 |
- |
21 |
|
JUN |
83/21 |
36 |
87 |
|
Jul 1-7 |
38/9 |
11 |
35 |
|
Jul 8-14 |
25/4 |
7 |
17 |
|
Jul 15-21 |
20/1 |
48 |
75 |
|
Jul 22-28 |
10/1 |
10 |
7 |
|
Jul 29-31 |
16/5 |
30 |
30 |
|
JUL |
110/20 |
106 |
164 |
|
Aug 1-7 |
44/5 |
12 |
19 |
|
Aug 8-14 |
31/6 |
17 |
23 |
|
Aug 15-21 |
25/8 |
12 |
18 |
|
Aug 22-28 |
21/9 |
8 |
10 |
|
Aug 29-31 |
12/2 |
5 |
12 |
|
AUG |
133/30 |
54 |
82 |
|
Sep 1-7 |
21/3 |
12 |
24 |
|
Sep 8-14 |
28/3 |
24 |
36 |
|
Sep 15-21 |
13/1 |
5 |
17 |
|
Sep 22-28 |
17/4 |
13 |
9 |
|
Sep 29-30 |
2 |
- |
- |
|
SEP |
81/11 |
54 |
86 |
Violence By Province Sep 2021
|
Province |
Violence |
2018 Avg |
2019 Avg |
2020 Avg |
2021 Avg |
|
Anbar |
4 Incidents 1 Killed 1 ISF 6 Wounded 6 Hashd
1 Shooting 2 IEDs |
12.6 incidents/ month |
8.6 incidents/ month |
7.0 incidents/ month |
5.4 incidents/ month |
|
Babil |
7/3 Pro-Iran Incidents 2 Killed 2 Hashd 2 Wounded 2 Hashd
2 Shootings 4 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb |
4.0 incidents/month |
3.0 incidents/month |
2.75 incidents/month |
2.1 incidents/month |
|
Baghdad |
- |
33.0 incidents/month |
11.6 incidents/month |
7.3 incidents/month |
6.6 incidents/month |
|
Dhi Qar |
2 Pro-Iran Incidents
2 IEDs |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Diwaniya |
2 Pro-Iran Incidents
2 IEDs |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Diyala |
30 Incidents 24 Killed 9 ISF 15 Civilians 37 Wounded 2 Hashd 13 Civilians 22 ISF
19 Shootings 7 IEDs 1 Sticky Bomb 1 Motorcycle Bomb 1 Grenade 4 Mortars |
34.5 incidents/month |
30.0 incidents/month |
30.6 incidents/month |
23.0 incidents/month |
|
Irbil |
7/1 Pro-Iran Incidents 9 Killed 1 Civilian 8 ISF 9 Wounded 1 ISF 8 Hashd
4 Shootings 1 IED 1 Drone |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Kirkuk |
7 Incidents 10 Killed 10 ISF 19 Wounded 8 Civilians 11 ISF
5 Shootings 3 IEDs |
36.5 incidents/month |
18.6 incidents/month |
13.9 incidents/month |
12.2 incidents/month |
|
Muthanna |
1 Pro-Iran Incident
1 IED |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Ninewa |
11/1 Pro-Iran Incidents 4 Killed 2 Civilians 2 ISF 8 Wounded 4 Civilians 4 ISF
3 Shootings 6 IEDs 1 Stun Bomb 1 Rockets |
20.0 incidents/month |
14.0 incidents/month |
10.6 incidents/month |
8.5 incidents/month |
|
Salahaddin |
8 Incidents 2 Killed 2 ISF 1 Wounded 1 Civilian
6 Shootings 2 Sticky Bombs |
21.7 incidents/month |
10.6 incidents/month |
11.2 incidents/month |
9.3 incidents/month |
|
Sulaymaniya |
1 Incident 2 Killed 2 Civilians 4 Wounded 4 Civilians
1 Shooting |
- |
- |
- |
- |
SOURCES
NINA, "An Army Member Martyred And Seven Wounded In An ISIS Attack On A Village In Kirkuk," 9/2/21
- "An Attempt To Detonate A Tower To Transmit Electric Power Thwarted In Babylon," 9/2/21
- "Three ISIS elements killed and others wounded in Kirkuk," 9/12/21
- "Two policemen killed in an ISIS attack south of Kirkuk," 9/5/21
NRT, "Rockets Fired At Turkish Military Base Near Bashiqa; No Casualties Reported," 9/25/21
Reuters, "Drone attack hits near U.S. forces in Erbil, northern Iraq - officials," 9/11/21
Shafaq News, "3 members of the crowd were wounded in an ISSI attack in Anbar," 9/11/21
- "Checkpoint exposed to ISIS south of Salahaddin," 9/27/21
- "Two days after his kidnapping, ISIS beheads an Iraqi soldier on the Syrian border," 9/1/21
Sotaliraq, "A soldier was killed in an armed attack in Tuz Khurmatu," 9/29/21
Al Sumaria, "An armed group attacks a village in Salahaddin and kills an officer with the rank of captain," 9/14/21
Xinhua, "6 IS militants, 4 security members killed in attacks in northern Iraq," 9/12/21
No comments:
Post a Comment