Monday, January 17, 2022

Security In Iraq, Jan 8-14, 2021


There was more activity by pro-Iran groups during the second week of January than by the Islamic State. The latter is in its annual winter break while the former has started a new campaign against U.S. targets in Iraq.

 

There were a total of 35 incidents recorded in Iraq from January 8-14. That was up from 18 the week before. The reason for the increase was attacks by pro-Iran groups.

 

These led to 3 dead and 18 wounded. 1 civilian, 1 Hashd al-Shaabi, and 1 member of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) were killed while 3 Hashd, 6 ISF and 9 civilians were injured. Baghdad had the most casualties with 12.


 

Factions linked to Tehran carried out 21 incidents during the week. That included bombings of convoys working for the Americans in Babil (2), Baghdad (4), Muthanna (2), and Salahaddin (1). IEDs were also dismantled in Babil, Baghdad, Dhi Qar twice, Diwaniya, and Muthanna. Rockets were fired at the Green Zone which wounded three Iraqi civilians. Finally, there was political violence surrounding the October elections and government formation process. That included the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Taqadum and Azm offices being attacked and a KDP official escaping an assassination attempt. These factions began this new campaign against the Americans in November after the October elections. They are also attempting to pressure Sadr’s allies over the new government. There have been 30 total incidents by them in January versus 23 in December.

 

There were 14 incidents by the Islamic State. Attacks by the group have been in the tens and teens since the middle of September. The militants routinely decrease their operations nearly every winter.

 

IS attacks occurred in Anbar (2), Babil (1), Baghdad (3), Diyala (3), Kirkuk (2), Ninewa (2) and Salahaddin (1).

 

Almost all of these attacks were aimed at keeping civilians and the security forces out of IS areas. For instance, there was an IED that killed 1 Hashd and wounded 2 more in Akashat in western Anbar which is a major smuggling area for the group. In Tarmiya, northern Baghdad there was a shootout with the army that left 5 soldiers dead. This is the Islamic State’s major base in the province. Likewise, there were two assaults on checkpoints and a shooting in the group’s strongholds in central and northeastern Diyala. This is the main focus of the militants right now, protect their bases and preserve their leadership and cadres.

 

There were a few targeted attacks like an IED on a soldier’s house in Baghdad and a kidnapping in southern Kirkuk. These were likely done for money and intimidation.

 

Finally, a bomb went off at a checkpoint in Babil’s Jurf al-Sakhr. This is a favorite target of IS because it is a large Kataib Hezbollah base surrounded by army units.

 

Security Incidents In Iraq By Province

Province

Jan 1-7

Jan 8-14

Anbar

2 Pro-Iran

2

Babil

2 Pro-Iran

4/3 Pro-Iran

Baghdad

4/3 Pro-Iran

10/7 Pro-Iran

Dhi Qar

-

2 Pro-Iran

Diwaniya

-

1 Pro-Iran

Diyala

4

3

Kirkuk

2

2

Muthanna

1 Pro-Iran

3 Pro-Iran

Ninewa

2/1 Pro-Iran

2

Salahaddin

1

2/1 Pro-Iran

TOTAL

18/9 Pro-Iran

31/17 Pro-Iran

 

Casualties In Iraq By Province

Province

Jan 1-7

Jan 8-14

Anbar

-

4 (1K, 3W)

BABIL

-

1 (1W)

Baghdad

2 (1K, 1W)

12 (12W)

Diyala

3 (1K, 2W)

3 (2K, 1W)

Kirkuk

1 (1W)

-

Ninewa

1 (1K)

-

Salahaddin

-

1 (1W)

TOTAL

7 (3K, 4W)

21 (3K, 18W)

 

Attacks by Pro-Iran Groups

 

December Totals 21 (2) – 4 Killed, 4 Wounded

1/2/22

Rockets – Turkish army base, Ninewa

1/3/22

2 Drones shot down – Baghdad International Airport

1/4/22

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad

 

Drone shot down – Ain al-Asad Base, Anbar

1/5/22

Rockets – Camp Victory, Baghdad

 

Rockets – Ain al-Asad Base, Anbar

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Muthanna, Babil

1/6/22

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

1/9/22

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil, Baghdad x2, Muthanna, Salahaddin

 

IED dismantled – Baghdad, Dhi Qar, Diwaniya, Muthanna

1/11/22

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Baghdad x2, Muthanna

 

IED Dismantled - Babil

1/12/22

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Babil

1/13/22

Rockets – Green Zone – 3 Wounded

 

IED on convoy carrying supplies to US - Baghdad

 

IED on KDP offices - Baghdad

 

IED dismantled – Dhi Qar

1/14/22

Assassination attempt on KDP official - Baghdad

 

Grenades thrown at Taqadum and Azm offices - Baghdad

 

January Totals 22 (8) – 3 Wounded

 

Security In Iraq 2021-22

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

Oct 1-7

17

11

22

Oct 8-14

14/1

4

13

Oct 15-21

9/2

3

2

Oct 22-28

21/1/1

36

42

Oct 29-31

11/1

7

7

OCT

72/6/1

61

86

Nov 1-7

20/2

3

20

Nov 8-14

15/1

11

18

Nov 15-21

14/4

2

4

Nov 22-28

15/4

10

14

Nov 29-30

3/1

1

3

NOV

67/12

27

59

Dec 1-7

17/2

29

22

Dec 8-14

14/4

4

6

Dec 15-21

22/8

11

12

Dec 22-28

18/8

11

27

Dec 29-31

7/1

5

4

DEC

78/23

56

67

Jan 1-7, 2022

18/9

3

4

Jan 8-14

35/21

3

18

 

Violence By Province Jan 8-14, 2022

Province

Violence

2018 Avg

2019 Avg

2020 Avg

2021 Avg

Anbar

2 Incidents

1 Killed

1 Hashd

3 Wounded

1 Civilian

2 Hashd

 

1 Shooting

1 IED

12.6 incidents/

month

8.6 incidents/ month

7.0 incidents/ month

4.6 incidents/ month

Babil

4/3 Pro-Iran Incidents

1 Wounded

1 Hashd

 

4 IEDs

4.0 incidents/month

3.0 incidents/month

2.75 incidents/month

2.5 incidents/month

Baghdad

14/11 Pro-Iran Incidents

12 Wounded

5 ISF

7 Civilians

 

2 Shooting

9 IEDs

2 Grenades

1 Rockets

33.0 incidents/month

11.6 incidents/month

7.3 incidents/month

5.6 incidents/ month

Dhi Qar

2 Pro-Iran Incidents

 

2 IEDs

 

 

 

 

Diwaniya

1 Pro-Iran Incident

 

1 IED

 

 

 

 

Diyala

3 Incidents

2 Killed

1 Civilian

1 ISF

1 Wounded

1 ISF

 

3 Shootings

34.5 incidents/month

30.0 incidents/month

30.6 incidents/month

22.8 incidents/month

Kirkuk

2 Incidents

 

1 IED

36.5 incidents/month

18.6 incidents/month

13.9 incidents/month

11.6 incidents/month

Muthanna

3 Pro-Iran Incidents

 

3 IEDs

 

 

 

 

Ninewa

2 Incidents

 

2 Shootings

20.0 incidents/month

14.0 incidents/month

10.6 incidents/month

8.4 incidents/month

Salahaddin

2/1 Pro-Iran Incidents

1 Wounded

1 Civilian

 

1 IED

1 Sticky Bomb

21.7 incidents/month

10.6 incidents/month

11.2 incidents/month

11.5 incidents/month

 

SOURCES

 

Agence France Presse, "Attacks on Iraq political party's HQ, Green Zone raise security fears," 1/15/22

 

Bas News, "IS Militants Kidnap a Farmer South of Kirkuk," 1/10/22

- “KDP Office in Baghdad Attacked,” 1/13/22

- “KDP Official Survives Assassination Attempt in Baghdad,” 1/14/22

- "Peshmerga Forces Come Under Attack Northeast of Mosul," 1/14/22

- "Peshmerga Forces Foil IS Attempt to Attack," 1/11/22

 

Mehr News Agency, "US convoy targeted by roadside bomb in Iraq's Saladin," 1/9/22

 

NINA, "An attack by ISIS foiled north of Baquba," 1/8/22

- "A Convoy Of Logistical Support For The Int'l Coalition Forces Targeted With An IED In Babylon," 1/10/22

- "A Member Of PMF Injured North Of Babylon By An IED Explosion," 1/14/22

 

Shafaq News, "A double explosion targets a logistical support convoy south of Baghdad," 1/11/22

- "Explosion targeting a lawyer in Tikrit .. Video," 1/10/22

- "Failed assassination attempt on one of the most prominent tribal sheikhs in western Iraq," 1/12/22

- "A former member of the tribal mobilization was killed in an armed attack in Diyala," 1/13/22

- "A new attack targets the logistical support of the coalition in Iraq," 1/13/22

- "Targeting a logistical support convoy of the international coalition in Samawah," 1/11/22

- "Thwarting a detonation by an explosive device that was intended to target the coalition convoys in southern Iraq," 1/9/22

- "Thwarting an attempt to target a convoy of the International Coalition in southern Iraq," 1/13/22

- "Two soldiers injured in ISIS attack on security points in Diyala," 1/8/22

 

Sotaliraq, "Explosion of a bomb on the road between Altun Bridge and Kirkuk," 1/14/22

- "An explosion targets a convoy carrying equipment for the International Coalition, north of Baghdad," 1/13/22

- "A soldier dies of wounds after an ISIS attack between Diyala and Salahaddin," 1/9/22

 

Al Sumaria, "5 soldiers were injured in clashes with ISIS in Tarmiya," 1/8/22

- "Baghdad .. A bomb exploded as a vehicles carrying equipment for the Iraqi army passed by," 1/9/22

- "Dismantled an explosive device that was intended to target security convoys in Babylon," 1/22/22

- "An explosive device explodes north of Baghdad," 1/12/22

- "Thwarting an attempt to target logistical support lines with 4 improvised explosive devices in three governorates," 1/9/22

- "A victim and two injured from the crowd in an explosion in western Iraq," 1/12/22

- "A woman and two children were injured in an explosion targeting a logistical support convoy in Baghdad," 1/9/22

 

Xinhua, “Bomb attacks target headquarters of 2 Sunni parliamentary parties in Baghdad,” 1/14/22

 

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