Violence went in different directions in Iraq in January 2022. Attacks by the Islamic State continued their half year decline. Pro-Iran groups however started the month off with a bang before tapering off towards the end.
There were a total of 84 security incidents reported in Iraq in January. That was up from 78 in December and 67 in November. The increase was due to groups linked with Iran.
There were 31 successful attacks by pro-Iran groups during the month along with 9 other incidents. That was up from 21 in December and the highest monthly total by these groups since they started their recent operations. As usual they were focused upon bombing supply convoys working for the Americans. Trucks were hit in Babil (5), Baghdad (6), Basra (1), Dhi Qar (1), Muthanna (4), and Salahaddin (1), and IEDs were dismantled in Babil, Baghdad, Dhi Qar (2), Diwaniya, and Muthanna. Rockets were also fired at Turkish bases in Ninewa three times, Ain al-Asad base in Anbar, and Baghdad International Airport, Camp Victory and the Green Zone in Baghdad. Drones were downed at Ain al-Asad Base and Baghdad airport.
There was also political violence by these factions to try to pressure Moqtada al-Sadr and his allies to include the Coordination Framework which is made up of all the major Shiite parties besides Sadr’s into the new government. That led to bombings of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s offices in Baghdad and the deputy speaker’s office in Kirkuk, rockets fired at Speaker Mohammed Halbusi’s house in Anbar, a Molotov cocktail thrown at a Sadr building in Baghdad, along with an assassination attempt upon a KDP official in the capital, plus grenades thrown at Taqadum and Azm Alliances’ buildings in Baghdad. Finally, two Kurdish banks were bombed in the capital.
On the other hand, incidents by the Islamic State have been going down for the last five months. In January there were 46 compared to 55 in December, 55 in November, 65 in October and 70 in September. The Islamic State usually pulls back during the winter, but this represents the lowest number of attacks in Iraq since 2003. It raises the question of whether the group is purposefully holding back to rebuild or whether it has suffered such strategic loses that it is heading for its end.
The situation in Iraq’s provinces stayed largely the same during the month. The group focused almost all of its attention upon defensive operations to keep civilians and the government forces out of its areas.
Anbar and Ninewa remained logistics hubs with few attacks. There were just three in Anbar and four in Ninewa.
Babil saw an attack upon the Hashd in the Jurf al-Sakhr district in the northeast, a bombing of a mosque and an old IED going off.
The Islamic State is still active in northern Baghdad province. That led to several incidents in Tarmiya and Taji. There was also a rare bombing in the south in Madain which used to be an insurgent base.
Attacks remained at low levels in Kirkuk and Salahaddin. There were 11 incidents in Kirkuk up from 9 in December and 8 in November. Salahaddin went in the other direction with 9 incidents in November, 6 in December and 5 in January. Both governorates have well known IS bases and yet it is not using them for operations. This is part of the dilemma of currently analyzing the group. Are they so low in men and material that they can’t use them more or are they purposely holding back to reconstitute itself?
Diyala is the center of IS in Iraq. Even there attacks went down from 27 in December to 14 in January. That included the biggest attack in quite some time when IS assaulted a regimental command center in Edheim in the north which left 11 soldiers dead and another 10 wounded. Usually, most incidents are in the Muqdadiya district in the center and Khanaqin in the northeast but recently the militants have been hitting the northeast along the border with Salahaddin. That area is used to move people back and forth between the two. It appears that IS is trying to assert more control there.
Security Incidents In Iraq By Province
|
Province |
Jan 1-7 |
Jan 8-14 |
Jan 15-21 |
Jan 22-28 |
Jan 29-31 |
Totals |
|
Anbar |
2 Pro-Iran |
2 |
1 |
1 Pro-Iran |
- |
6/3 Pro-Iran |
|
Babil |
2 Pro-Iran |
4/3 Pro-Iran |
1 |
2/1 Pro-Iran |
- |
9/6 Pro-Iran |
|
Baghdad |
4/3 Pro-Iran |
10/7 Pro-Iran |
1 |
2 Pro-Iran |
1 |
22/16 Pro-Iran |
|
Basra |
- |
- |
1 Pro-Iran |
- |
- |
1 Pro-Iran |
|
Dhi Qar |
- |
2 Pro-Iran |
- |
- |
1 Pro-Iran |
3 Pro-Iran |
|
Diwaniya |
- |
1 Pro-Iran |
- |
- |
- |
1 Pro-Iran |
|
Diyala |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
- |
14 |
|
Kirkuk |
2 |
2 |
1 Pro-Iran |
5 |
1 |
12/1 Pro-Iran |
|
Muthanna |
1 Pro-Iran |
3 Pro-Iran |
- |
- |
1 Pro-Iran |
5 Pro-Iran |
|
Ninewa |
2/1 Pro-Iran |
2 |
2 Pro-Iran |
- |
1 |
7/3 Pro-Iran |
|
Salahaddin |
1 |
2/1 Pro-Iran |
2/1 Pro-Iran |
1 |
1 |
7/2 Pro-Iran |
|
TOTAL |
18/9 Pro-Iran |
31/17 Pro-Iran |
12/5 Pro-Iran |
16/4 Pro-Iran |
6/2 Pro-Iran |
87/41 Pro-Iran |
Casualties In Iraq By Province
|
Province |
Jan 1-7 |
Jan 8-14 |
Jan 15-21 |
Jan 22-28 |
Jan 29-31 |
Totals |
|
Anbar |
- |
4 (1K, 3W) |
1 (1W) |
2 (2W) |
- |
7 (1K, 6W) |
|
Babil |
- |
1 (1W) |
- |
3 (2K, 1W) |
- |
4 (2K, 2W) |
|
Baghdad |
2 (1K, 1W) |
12 (12W) |
2 (2K) |
- |
- |
16 (3K, 13W) |
|
Diyala |
3 (1K, 2W) |
3 (2K, 1W) |
22 (11K, 11W) |
10 (2K, 8W) |
- |
38 (16K, 22W) |
|
Kirkuk |
1 (1W) |
- |
- |
12 (4K, 8W) |
5 (2K, 3W) |
18 (6K, 12W) |
|
Ninewa |
1 (1K) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 (1K) |
|
Salahaddin |
- |
1 (1W) |
4 (4K) |
- |
3 (3W) |
8 (4K, 4W) |
|
TOTAL |
7 (3K, 4W) |
21 (3K, 18W) |
29 (17K, 12W) |
27 (8K, 19W) |
8 (2K, 6W) |
92 (33K, 59W) |
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 |
|
1/15/22 |
Rockets – Turkish army base, Ninewa |
|
|
Rockets – Turkish army base, Ninewa |
|
|
Drones shot down – Balad Air Base, Salahaddin |
|
1/16/22 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US - Basra |
|
|
IEDs on Cihan Bank and Kurdistan Bank, Baghdad |
|
1/19/22 |
IED 2nd Dep Speaker’s office - Kirkuk |
|
1/23/22 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US - Babil |
|
1/26/22 |
Rockets – Speaker Halbusi’s House, Anbar |
|
|
Molotov cocktail – Sadr office, Baghdad |
|
1/28/22 |
Rockets – Baghdad International Airport |
|
1/30/22 |
IED on convoy carrying supplies to US – Dhi Qar, Muthanna |
|
|
January Totals 31 (9) – 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 |
|
Jan 15-21 |
12/5 |
17 |
12 |
|
Jan 22-28 |
16/3 |
8 |
19 |
|
Jan 29-31 |
6/2 |
2 |
6 |
|
JAN |
87/41 |
33 |
59 |
Violence By Province Jan 22/28, 2022
|
Province |
Violence |
2018 Avg |
2019 Avg |
2020 Avg |
2021 Avg |
|
Anbar |
6/3 Pro-Iran Incidents 1 Killed 1 Hashd 6 Wounded 1 ISF 2 Hashd 3 Civilians
1 Shooting 4 IEDs 1 Rockets |
12.6 incidents/ month |
8.6 incidents/ month |
7.0 incidents/ month |
4.6 incidents/ month |
|
Babil |
9/6 Pro-Iran Incidents 2 Killed 2 Civilians 2 Wounded 1 Civilian 1 Hashd
9 IEDs |
4.0 incidents/month |
3.0 incidents/month |
2.75 incidents/month |
2.5 incidents/month |
|
Baghdad |
22/16 Pro-Iran Incidents 3 Killed 1 ISF 2 Hashd 13 Wounded 6 ISF 7 Civilians
4 Shootings 11 IEDs 2 Grenades 1 Molotov Cocktail 2 Drones 2 Rockets |
33.0 incidents/month |
11.6 incidents/month |
7.3 incidents/month |
5.6 incidents/ month |
|
Basra |
1 Pro-Iran Incident
1 IED |
|
|
|
|
|
Dhi Qar |
3 Pro-Iran Incidents
3 IEDs |
|
|
|
|
|
Diwaniya |
1 Pro-Iran Incident
1 IED |
|
|
|
|
|
Diyala |
14 Incidents 16 Killed 4 Civilians 12 ISF 22 Wounded 1 Civilian 21 ISF
11 Shootings 3 IEDs |
34.5 incidents/month |
30.0 incidents/month |
30.6 incidents/month |
22.8 incidents/month |
|
Kirkuk |
12/1 Pro-Iran Incidents 6 Killed 6 ISF 12 Wounded 1 Peshmerga 2 Civilians 9 ISF
4 Shootings 4 IEDs 1 Rockets |
36.5 incidents/month |
18.6 incidents/month |
13.9 incidents/month |
11.6 incidents/month |
|
Muthanna |
5 Pro-Iran Incidents
5 IEDs |
|
|
|
|
|
Ninewa |
7/3 Pro-Iran Incidents 1 Killed 1 Hashd
3 Shootings 3 Rockets 1 Mortar |
20.0 incidents/month |
14.0 incidents/month |
10.6 incidents/month |
8.4 incidents/month |
|
Salahaddin |
7/2 Pro-Iran Incidents 4 Killed 4 Civilians 4 Wounded 1 Civilian 3 ISF
4 Shootings 1 IED 1 Sticky Bomb 3 Drones |
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
Asharq Al-Awsat, "Coalition: 2 Armed Drones Shot Down at Baghdad Airport," 1/3/22
Bas News, "Iraqi Sunni MP Survives Assassination in Baghdad," 1/16/22
- “KDP Office in Baghdad Attacked,” 1/13/22
- “KDP Official Survives Assassination Attempt in Baghdad,” 1/14/22
eKurd, "Explosions hit two Kurdish-owned banks in Iraqi capital Baghdad," 1/17/22
Al Monitor, "Baghdad airport hit with rockets, no one hurt," 1/28/22
NINA, "An Explosive Device Explodes Near A Mosque, North Of Babylon," 1/15/22
- "A Member Of PMF Injured North Of Babylon By An IED Explosion," 1/14/22
NRT, "Coalition Airbase Comes Under Attack Again In Anbar," 1/5/22
- "Drones Shot Down Targeting Coalition Airbase In Anbar," 1/4/22
- "Eleven Killed In ISIS Attack In Diyala," 1/21/22
- "Rocket Launcher Discovered After
- "Rockets Fired NE Of Fallujah, Likely Targeting Parliament Speaker's Guesthouse," 1/26/22
Al Sumaria, "Targeting the office of the second deputy speaker of parliament in Kirkuk," 1/19/22
- "Urgent - 3 people were killed and injured as a result of a war remnant explosion in Babylon," 1/28/22
- "Urgent - An attack on Al-Sadr's Baladiyat headquarters, east of Baghdad … with Molotov cocktails," 1/26/22
Xinhua, “Bomb attacks target headquarters of 2 Sunni parliamentary parties in Baghdad,” 1/14/22
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