Iraq Sees Surge In Voting Across Most Of The Country (REVISED)

 

Iraq’s Election Commission released partial early results for voter turnout in the provinces. It showed a surge of voting across the country compared to the last parliamentary elections in 2021.

US Army In The Iraq War Volume 2 Ch 5 “The Surge Of Operations”

Chapter 5 of the second volume of the U.S. army’s history of the Iraq War focuses upon the summer of 2007. The Americans expanded their operations from Baghdad into neighboring Diyala while there were still differences over the new strategy. Part of that effort to turn tribes and insurgents against the Islamic State of Iraq ran into continued opposition from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. On the other hand, Iranian backed militias were fighting each other for control of southern Iraq.

New Provincial Govts In Iraq After Dec Election

 

Most of the new provincial governments in Iraq were decided in February. The Coordination Framework took most of the governors as expected because their main rival Muqtada al-Sadr boycotted. The list did not have its way however.

Final Results For Iraq’s Provincial Elections

(Wikipedia)

The final results of Iraq’s provincial elections have been announced. The ruling Coordination Framework won the most seats and wants to control the south. That will put it into conflict with several governors that won the most votes in their governorates. On the other hand the Kurds misplayed their hand running separately because the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) wanted to dominate the community.

Coordination Framework Looks To Take Control Of Most Of Iraq’s Provinces

As expected the ruling Coordination Framework was the biggest winner in Iraq’s 2023 provincial elections. Even though it ran as three separate lists, Nuri al-Maliki’s State of Law, Hadi Amiri’s Nabni, and Haidar al-Abadi and Ammar Hakim’s National State Forces Alliance, they won the most seats up for grabs on governorate councils. They will now re-unite and attempt to control most of Iraq’s provinces solidifying their hold on the Iraqi state.

More Iraqis Displaced Due To Climate Change

(IOM)

The United Nations said that Iraq is one of the top 5 nations in the world susceptible to climate change. Fertile land is becoming arid due to drought and desertification. Rain has decreased along with the flow of water down the Euphrates and Tigris due to dams in neighboring countries. Salinity and pollution in the water is increasing as well. Crops have declined as a result along with livestock and fishing. Thousands of people have left their homes because they can no longer make a living. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) released a survey for September 2023 that found the number of people displaced due to the environment has increased.

Climate change induced displacement increases in Iraq

(IOM)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the premier group working with the Iraqi government on the country’s displaced (IDP) problem. In recent years it has been documenting a new phenomenon which is people being forced out of their homes by climate change. The United Nations said Iraq is the fifth most vulnerable country to the environmental crisis.  In a July report the IOM noted that this new IDP population is increasing.

Violence Drops In Iraq For The 2nd Month

Violence in Iraq has been down in the new year. Incidents have remained in single digits each week and the Islamic State is barely active anymore. There were 3 attacks by pro-Iran groups that wanted to let the world know that they are still around even though operations are no longer their priority.

Security In Iraq Feb 1-7, 2023

The Islamic State continued to be insignificant in Iraq the first week of February. Its incidents were in single digits again. There were two more attacks by pro-Iran groups showing that they are trying to re-activate.

3 Year Anniversary of Iraq’s Protests Shows Dwindling Movement

Demonstration in Maysan to mark 3 yr anniversary of protest movement (Al Mirbad)

October 25 marked the three-year anniversary of Iraq’s protest movement. People came out in 10 provinces but not in the large numbers seen in previous times.

Violence Drops In Iraq In May After Islamic State Offensive Ends

Violence dropped in Iraq in May as the Islamic State’s annual Ramadan offensive came to an end. There were also less incidents by pro-Iran groups compared to April. That could change as IS usually launches a summer campaign.

Security In Iraq May 15-21, 2022

The number of security incidents in Iraq doubled from the second to third weeks of May. This was due to an increase in operations by both the Islamic State and pro-Iran groups. The overall number of attacks was still insignificant compared to previous years.

Islamic State Returns In Iraq With Ramadan Offensive

Violence surged in Iraq in April as the Islamic State launched its annual Ramadan offensive. Pro-Iran groups also picked up their operations. That led to the most incidents in 8 months.

Security In Iraq Apr 22-28, 2022

Violence took a large jump in Iraq during the 4^th week of April. The Islamic State was in the middle of its annual Ramadan offensive while pro-Iran groups also stepped up their attacks a bit. That resulted in the most incidents since August 2021.

Security In Iraq Apr 1-7, 2022

Activity by the Islamic State remained at a low level during the first week of April. At the same time there was a large jump in attacks by pro-Iran groups against American targets.

Islamic State Continues To Fade Away In Iraq

While the number of incidents by the Islamic State in Iraq slightly increased from February to March 2022 its overall number of operations remains at an all-time low. This has lasted for six months now also a record for general inactivity. This all points to the insurgency finally fading away in Iraq. Attacks by pro-Iran groups also leveled off in March.

Security In Iraq Mar 15-21, 2022

Attacks in Iraq remained at a very low level for another week. The Islamic State is disappearing while there are only a few incidents by Pro-Iran groups.

Security Incidents In Iraq Hit A New Low In February 2022

Security incidents in Iraq hit an all time low in February 2022. The Islamic State was already winding down its operations since September. That combined with the death of its leader Abu Ibrahim al-Qurayshi during the month seems to have led the group into a tailspin with the fewest ever incidents during any month since 2003. At the same time pro-Iran groups appeared to be focused upon their political dispute with Moqtada al-Sadr over forming a new government and carried out fewer attacks upon American targets as a result.

Security In Iraq Feb 8-14, 2022

Violence remained at a very low level for another week in Iraq. Both the Islamic State and pro-Iran groups were barely active during the second week of February.

IS Attacks On 5 Month Decline In Iraq

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.