Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Security In Iraq, May 15-21, 2016


The Islamic State was still in the midst of its spring offensive in the third week of May. Attacks actually went down, but casualties remained high because of a number of mass casualty bombings that mark the current insurgent campaign.

There were 121 incidents reported in Iraq from May 15-21. That was the fewest incidents since the second week of February when there were 119. There were 67 attacks in Baghdad, 16 in Anbar, 11 each in Diyala and Ninewa, 7 in Salahaddin, 4 in Kirkuk, 2 in Babil, and one each in Basra, Dhi Qar, and Qadisiyah.

Despite those low figures casualties were very high in the country. There were 349 people killed, made up of 1 Iranian Basij, 1 Nujafi volunteer, 4 Sahwa, 4 Peshmerga, 5 Hashd, 32 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and 302 civilians. Another 604 were wounded, which consisted of 2 Peshmerga, 2 Sahwa, 15 Hashd, 65 ISF, and 520 civilians.

As usual, Baghdad led the way as the deadliest province with 197. There were another 80 in Ninewa, 33 in Anbar, 30 in Salahaddin, 8 in Diyala, and 1 in Kirkuk.

In Anbar the Iraqi forces continued its sweep westward. In previous weeks Hit was freed, and the siege of Haditha ended. During the third week of May there was continued operations from Hit to Baghdadi to Haditha with several towns freed. The Iraqi forces then moved south and cleared Rutba, and reached the Jordanian border crossing of Trebil. In eastern Anbar, the Hashd continued to talk about freeing Fallujah, but were busy sweeping through Amiriya Fallujah again after it was declared 75% freed during the first week of the month. The new operation was due to a wave of suicide bombers that attacked the town the week before. Still, forces were being assembled around Fallujah for the campaign that started on May 23. With the inclusion of the ISF and U.S. air strikes the city will be eventually freed, but what’s left in the aftermath will be a big question. This will top off the series of victories that have occurred in the governorate with only the Syrian border area remaining firmly in IS hands. There is still a threat in Anbar however, as IS is alive and well in the rural and desert areas and the small towns surrounding the major centers.

In an interesting turn of events, as the Fallujah operation finally got underway the Iraqi press began reporting on shelling of the city again. Artillery, mortars and air strikes have pounded the place since January 2014 causing hundreds of casualties. This used to be regularly reported, but that ended in the fall of last year. From May 15-21 three artillery incidents were mentioned leading to 14 civilians being killed and 36 wounded.

Baghdad was still the focus of the Islamic State’s spring campaign. There were 67 incidents during the week. That included 2 car bombs, 4 suicide car bombs, and 8 suicide bombers. Another two car bombs were discovered and dismantled before they detonated, and 10 suicide bombers were either arrested or killed. Those bombs were in the center, east, north, outer north, south, and outer south of the province showing IS’s ability to reach every part of Baghdad. Those attacks came in two waves. On May 15 one went off in the outer south in a market in Latifiya, while three were used in an assault upon a gas plant in Taji, which took the facility off line for a few days cutting off electricity to part of the capital. Then on May 17 two car bombs and 2 suicide bombers hit a restaurant and three markets. Another suicide bomber was arrested, and two car bombs were dismantled. Overall, IS was most active in the outer regions hitting the small towns.

Violence In Anbar, May 15-21, 2016
Center: 5 – 1 Car Bomb Dismantled, 1 Stabbing, 1 Shooting, 1 IED Dismantled, 1 Sticky Bomb
East: 11 – 1 Suicide Bomber Arrested, 1 Suicide Bomber, 1 Suicide Car Bomb, 2 IEDs, 3 Sticky Bombs,
3 Shootings
Outer East: 2 – 1 Shooting, 1 IED
North: 9 – 1 Kidnapping, 1 Shooting/Kidnapping, 1 Sticky Bomb, 1 Shooting, 1 Suicide Bomber, 5 IEDs
Outer North: 11 – 1 Shooting, 3 Suicide Car Bombs, 4 Shootings, 6 IEDs, 6 Suicide Bombers
South: 9 – 1 Car Bomb Dismantled, 1 Car Bomb, 1 Stabbing, 1 Mortar, 2 Sticky Bombs, 3 IEDs
Outer South: 12 – 1 Car Bomb, 11 IEDs
West: 1 – 1 IED
Outer West: 6 – 1 Sticky Bomb, 4 IEDs, 9 Suicide Bombers Killed
Unknown: 1 – 1 Mortar

Violence in Ninewa dropped apparently because the Makhmour offensive ground to a halt. When it started IS launched its usual wave of counterattacks. From May 15-21 the volunteers organized by ex-Governor Atheel Nujafi made their second foray trying to clear a town near Bashiqa with Turkey support but were turned back. IS also launched two major attacks upon the Kurdish positions. 75 people were also reported executed by the militants in Mosul.

In Diyala, Kirkuk, and Salahaddin violence either declined or remained the same. IS has picked up its operations in Diyala lately and a car bombing was avoided when it was discovered before it could go off. In Kirkuk there were only four incidents reported during the week, as the Islamists had given up with their counter attacks after the town of Bashir was freed at the start of the month. Finally, Salahaddin has been very quiet for weeks now.

There were 8 car bombs during the week, another sign of IS’s spring campaign. There were six in Baghdad and 1 in Anbar. Another 17 were reported destroyed, but those figures are usually exaggerated. Altogether the bombs took the lives of 69 people and wounded another 155, almost all of which were in the capital.

Violence In Iraq 2015-16
Date
Incidents
Dead
Wounded
JAN
911
2,656
3,032 + 150
FEB
730
2,345
2,366
MAR
820
2,665
2,529
APR
751
2,753
2,621
MAY
674
2,565 + 1,499
1,952 + 646
JUN
708
2,153 + 405
2,174
JUL
688
2,716
3,198 + 4,024
AUG
684
2,440 + 760
1,777
SEP
649
1,731
1,668 + 3,003
OCT
589
1,144
1,555
NOV
530
1,174
1,455 + 124 + 1,322
DEC
553
1,155
1,252 + 5,920
Jan 1-7
150
808
421
Jan 8-14
140
436
417
Jan 15-21
135
275
227
Jan 22-28
132
392
322
Jan 29-31
41
81
334
JAN
598
2,052
1,721
Feb 1-7
146
575
313
Feb 8-14
119
146
323
Feb 15-21
130
225
239
Feb 22-29
153
371
690
FEB
549
1,281
1,566
Mar 1-7
183
321
478
Mar 8-14
168
408
415
Mar 15-21
130
349
409
Mar 22-28
135
213
420
Mar 29-31
49
172
121
MAR
665
1,463
1,843
Apr 1-7
144
239
444
Apr 8-14
141
271
391
Apr 15-21
124
436
242
Apr 22-28
160
413
524
Apr 29-30
30
61
121
APR
599
1,420
1,722
May 1-7
160
325
420
May 8-14
141
311
674
May 15-21
121
349
604

Security By Province May 15-21, 2016
Province
Incidents
Anbar
16 Incidents
33 Killed: 1 Iranian Basij, 5 ISF, 27 Civilians
92 Wounded: 9 ISF, 83 Civilians
2 Shootings
2 IEDs
2 Car Bombs
2 Mortars
2 Rockets
6 Suicide Bomber Killed
5 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed
6 Car Bombs Destroyed
Babil
2 Incidents
4 IEDs
1 Suicide Bomber Arrested
Baghdad
67 Incidents
197 Killed: 3 Hashd, 4 Sahwa, 23 ISF, 167 Civilians
447 Wounded: 2 Sahwa, 8 Hashd, 51 ISF, 386 Civilians
12 Shootings
34 IEDs
8 Sticky Bombs
8 Suicide Bombers
4 Suicide Car Bombs
2 Car Bombs
2 Mortars
10 Suicide Bombers Killed/Arrested
2 Car Bombs Dismantled
Basra
1 Incident
1 Sticky Bomb
Dhi Qar
1 Incident
1 IED
Diyala
11 Incidents
8 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 ISF, 5 Civilians
9 Wounded: 1 Civilian, 4 Hashd, 4 ISF
4 Shootings
2 IEDs
1 Sticky Bomb
2 Mortars
1 Car Bomb Dismantled
Kirkuk
4 Incidents
1 Killed: 1 Civilian
1 Wounded: 1 ISF
1 Shooting
1 Mortar
Ninewa
11 Incidents
80 Killed: 1 Volunteer, 4 Peshmerga, 75 Civilians
2 Wounded: 2 Peshmerga
6 Shootings
25 IEDs
2 Suicide Bombers
1 Mortar
17 Suicide Bombers Killed
2 Car Bombs Destroyed
Qadisiyah
1 Incident
1 Shooting
Salahaddin
7 Incidents
30 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 ISF, 27 Civilians
53 Wounded: 3 Hashd, 50 Civilians
4 Shootings
1 IED
1 Suicide Bomber

Car Bombs In Iraq May, 2016
Date
Car Bombs
Dead
Wounded
May 1
Samawa x2, Muthanna
Albu Hussein & West of Hit, Anbar – 3 destroyed
38
86
May 2
Sadiya, Baghdad
Hit, Dabiya & Satamiya, Anbar – 4 destroyed
Alas & Ajeel, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed
19
44
May 3
Bashiqa x2 & Tel Skuf, Ninewa
South of Fallujah, Anbar – 1 destroyed
Tel Skuf, Ninewa – 2 destroyed
1
2
May 4
Amiriya Fallujah, Anbar – 8 destroyed
Tel al-Gol, Ninewa – 1 destroyed
Mashak, Salahaddin – 2 destroyed


May 5
Thar Thar, Anbar – 1 destroyed
Bashir, Kirkuk 1 destroyed
Kharaib, Ninewa – 2 destroyed


May 6
Radwaniya, Baghdad
3
5
May 7
Thar Thar, Anbar – 7 destroyed


Totals
7 – 33 Destroyed
61
137
May 8
Salam, Anbar – 3 destroyed


May 9
Baquba, Diyala
Albu Shihab, Anbar – 1 destroyed
16
54
May 10
Thar Thar, Anbar – 1 destroyed


May 11
Jamiya, Kadhimiya, Sadr City, Baghdad
Jeraishi, Anbar – 2 destroyed
103
170
May 12
Jeraishi, Anbar
Albu Aetha, Albu Diab, Albu Faraj, Albu Veab, Anbar – 19 destroyed
Baiji, Salahaddin – 1 destroyed
17

May 13
Albu Aetha, Dwylih, Garma, Anbar – 10 destroyed


May 14
Albu Hayat, Anbar
Albu Aetha & Barwana, Anbar – 2 destroyed
2
6
Totals
6 – 39 Destroyed
138
230
May 15
Latifiya & Taji x3, Baghdad
Baghdadi, Anbar – 2 destroyed
21
56
May 16
Rutba, Anbar – 3 destroyed
Khalis, Diyala – 1 destroyed


May 17
Rutba, Anbar
Rasheed & Sadr City, Baghdad
Barwana, Anbar – 3 destroyed
Amil & Zafaraniya, Baghdad – 2 destroyed
47
99
May 18
Aski Mosul, Ninewa – 3 destroyed


May 19
?, Anbar – 3 destroyed


May 20
Southeast of Fallujah, Anbar
1

May 21



Totals
8 – 17 Destroyed
69
155

SOURCES

Adel, Loaa, "Iraqi army retakes 15 villages from ISIS grip west of Anbar," Iraqi News, 5/18/16
- "Security forces control Akashat area and cut off ISIS supply lines toward Qaim," Iraqi News, 5/19/16

Associated Press, "ISIS Attack and Bombings Leave 29 Dead in and Around Baghdad," 5/15/16

BBC, “Fallujah assault: Iraq PM announces beginning of military operation,” 5/22/16
- "Iraq conflict: IS suicide bombers hit Tai gas plant," 5/15/16
- "IS conflict: Iraq forces retake remote western town of Rutba," 5/18/16

eKurd, "Iraqi Kurdistan News in brief - May 18, 2016," 5/18/16

Al Maalomah, "31 martyrs and 74 wounded, the outcome of the criminal bombing in Sadr City," 5/17/16
- "Deputy governor of Anbar announces the launch of a campaign of raids after outbreaks near Amiriyah Fallujah," 5/15/16
- "Dismantled car bomb loaded with TNT in Khalis," 5/16/16
- "Dismantling of a car bomb south Baghdad," 5/17/16
- "Engineers dismantled a car bomb west Baghdad," 5/17/16
- "Foiled two suicide car bombs on security checkpoint west Anbar," 5/15/16
- "Four thousand fighters of the popular crowd arrive in Fallujah district," 5/18/16
- "The killing of five suicide bombers and three car bombs in western Anbar," 5/19/16

Al Mada, "Killing 15 Daash militants and the destruction of three car bombs in western Anbar, 5/16/16

Mamoun, Abdelhak, "9 security members killed, wounded in battles of Rutba District," Iraqi News, 5/17/16
- "24 dead, wounded in Taji Gas Plant bombing north of Baghdad," Iraqi News, 5/15/16
- "Security forces liberate 2 areas in western Heet District, dozens of ISIS militants killed," Iraqi News, 5/17/16
- "Security forces liberate 4 villages west of Ramadi, 200 bombs dismantled," Iraqi News, 5/18/16
- "Security forces liberate area in Baghdadi, 7 ISIS members killed west of Ramadi," Iraqi News, 5/16/16
- "Security forces start cleansing borderline between Iraq, Syria and Jordan," Iraqi News, 5/19/16
- "Security forces to start liberation operation of Heet Island," Iraqi News, 5/15/16

NBC News, "Baghdad Attacks: Wave of Bombings Kills 76, Wounds 110," 5/17/16

New Sabah, "Security forces are up to the gate of Fallujah and liberated 160 Kilo," 5/16/16
- "Security forces free Trebil in preparation for the opening of the Baghdad-Amman way," 5/20/16
- "Security forces stormed the center of Rutba from four axes and the liberation of many villages," 5/17/16

NINA, "Security Forces Liberate Rub'I Area, North Of Baghdadi," 5/15/16

Rudaw, "Iraqi forces launch operation to liberate Anbar town from ISIS," 5/16/16
- "Peshmerga foil ISIS suicide bombers near Mosul; 11 militants killed," 5/18/16

Salaheddin, Sinan, "Islamic State attack and bombings leave 29 dead across Iraq," Associated Press, 5/15/16
- "Wave of Bombings Hits Baghdad Shiite Areas, Killing 69," Associated Press, 5/17/16

Sarhan, Amre, "Iraqi security forces free 3 villages west of al-Baghdadi vicinity, Anbar," Iraqi News, 5/15/16
- "Security forces free Ameriya village northeast of Bruwana," Iraqi News, 5/16/16
- "Security forces liberate 4 villages northwest of al-Baghdadi vicinity," 5/18/16

Sotaliraq, "National Crowd fails in its first test," 5/19/16

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