Summary
Levels of violence rose in Iraq over the past week, with dozens of people killed and injured in a series of attacks in Baghdad on 22 December. Meanwhile, the political crisis between senior rival politicians also endures, posing a significant risk to overall national stability and raising the possibility of major internal strife over the course of the coming year.
Stats
In total, at least 105 people were killed and 253 injured in nationwide violence, which was concentrated in the capital, as well as the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul. At least 48 separate bomb attacks left 82 people dead and 228 injured. Small arms fire attacks left 14 people dead and 13 injured. A high number of indirect fire attacks (rockets and mortars) left no casualties and limited damage but they all took place in the north of the country which is noteworthy, given that such tactics are normally more common in the central and southern provinces.
Kidnap Risk
At the same time, the US authorities issued a statement warning of the imminent risk of kidnap posed to American nationals. Evidently kidnap remains a major risk in the country and foreign personnel are advised not to become complacent. Iraqis continue to be abducted on a regular basis. The Iraqi authorities managed to free two kidnap victims in separate incidents in the north and centre of the country last week and dozens more are likely to be taken over the coming months.
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AKE
Levels of violence rose in Iraq over the past week, with dozens of people killed and injured in a series of attacks in Baghdad on 22 December. Meanwhile, the political crisis between senior rival politicians also endures, posing a significant risk to overall national stability and raising the possibility of major internal strife over the course of the coming year.
Stats
In total, at least 105 people were killed and 253 injured in nationwide violence, which was concentrated in the capital, as well as the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul. At least 48 separate bomb attacks left 82 people dead and 228 injured. Small arms fire attacks left 14 people dead and 13 injured. A high number of indirect fire attacks (rockets and mortars) left no casualties and limited damage but they all took place in the north of the country which is noteworthy, given that such tactics are normally more common in the central and southern provinces.
Kidnap Risk
At the same time, the US authorities issued a statement warning of the imminent risk of kidnap posed to American nationals. Evidently kidnap remains a major risk in the country and foreign personnel are advised not to become complacent. Iraqis continue to be abducted on a regular basis. The Iraqi authorities managed to free two kidnap victims in separate incidents in the north and centre of the country last week and dozens more are likely to be taken over the coming months.
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AKE
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