Summary
After four weeks of declining violence, the number of attacks rose once again in Iraq last week. At least 53 people were killed and 245 injured in nationwide incidents, which is moderately high, albeit not as high as the figures of over 100 recorded at the beginning of the year.
Tactics
A rise in the total number of bomb attacks left 39 people dead and 242 injured, particularly in Baghdad and the central provinces. A steady number of small arms fire attacks left 14 people dead and three injured, notably in the capital. There were no kidnappings or indirect fire attacks (rockets and mortars) recorded.
Central Violence
The central region saw the majority of attacks, especially around Ba’qubah and Baghdad. Mosul in the north has been unusually quiet for at least two weeks, raising concerns that militants in the area have been looking elsewhere to conduct attacks. The spate of bombings which took place in Iraq last week could indicate that they have turned their attention to the centre of the country, although there are also ongoing fears that some of the militants have also headed across the border into neighbouring Syria.
Crossing the Border
In Anbar province last week security force patrols and operations were stepped up in the province along the border with Syria amid fears of criminal and militant infiltration. However, while the Iraqi security forces are concerned about militants crossing from Syria into Iraq, it is more likely that greater numbers are going in the opposite direction.
There is mounting evidence that groups such as al-Qaeda are directing their efforts towards the collapsing regime on Iraq’s doorstep in the hope of being able to capitalise on the cover that the lawlessness in the country will afford them.
After four weeks of declining violence, the number of attacks rose once again in Iraq last week. At least 53 people were killed and 245 injured in nationwide incidents, which is moderately high, albeit not as high as the figures of over 100 recorded at the beginning of the year.
Tactics
A rise in the total number of bomb attacks left 39 people dead and 242 injured, particularly in Baghdad and the central provinces. A steady number of small arms fire attacks left 14 people dead and three injured, notably in the capital. There were no kidnappings or indirect fire attacks (rockets and mortars) recorded.
Central Violence
The central region saw the majority of attacks, especially around Ba’qubah and Baghdad. Mosul in the north has been unusually quiet for at least two weeks, raising concerns that militants in the area have been looking elsewhere to conduct attacks. The spate of bombings which took place in Iraq last week could indicate that they have turned their attention to the centre of the country, although there are also ongoing fears that some of the militants have also headed across the border into neighbouring Syria.
Crossing the Border
In Anbar province last week security force patrols and operations were stepped up in the province along the border with Syria amid fears of criminal and militant infiltration. However, while the Iraqi security forces are concerned about militants crossing from Syria into Iraq, it is more likely that greater numbers are going in the opposite direction.
There is mounting evidence that groups such as al-Qaeda are directing their efforts towards the collapsing regime on Iraq’s doorstep in the hope of being able to capitalise on the cover that the lawlessness in the country will afford them.
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Source: AKE Group
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