Monday, April 29, 2013

Iraq Weekly Security Roundup, week 16

Levels of violence rose considerably in Iraq last week. At least 231 people were killed and dozens, possibly hundreds more were injured in nationwide incidents.

The security forces opened fire on protesters at a camp in the northern town of Hawijah on 23 April, killing a reported 28 people. This prompted a major backlash by predominantly Sunni anti-government individuals, many of whom took up arms and attacked the police and military.

The violence was most concentrated in the northern province of Ninawa, although there was also a significant escalation in Salah ad-Din province as well as in the east of Anbar province. Ta'mim and Diyala provinces also saw several attacks.

The previous week saw a large number of bombings around the country, which may have prompted the security forces to take a harder line on the protest movement. Last week, however, saw a fall in the number of bombings, with only 24 blasts reported, killing 27 people and injuring 140 (a relatively low figure for Iraq). There were no suicide bombings.

Small arms fire was far more prevalent, with AKE documenting at least 71 fatalities directly attributed to shooting incidents. This is evidently the preferred tactic of individuals taking part in the clashes.


Also, 3 Iraqi Army soldiers been killed by extremist nearby the protests camp in Alanbar city.


The true casualty figure is also likely to be much higher with reporting conditions extremely poor in areas caught up in the violence.



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Source: AKE

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Raises security risk rating for Iraq

 The country is now rated at 38 (Grave Security Concerns), up one point from 37 as a result of a recent increase in violence in the country.

The Iraqi security forces are reported to have killed several people when they opened fire on demonstrators at an anti-government protest in the northern town of Hawijah earlier on 23 April.

This will likely prompt an intensification of anti-government sentiments elsewhere in the country and could lead to more sporadic violence at protests in towns such as Mosul and Fallujah.

Terrorist organisations may also increase their bombing campaigns against government and security force targets in an attempt to win sympathy from the demonstrators.

Bombings should also be expected over the coming few days as the results of the recent provincial elections are due to be announced.

Levels of violence are currently higher than normal in Iraq. At least 108 people were killed and 309 injured in nationwide incidents last week. It saw more attacks than any other week so far this year.


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Source: AKE Group

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Iraq Security weekly roundup week # 15


Levels of violence fell in Iraq last week. At least 55 people were killed and 82 injured in nationwide incidents. However, a series of blasts took place around the country earlier on 15 April and next week's total is likely to be higher.

Last week a total of 25 bomb attacks left 34 people dead and 72 injured. Small arms attacks left 17 people dead and 10 injured. There were no suicide bombings or indirect fire attacks (rockets and mortars) reported.

Incidents were concentrated in the provinces of Anbar and Ninawa, particularly around the cities of Fallujah and Mosul. Diyala and Salah ad-Din provinces also saw several attacks. The Kurdish region in the north and the southern provinces all remained quiet.

AKE has also released figures outlining levels of violence in the country between January and March. Levels of violence rose over the period, with at least 1059 people killed. Ninawa was the most hostile province, experiencing an average of two attacks per day. The oil-rich south and Kurdish-governed provinces saw significantly lower levels of violence.


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Source: AKE