Iraq Security Weekly roundup

  Islamist militants led by the Islamic State (IS) continue to battle with the federal and Kurdish security forces in several parts of the central and northern region.

Violence remains particularly concentrated in urban parts of Anbar, Salah ad-Din, Ninawa, western Diyala, south-western Ta'mim and northern Babil provinces. Terrorist attacks also continue to take place throughout Baghdad.

Air strikes continue to target militant positions in sparsely populated areas in the west of Anbar and Ninawa provinces near the border with Syria.

Last week saw a handful of attacks in the south of the country, including what appears to have been sectarian killings at a Sunni mosque in Basrah, as well as two small bombings in the city of Najaf, a major centre for the Shi'ah community. IS militants continue to try and provoke a backlash from the Shi'ah community by attacking religious interests.

A total of 34 non-suicide bomb attacks left 30 people dead and 111 injured countrywide. As Ramadan drew to a close three additional suicide bombings left 101 people dead and 53 injured.

Small arms attacks left eight people dead and eight injured, although it is likely that many more members of the security forces were shot during clashes with militants. The reporting climate is very poor amid the violence which makes it difficult to cross reference and verify all reports.

Indirect fire incidents (rockets, mortars and military artillery shelling) left 46 people dead and 67 injured.

At least eight people were reportedly abducted. Some are likely to be murdered rather than held for a ransom. At least 41 bodies were also recovered by the authorities in different parts of the central region.

As the fighting rages on, the heavily divided parliament managed to appoint a new president. The Kurd Fouad Massoum faces a very difficult challenge in trying to help form a unity government in Baghdad. With Nuri al-Maliki intent on retaining his position as prime minister, with numerous Sunni and Kurdish politicians staunchly opposed to his candidacy, the government-formation process will remain very slow, which will hinder any efforts at resolving the current violence in the country.

Amid the protracted fighting AKE affirmed the security risk rating for Iraq last week at 45 (Highly Dangerous Business Environment). AKE also affirmed the security risk rating for KRG territory at 19 (Elevated Risk). 

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Source: AKE GROUP.