In total at least 26 non-suicide #bomb #attacks left 45 people dead and 125 injured last week in #Iraq. Four additional #suicide bombings left at least 55 people dead and 104 injured.
Small arms attacks left nine people dead and one injured, including members of the #security #forces shot during clashes with #militants. Indirect fire incidents (rockets, mortars and military artillery shelling) left 15 people dead and 24 injured.
Seven people were #kidnapped in separate incidents in the centre and north of the country while the authorities recovered three bodies abandoned in #Baghdad and #Basrah.
#Islamic State (IS) militants seized a number of small towns around #Mosul last week, expanding their sphere of influence into areas uncomfortably close to Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) territory.
The advance also forced numerous civilians from ethnic and religious backgrounds to flee areas such as the predominantly #Yazidi villages of Sinjar district and the predominantly #Christian town of #Qaraqosh. Reports, which are difficult to verify, are also indicating that extensive atrocities are being committed in areas under IS control, specifically against Yazidi and Christian civilians.
In response to the escalation the US approved targeted air strikes against IS militant targets. Bombings began on 8 August around Ninawa province and areas on routes approaching the Kurdish city of Erbil. Humanitarian air drops also took place around Mount Sinjar to help fleeing civilians gathered in the area to escape the militants.
Nonetheless, fighting continued between IS and affiliated fighters and the Iraqi security forces in numerous parts of the central and northern region. Clashes are also likely to continue for the foreseeable future, despite the US air strikes. It will be very difficult to retake major urban areas currently controlled by IS fighters, such as Mosul.
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Source: AKE GROUP
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