Iraq Weekly Roundup Week# 23

Levels of violence fell in Iraq last week but conditions remain tense and the situation could escalate quickly once again. The coming week could see a rise in violence, particularly in the centre of the country.

Sectarian tensions, anti-government protests, terrorist attacks and divisions between the Kurdish and federal authorities remain intense.

Last week violent incidents were concentrated around Anbar, Baghdad and Diyala provinces, as well as through Salah ad-Din province and in the city of Mosul further north. These areas will likely remain the main flashpoint over the coming weeks and months. Conditions were quiet in the south although notable incidents relating to violence and crime took place in the region nonetheless.

At least 76 people were killed and 220 injured in nationwide incidents, which is a fall from recent weeks, but still a relatively high figure when compared to recent years.

A total of 36 bomb attacks left 30 people dead and 130 injured. Three additional suicide bombings left 19 people dead and 84 injured.

Although there was a decline in the number of small arms attacks they still left 26 people dead and six injured.

___________________________________
Source: AKE Group. 

Iraq Security Weekly Roundup, week #12

Levels of violence rose considerably in Iraq last week, making it the second-worst week for violence so far this year.

At least 125 people were killed and 302 injured in nationwide incidents, the worst casualty figures since a spate of co-ordinated terrorist attacks in September.

At least 49 non-suicide bomb attacks left 82 people dead and 253 injured – a very high figure for the country.

Three additional suicide bombings left 11 people dead and 33 injured. There has been a rise in suicide attacks over recent weeks although most appear to have inflicted a relatively small number of casualties.

Small arms attacks left 32 people dead and 14 injured, a relatively high figure. Many took place in the capital where militants appear to have resumed targeted assassinations against civic employees and senior members of the security forces. Officials associated with the April provincial elections have also been singled out countrywide.

Otherwise, indirect fire attacks (rockets and mortars) left three people injured. Two people were also found stabbed to death in Anbar and Wassit provinces.

Violence was concentrated in Baghdad, which experienced more attacks than any other week since the end of 2011. Mosul was also violent, but more customarily so. Otherwise incidents were concentrated in the central region, predominantly in districts adjacent to the capital.