Iraq in Crisis, Iraq Security weekly report

Total number of violent incidents recorded last week: 557 (slight decrease from previous week) Average weekly number of violent incidents during previous years: 98 (2013) and 57 (2012) Total fatalities last week (not including militants): approx. 314 (increase from previous week) Average weekly fatalities during previous years: 140 (2013 and 60 (2012) Total injured last week (not including militants): 352 Violence remains concentrated in urban parts of Anbar, Salah ad-Din, Diyala, Ninawa, Babil and Ta'mim province, as well as along the Syrian border. Baghdad and Kirkuk also continue to suffer sporadic terrorist attacks as the terrorists will want to maintain pressure on the federal and Kurdish authorities. The southern region and northern Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) territory remain relatively quiet but they are nonetheless still at risk of terrorist violence. With support, now from Israel, for an independent Kurdish state, the borders of Iraq appear increasingly fragile, but any re-drawing of the map is unlikely to be easy, straightforward or peaceful. Last week a total of 21 non-suicide bomb attacks left 10 people dead and 21 injured countrywide. Four additional suicide bombings left 40 people dead and 116 injured, a rise from recent weeks. Suicide bombings may become particularly common for the duration of Ramadan due to last until around 28 July. Small arms attacks left 42 people dead and 57 injured, including members of the security forces shot during clashes with militants. Indirect fire incidents (rockets, mortars and military artillery shelling) left 58 people dead and 158 injured (a notable rise). Militants appear to be using the tactic to target military facilities and intimidate populations in settlements which have not fallen under their control. --------------- Source: AKE