Iraq Security weekly roundup, week 4

 Islamic State (IS) militants continue to fight the federal and Kurdish security forces in several parts of the central and northern region.

Last week saw a notable rise in violence in Ta'mim province and a concurrent decline in violence in the neighbouring province of Salah ad-Din, with IS militants evidently turning their attention towards the Kurdish forces protecting the oil-rich and culturally sensitive city of Kirkuk.

Anbar province also saw very heavy fighting, as did the outskirts of Mosul, Baghdad and even western Diyala province, despite recent military gains reported from the area.

The southern region was relatively quiet.

Countrywide a total of 24 non-suicide bomb attacks left 69 people dead and 42 injured. Six additional suicide bombings left 24 people dead and 41 injured. This constitutes a rise in bomb-related casualties over the past week.

Indirect fire incidents (rockets, mortars and military artillery shelling) left 47 people dead and 93 injured – a very high figure.

Small arms attacks left 19 people dead and 41 injured, including members of the security forces shot during clashes with militants.

At least 193 people were publicly executed by militants or murdered only to have their bodies later recovered by the authorities – an extremely high figure.

*The poor reporting climate makes it very difficult to verify the full extent of current casualties and violence.

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Source: AKE

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.

The Iraqi government warned the UN that the militants had seized a chemical weapons facility north-west of Baghdad as well as nuclear material in Mosul, although various commentators reported that the militants would be unable to weaponise the material to any major extent and that it did not pose a major concern – at least not in comparison to the overall capabilities and threat posed by the IS in its existing form.

Amid the ongoing crisis the Iraqi parliament convened on 13 July but failed to appoint key members of government and subsequently adjourned within minutes of meeting. The next session will take place on 15 July.

The scope for cross-party agreement will remain low, with sharply deteriorating relations between Nuri al-Maliki and his allies and the Kurdish regional authorities in the north. Last week Nuri al-Maliki accused Erbil of harbouring terrorists while the Kurdish authorities seized control of two major oilfields near Kirkuk. While they aim to protect the assets the move is nonetheless provocative and will harm relations with the federal authorities.

With political relations so frayed the authorities will continue to seek a military solution to the insurgency in the central and northern provinces but without extensive negotiations, inclusion of key community figures and meaningful efforts to form an inclusive government the military solution will not pacify or stabilise the country.

As the fighting continues concerns have been raised over the stability of routes connecting Baghdad with the south of the country via Babil province. Roads around Jurf as-Sakhr are likely to be a significant battleground, the outcome of which will affect various aspects of life in the capital – including any evacuation plans which organisations in the city currently have in place.

Last week a total of 36 non-suicide bomb attacks left 12 people dead and 41 injured. Three additional suicide bombings left 36 people dead and 38 injured.

Small arms attacks left 38 people dead and 44 injured, including members of the security forces shot during clashes with militants. Indirect fire incidents (rockets, mortars and military artillery shelling) left 33 people dead and 87 injured.

At least 66 people were reportedly murdered, with their bodies found abandoned. Thirteen people were also reportedly abducted in the centre of the country.

Source:AKE

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