AKnews reports that Chinese company Huawei has won the contract to extend landline phone services to Najaf province,

Mohammed Ayed al-Moussawi, chairman of the provincial council’s services commission, said the service will be world-class and the project will cost $40 million [48 billion Iraqi dinars].

The Ministry of Communications announced in January that two million landlines would be extended north during next March after the import of sophisticated next generation network (NGN) ground switches. NGN technology enables multiple uses of a network’s hardware, allowing for internet alongside telephone calls.

“The network will provide citizens with the best telephone services, which also include Internet services, cable television, and fax,” said al-Moussawi.

The northern neighborhoods at the center of Najaf have been suffering a shortage of landline telephone services since the eighties, exacerbated by the 2003 war.

The Iraqi Communications Ministry also announced it plans to reduce phone bills by 80%; citizens had reduced use of landline phones because of the high cost of calls.

(Source: AKnews)

There is a case of ‘serious fraud’ in a project intended for Najaf City, the Capital of Islamic Culture in 2012, an Iraqi MP has warned.

Hussein Sharifi, a member of Tourism and Archeology Committee in parliament, told AKnews the case involved is the construction of a three-floor building for which 100 billion Iraqi dinars (US$85 million) has been allocated while the project requires only  4 billion IQD (US$3.4 million).

‘We do not oppose the project but at the same time we will not allow for corruption and exploiting the project,’ Sharifi said.

The government announced on Wednesday that it is ready to host visitors in Najaf, the capital of Islamic culture for 2012 beginning in March.

(Source: AKnews)

[Picture: Imam Ali Mosque, Najaf]

Levels of violence rose in Iraq over the past week. Conditions are still quieter than July and June but they have been gradually worsening over the course of September. Last week saw a series of brutal attacks, mainly in the central region, affecting Baghdad and the provinces of Anbar and Babil. Mosul in the north of the country also experienced a series of bombings and shootings. Two kidnap incidents have also been reported in the country over the past 24 hours, following a lull in abductions recorded since the middle of August. AKE’s quarterly kidnap brief will be issued at the beginning of October. If you would like to sign up to receive a copy please enter your details here.

North
Shelling of the border areas by the Turkish and Iranian military continues in Kurdistan, with at least one civilian injured during operations last week. However, much of the region continues to function largely unaffected and Kurdistan should still be regarded as a stable investment climate. The neighbouring province of Ta’mim which holds the frequently hostile city of Kirkuk was relatively quiet. Instead, the more populous city of Mosul in nearby Ninawa province experienced the lion’s share of the region’s hostilities.

Weekly Attacks in Iraq - the last 6 months

Centre
A rise in the number of suicide attacks in the centre of the country has stoked concerns that radical Islamists are regrouping and increasing their efforts against civilians and the Iraqi security forces. A warning was issued by al-Qaeda in Iraq during Ramadan that it was ready to initiate many suicide bombings and the latest spree would indicate that it is making good on its promise.  The country has seen an average of one suicide attack per week in 2011, with at least 500 people killed and hundreds more injured by the tactic this year.

As previously outlined in Iraq Business News, gunmen attacked a minibus travelling from the predominantly Shi’ah city of Karbala to a Shi’ah shrine in Syria on 12 September. It was carrying a group of Shi’ah pilgrims when it was stopped, close to the junction town of Nukhayb in the sparsely populated but predominantly Sunni district of Rutbah. At least 22 of the male passengers were led away and then shot dead. Security measures have been heightened in the central provinces in the aftermath of the attack but the implemented procedures are not exhaustive and further attacks should be expected.

Shi’ah religious worshippers may be targeted over the coming days as many will be commemorating the anniversary of the death of Imam Sadiq, a revered holy figure. As previously reported, religious pilgrimages remain an attractive target for terrorists. The date falls on 25 Shawwal (23 September) and could see a rise in attacks on civilians gathered around mosques or travelling to shrines such as Karbala or Najaf. As well as the Nukhayb killings there has been at least one attack believed to have been targeting Shi’ah pilgrims over the past week. Caution is therefore recommended.

South
The southern provinces remained very quiet last week with no major incidents reported. Personnel still need to remain on guard, but conditions remain far more stable than the central provinces. Sporadic terrorist attacks may still occur, but the currently stable security environment bodes well for the numerous businesses looking to work in the region.

John Drake is a senior risk consultant with AKE, a British private security firm working in Iraq from before 2003. Further details on the company can be found here while AKE’s intelligence and political risk website Global IntAKE can be accessed here.

You can obtain a free trial of AKE’s intelligence reports here.
You can also follow John Drake on twitter here.

The current world focus is on Libya, with AKE now ranking Tripoli as being much more hostile a working environment than Baghdad. However, conditions are still fluid and unstable in Iraq, and levels of violence have crept up in the country for the third consecutive week. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds injured in nationwide attacks last week, making it the worst reported since mid-June. Many of the casualties were caught up in a spate of bombings that swept the country on 15 August, outlined in last week’s report.

Kurdistan Operations

In Kurdistan the Turkish military responded to a recent terrorist attack by the PKK by launching a series of assaults and air raids against suspected terrorist locations in the Qandil Mountains. There have been at least seven civilian fatalities reported and localised agricultural damage, but the reporting climate remains poor. The majority of personnel in Kurdistan will remain unaffectedfrom a safety perspective, with the operations remaining limited to isolated mountainous areas. However, there may be sporadic demonstrations in some urban areas in response to the ongoing operations.

Weekly Attacks in Iraq - the last 6 months

Shootings

A rise in the number of small arms attacks in Ninawa and Ta’mim provinces left several people dead and injured last week. Personnel should note that the recent lull in targeted shootings may now be at an end. More assassinations, particularly against ministry employees and members of the security forces should be anticipated as a result.

Central Violence

While Diyala province saw the largest number of attacks last week, it was Wassit province which suffered the most casualties, with a double bombing on 15 August in central Kut killing many. In the days following the attack security measures were raised in the province, particularly around government buildings and trading areas in Kut where the authorities are anticipating further possible terrorist attacks. Conditions are still relatively quiet in Baghdad, but the situation has still gradually worsened over the course of Ramadan and the number of attacks could rise further in September.

Southern Activity

Conditions worsened slightly in the southern region over the past week, with Najaf province still reeling from the double suicide bombing on 15 August. US military patrols continue to be targeted in roadside blasts while militants continue to target military bases with indirect fire (rockets and mortars). An Iraqi naval officer was also reportedly kidnapped from the Basrah area on 22 August. Kidnap for ransom remains a major problem in Iraq, although the frequency of abductions has declined in the south over the past two years. AKE produces a free quarterly kidnap brief which you can sign up for here.

Weekly Attacks in Southern Iraq - 2010 to Present

In general, personnel and companies interested in working in the south of Iraq for the long term should bear in mind that conditions have worsened – albeit only slightly and gradually, since the beginning of 2010 in the region. The accompanying graph shows that the weekly number of attacks continues to fluctuate, but that overall the number of incidents has been slowly picking up over the past year and three quarters.

John Drake is a senior risk consultant with AKE, a British private security firm working in Iraq from before 2003. Further details on the company can be found here while you can obtain a free trial of AKE’s intelligence reports here.

AKE will be exhibiting at Offshore Europe in Aberdeen between 6 – 8 September. Please visit us at stand 5C110 and sign up for our updates here.

Najaf Investment Commission announced on Tuesday that it has granted two investment licenses worth a total of $56 million.

According to AKnews, one is to build a residential complex in Manathira district, and the other is to build a tourist hotel in Najaf city.

Wafi al-Bahhash, the head of the commission, told AKnews that the residential complex will be built 17 Km south of Najaf and includes 795 residential houses that will be worth $51 million.

“The complex also includes service and entertainment facilities, and the license was granted to Dar Engineering Company,” he said.

“The second license was granted to an Iraqi investor to build a four story tourist hotel that will cost $5 million.”

(Source: AKnews)

Up until Monday, the past week was turning into one of the quietest so far this year, but then a series of mass casualty attacks swept the country, leaving dozens of people dead and injured. Provincial government buildings and security force installations and patrols were the most common targets of the attacks, although civilians were caught up in many of the blasts. The most devastating attack took place in Kut, where two bombs in a central commercial area left over 30 people dead and over 60 injured. While several of the other attacks involved suicide bombers, they did not inflict nearly as many fatalities.

Distribution of Violence

Incidents were scattered countrywide, and while many took place in Baghdad and the central provinces, there were also several incidents in the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul, and even some rare attacks in the southern holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, which are normally very well patrolled. Evidently terrorists still have the opportunity to overcome the security measures being maintained by the Iraqi authorities.

Distribution of Monday's Violence - AKE Intelligence

Political Implications

The attacks may re-invigorate the debate as to whether or not the US military should stay beyond the Status Of Forces Agreement (SOFA) deadline on 31 December. However, it would be extremely difficult for any Iraqi politician to invite the US to maintain its troop presence on Iraqi soil beyond the date. It is likely that the majority of American troops will have left the country by the end of the year, although some may stay behind to protect specific US assets and to provide support to the Iraqi security forces in a training and advisory role.

Countrywide Trends

Apart from the mass casualty attacks of 15 August the month of Ramadan has remained relatively quiet. This is now a familiar pattern in the country, where the holy month has seen a decline in militant activity over recent years.

Kurdistan remains very quiet, with Iranian troops ending their pursuit of Kurdish terrorists – for now at least – in the Qandil Mountains. However, Ankara may resume its cross border attacks following a terrorist attack against troops in the south east of Turkey earlier on Wednesday. If it does, however, the fallout will remain limited to mountainous areas. Settlements, oil fields and areas of business activity will remain largely unaffected.

Weekly Attacks in Iraq - the last 6 months - not including the attacks of Monday

In the centre of the country recent violence has been concentrated in Baghdad, with clusters of incidents around eastern Anbar province, north-western Wassit province and scattered throughout Diyala and Babil provinces. The south of the country has seen very little in the way of violence over recent weeks, although Najaf was caught up in the mass casualty attacks of Monday. A double suicide bombing in the Hayy al-Hussein district of the holy city highlighted the fact that even normally quiet and well patrolled parts of the region are at risk of being targeted.

John Drake is a senior risk consultant with AKE, a British private security firm working in Iraq from before 2003. Further details on the company can be found here while AKE’s intelligence and political risk website Global IntAKE can be accessed here.

You can obtain a free trial of AKE’s intelligence reports here.
You can also follow John Drake on twitter here.

Najaf Provincial Council has made a preliminary agreement with a Chinese company for it to build a power station, the head of the energy committee in Najaf told AKnews.

He said the $79 million [95 billion Iraqi dinars] oil-fired station will have a capacity of 100 megawatts.

According to AKnews, the agreement came after the Chinese National Electricity Company presented an offer to the council whereby the council would pay the costs in instalments over five years.

The new plant could ease Najaf’s electricity shortfall, as the 100MW plant will provide 25% of the province’s power. The company has committed to assume operation and maintenance of the station for three years.

To produce 100MW the station will require 55,000 liters of fuel per day, a quarter of the output of Najaf refinery.

“The station will be built near the refinery for the ease of transporting the fuel,” Bilal said. “The company will complete the project in six months and it is expected to operate next summer”

(Source: AKnews)

The director of construction and planning in Najaf Province announced on Wednesday that a site was allocated in Najaf to build a new international airport which shall be put forward for investment.

Abdul Kareem al-Khawaja told Aswat al-Iraq that the new airport will have two runways specified to international standards..

Commenting on the existing Najaf Airport (pictured), he added it will accomodate domestic flights and neighboring countries only.

Najaf’s Governor Adnal Al-Zarfi disclosed that there are plans to increase the size of Najaf city with new housing complexes as well as industrial and agricultural projects.

Earlier this week, Turkish Airlines announced its first direct flight from Istanbul to Najaf.

(Source: Aswat al-Iraq)