Weekly Security Update

Southern Iraq (South Central and South East Regions)

Activity in the South Central Region remains relatively subdued, with only a slight increase in reported activity this week; a total of seven incidents compared to four in the previous period.  This weeks total is still below the 2012 weekly average of nine.  There were six reported IED incidents across the region, including a VBIED in Hurfiya in northern Wasit and a UVIED in Asriya village in northern Babil that reportedly killed six and injured thirteen others. An ‘Awakening movement’’ commander and his uncle were killed in a SAF attack in Babil, and a kidnap victim was freed just hours after being abducted in Diwaniya. This week’s continued low levels of incidents likely reflect the ongoing ISF operations across the region, in addition to increased security measures being adopted as the end of Ramadan approaches.

The South East Region witnessed a total of five incidents this week, compared with four in the previous period; still below the 2012 weekly average of seven. This reflects the relatively calm period being experienced across the entire south of Iraq. All but one of the reported incidents occurred in Basra province. Three SAF incidents related to family/tribal disputes were reported, the first on 7 August, when a gun battle ensued in Hartha, between the Qaramsha and the Karaksha tribes over the sale of a property; a dispute that began in 2011. On 9 August, a family dispute resulted in a woman being shot dead, and her father injured and on 11 August, a man was shot twice in his leg at his house in the area of Abu Sukhair. A Canadian citizen of Iraqi origin who was visiting Iraq to sell property, was kidnapped by his nephew for financial gain.  The man was quickly released and his nephew arrested.  A female was also beheaded in the Qibla area of Basra city, in what appears to have been an honour killing and in Nasiriyah a child was freed just hours after being kidnapped. ISF in Nasiriyah also foiled a smuggling operation with nine individuals being arrested in possession of 3,432 litres of stolen oil.