Southern Iraq (South Central and South East Regions)
Activity levels in the South Central Region increased during the reporting period, with a total of 12 incidents, slightly above the weekly 2012 average of nine. This increase follows an extended period of largely improved security in the region, which has been attributed to the efforts of Babil police chief Major General Sabah Fatlawi, who assumed command in July.Northern Babil- particularly the area known as the “triangle of death” between Jabala, Iskandariya and Musayab - has historically been the most active area in the South Central Region, and is where most of this week’s incidents occurred. More pertinent than the high figures is the concentration of quality attacks in this area, with two car-bombs and two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) occurring in Iskandariya (with the IEDs killing eleven, most of whom were ISF). In addition to this there was a car-bomb in Hamza Ghrabi south of Hilla, on 16 September, which killed three and wounded a further ten.
A total of eight incidents were reported in the South East Region during the reporting period, which is on par with the 2012 weekly average of seven. Aside from an IED incident in Nasiriyah - which caused no fatalities - most reporting focused on Basra Province. However, the majority of these incidents were criminal or communal in nature, involving the use of small arms fire (SAF), the unusual report of a Molotov Cocktail, and a single ‘sound-bomb’ detonating outside the house of a policeman in Basra City. Intimidation attacks such as this are a long term feature of reporting from Basra Province and are thought to relate to criminal activity or personal disputes. They are very seldom fatal and do not at present reflect a threat to the stability of the province. Incidents this week in the South East Region included two explosive attacks, three murders and two shooting incidents.
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