Weekly Security Update

Central Iraq (Baghdad and Anbar)

Baghdad reported 20 incidents this week, some way below the current weekly average for 2012 of 30 and the lowest weekly count since mid June.  Most of the attacks recorded in Baghdad during the reporting period occurred during the Eid al-Adha celebrations and predominantly targeted Shia Muslims.  The concentration of attacks was geographically varied throughout both the city and outlying areas, mainly around Taji, Abu Ghraib, Yousifiyah and Arab Jabour.  Incidents types were typical for the region including four SAF, four close-quarter attacks (CQA), two IEDs and two UVIEDs detonations. The target set of this week was again evenly split between ISF and civilians. In addition, Sahwa (Awakening Council) leaders were targeted in two separate attacks, one involved gunmen wearing police uniforms assassinating the victim in his home.  These attacks occur regularly and are part of a program of attacks targeting ISF and security partners, usually perpetrated by Sunni insurgents, to undermine the government and harm perceptions of security.  Other targets included the female owner of a hair salon in Huriyah and a liquor store in Abu Ghraib, both of which are likely to have been orchestrated by Sunni ‘conservative’ insurgents.

Anbar reported a total of 13 incidents during the reporting period, an increase in last weeks figure of seven and above the weekly average for 2012 of eleven.  Activity was not concentrated on the two main population centres of Ramadi and Fallujah as is the norm, with the towns of Haditha and Hit along the Euphrates north-west of Ramadi experiencing increased activity levels.  The most significant attack in the region being the assassination of Lateef al-Obaidi, a tribal Sheikh and Iraqiyya Slate official, outside his home in Haditha.  The majority of other incidents involved IEDs and UVIEDs, although CQA and SAF featured also. While attacks remained predominantly directed against ISF and Iraqi government officials, civilians were also targeted on several occasions.  To the west of the province, a joint ISF patrol again received small arms fire from the Syrian side of the border in the vicinity of al Qa’im.