Weekly Security Update

Southern Iraq (South Central and South East Regions)

The South Central Region reported a total of ten incidents during the period, a decrease on last weeks figure of 15, but still above the 2012 weekly average.  Overall, insurgent activity levels decreased in the South Central Region after the VBIED attacks in the region on 29 November. As is typical for the South Central Region, most incidents occurred in Babil, although there were cache finds and arrests in Qadisiya and Wasit.  The reduced activity levels are likely due to the decreased volume of Shia pilgrim traffic travelling through the region, particularly through the northern areas of Babil Province.  Mussayib remains the main area of insurgent activity.  This week an improvised rocket launcher (IRL) was aimed towards the military neighbourhood in Mussayib, then five days later a number of mortar rounds were fired into the town, resulting in the injury of seven family members. In addition to these events, a Sahwa checkpoint was attacked injuring two, and an IED was also disarmed on a bridge in the town.  ISF conducted a successful operation in Suwayra, Wasit Province which resulted in the detention of nine individuals for terrorism offences.  Unusually there were several incidents in Jableh, Babil Province, including an IED detonation outside the office of the local Mayor, and the find of a large cache of mortars and rockets. 

The South East Region reported seven incidents during the period, an increase on last week’s figure of three and slightly less than the 2012 weekly average. While activity increased slightly in the South East Region, violent incidents were still low-level and mainly related to family or tribal disagreements.  Incident levels have been much lower since the beginning of Muharram.  In Basra, there were a number of incidents, largely related to family, tribal or criminal disputes, with the deadliest incident being the shooting of three men at a house in Basra city. The only other incident was in Tib in Maysan Province where ISF discovered a cache containing a number of RPG warheads, grenades and rockets.