Northern Iraq (North and North Central Regions – including the KRG)
The Northern Region reported a total of 32 incidents during the period, a decrease on last week’s figure of 40, but still above the current weekly average of 27. Mosul continues to be the main focus of activity within the North Region, although incidents were also recorded in western Ninawa near the Syrian border. Incident types were typical for Mosul, with the majority being small arms fire and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. As is usual the primary target-set included static Iraqi Security Force (ISF) locations and personnel, although a number of civilians were also targeted. Of particular note was an IED attack on 21 January, against a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official in south Mosul. The western areas of Ninawa Province saw a number of incidents in the early part of the week; including, IED detonations against ISF patrols in the border town of Rabia and the town of Mahalabya, as well as two fatal shooting incidents in Sinjar District (against a policeman in Sinjar and two Yazidi civilians in Qahtaniya). On 21 January, a sophisticated armed attack against a checkpoint in Baaj killed one Iraqi Army officer and injured eight soldiers.
The North Central Region reported 67 incidents this week, a decrease from last week’s figure of 93 but still above the current weekly average of 40. Over the previous four weeks the region has seen consistently high levels of violence, including representing some of the highest figures this year. Violence was spread broadly throughout three areas of the region this week, the Tigris River Valley (TRV), the Diyala River Valley (DRV) and the disputed territories between Federal Iraq and the KRG. The TRV saw violence focused around the population centres of Samarra, Tikrit and Shirqat; the DRV saw activity around Baquba and Khalis as well as further upriver in the settlements of Wajihiya, Jalula and Abu Sayda; while Tuz Khormato experienced the majority of this week’s violence in the disputed territories. Kirkuk City on the other hand, having been particularly busy last week, reported only two violent incidents this week.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) – No significant incidents were reported during the period in the provinces that comprise the KRG (Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah).
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