Weekly Security Update 21-27 Jan 2014

North

The concentration of ISF resources in Anbar as well as central governorates has indeed installed a security vacuum in northern regions, with militants seemingly attempting to launch assaults in areas outside government control.

Nineveh continued to attract most of the violence, with series of IEDs and small arms attacks causing multiple casualties amongst civilians and police forces. Although VBIEDs were largely avoided following sequences witnessed in the previous reporting period, car bombs detonated across Salahuddin and Kirkuk provinces.

On 25 January, two VBIEDs detonated simultaneously in Tuz, killing three civilians and injuring five others. On 26 January, three car bombs hit Kirkuk, causing scores of casualties. Increased levels of militant activity were also recorded in Diyala, with at least two VBIEDs cleared by security forces.

As the Anbar crisis continues to distract government forces, militants are expected to take advantage of the situation and hit northern governorates with further attacks. Meanwhile, Kurdish provinces remained free from violence.

Central

In contrast with last week, when Baghdad witnessed its highest number of VBIED attacks since September 2013, only four car bombs detonated in northern and western districts of the capital. This decrease is more likely to be attributable to the lack of capacity of ISIL militants, rather than to the efficiency of ISF forces, as multiple series of IEDs continued to hit Baghdad and caused scores of fatalities.

On 23 January, a VBIED killed a soldier in Taji district. On 25 January, a car bomb exploded in western Baghdad and injured 10 civilians, whilst two additional VBIEDs hit northern districts on 26 January. Meanwhile, Anbar province continued to witness large ISF operations aimed at protecting routes into Baghdad and isolate militants inside Fallujah and Ramadi.