Security Update 20 June 2014

By Anne-Laure Barbosa at Constellis Consulting

ISIS related violence in the last 48 hours

Baiji

Iraqi security forces have reportedly recaptured the refinery, after tribal sheiks helped negotiate a rebel withdrawal from the area. ISIS rebels regrouped into the town of Baiji, which they now appear to control completely. The situation remains fluid and reporting largely disrupted in northern areas of Salahuddin province.

Tal Afar

Though rebels claim they have seized most of Tal Afar airport, south of the district, the town remains under government control and the eastern frontline effectively secured by Kurdish Peshmerga forces. Fighting continues in western areas of the district, between Tal Afar and Mosul, with reports of air strikes hitting the area.

Kirkuk

Accounts of fighting were reported in the town of Hawija between Peshmerga forces and ISIS insurgents who control the area, causing several casualties. These clashes follow a Kurdish attempt to move into al-Multaqa, 20km south of Kirkuk.

Samarra

The village of al-Mutasim, 22km to the south-east of Samarra, has reportedly been cleared of ISIS fighters by the Iraqi Army. Following the northern ISIS offensive, ISF forces regrouped in Samarra to block the insurgents’ advance on Baghdad, and launch counter-offensive operations against ISIS positions. Meanwhile, an Iraqi helicopter involuntarily killed a civilian when they fired rockets on the town of Dhuluyiyah, between Samarra and Baqubah. Dhuluyiyah is one of the closest points to Baghdad reached by insurgents.

The village of al-Mutasim, 22km to the south-east of Samarra, has reportedly been cleared of ISIS fighters by the Iraqi Army. Following the northern ISIS offensive, ISF forces regrouped in Samarra to block the insurgents’ advance on Baghdad, and launch counter-offensive operations against ISIS positions. Meanwhile, an Iraqi helicopter involuntarily killed a civilian when they fired rockets on the town of Dhuluyiyah, between Samarra and Baqubah. Dhuluyiyah is one of the closest points to Baghdad reached by insurgents.

Political developments

Baghdad

Washington announced the U.S. government was sending up to 300 military advisers to Baghdad in support of Iraqi troops, ruling out sending soldiers on the ground. Though American authorities have sought to downplay claims that insurgents were threatening Baghdad, targeted air strikes remain an option if the situation was to worsen.

Karbala

Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani called for a new and effective government in Iraq, in a veiled criticism against current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Iraq is still in the process of forming a government, after elections held on 30 April failed to produce a parliamentary majority. Maliki’s Shia-majority coalition emerged first of the polls with 92 out of 368 seats.