Current Situation in Iraq - Brief Overview

Posted: 16/01/2015

North

Diyala witnessed a Suicide bombing against a coffee shope resulting in at least a dozen civilians dead and injured whilst in neighbouring Salah ad Din Province activity declined with IEDs being reported IVO Tikrit and executions of former ISF members in the northern districts of the Province.

In the Northern Province of Ninevah, clashes continued around Mount Sinjar with the Peshmerga taking losses, whilst airstrikes were also reported in other districts. Reports of executions of former parliamentary candidates came from Mosul with 3 being killed in the city.

The biggest news to come from the north however relates to the IS leader and his current state of well being.
An un-named medical source in Mosul stated that IS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died of his wounds received in a coalition airstrike on 13 January in al-Salamiyah, eastern Nineveh. Whether al-Baghdad was wounded but alive or had died of his wounds was unclear but, according to a local sheikh, Yunis al-Jubouri, but al-Baghdadi was moved to a hospital in Mosul. He appeared to be among dozens of other casualties and later transferred to a hospital in Dair al-Zor, eastern Syria. IS attempted to suppress the news by cutting phone lines and cell phone services. Further information is being sought to confirm or deny this report.

Baghdad

Baghdad witnessed a continuation of low level IEDs with 2 reported as detonating within the city limits, elsewhere one civilian was killed and seven wounded when three mortar rounds fell on al Shu’alah market, in Kadhimiyah.

In northern Baghdad only one IED was reported, detonating against civilians and a SAF attack against a university professor.

Al Anbar

ISF Operations continued in and around Fallujah with clashes and airstrikes being reported. However the biggest news coming from the city was that Insurgents had rounded up 72 inhabitants of various neighbourhoods in Fallujah, accusing them of trying to join tribal forces to fight against IS.

It was mentioned that 44 individuals were executed during the previous week having been accused of cooperation with ISF and belonging to tribal forces or the CLC organisation - the commander of the Golden Division, Brigadier-General Fadhel Barwari. He had stated that they were ready to conduct operations in cooperation with al-Anbar Operations Command to liberate Fallujah District. (other sources put the number of kidnapped civilians at close to 170)

Further West in Ramadi clashes were reported with airstrikes continuing to strike targets along the Euphrates river, resulting in high numbers of casualties including the IS commander for the HIT area.
In the western desert areas Coalition aircraft, possibly of the Royal Jordanian Air Force, conducting strikes against IS in the area of al-Rutbah targeting an IS meeting and a military commander as he attempted to approach IA units in the area of al-Sakarah. Cellphone and internet communications with al-Rutbah were restored after having been down for a week.

South

Again the southern Provinces witnessed only arrest operations by security forces with detentions taking place in Dhi Qar, Karbala and Wasit  Provinces. No major incidents were recorded.

Basra

Local media sources indicated that an IED detonated outside the home of a female employee of the al-Hartha Electricity Department in the al-Asatidha area of Basra City. The blast caused minor material damage to the house but no injuries.

Local sources reported that the funeral procession of the religious leader of the al-Musawi tribe took place this afternoon. The funeral procession for Ali al-Musawi al-Shiket started at his mosque on Algeria Street in the al-Jazeer area of Basra City at approximately midday. 

Local sources reported many occurrences of commemorative small arms fire at the procession. Local sources state that seven days of mourning are likely and other commemorative events are likely to take place amongst the al-Musawi tribe elsewhere in southern Iraq.

This Information is provided by the RPS consultant who is on the ground in Northern Iraq at present. If you have any queries about this region please contact us at [email protected]

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