Key Takeaways:

• Dozens Injured As Iraqis Mark Anniversary Of 2019 Protests; UN Mission Offers Grim Assessment Of Political Situation – On October 1, Iraqi authorities and medical sources said that dozens of people were injured during protests in Baghdad, Dhi-Qar, Najaf, and Basra commemorating the third anniversary of the October 2019 anti-government protests. Security forces blamed the violence on “provocateurs” hiding among protesters. Protesters in Baghdad threatened escalation unless all political parties withdrew from government and allowed the formation of a transitional government under UN supervision. On October 4, the head of UNAMI delivered a new briefing to the Security Council that offered a scathing critique of the country’s political elite’s failure to form a functioning government 12 months after elections. The UNAMI chief said “discord and power play prevailed over a sense of common duty,” adding that Iraq experienced “some very critical and dangerous hours” because of the protracted political deadlock. The UN envoy cautioned that the situation remains “highly volatile,” and that “public disillusion is running sky-high.” She pointed out that forming a functioning government would be “merely the first step to overcoming the current crisis in a sustainable way,” noting that Iraq’s deep problems require “work towards transformative change.” more…
• Iran Launches New Attacks On The Kurdistan Region; Sadr Offers To Suspend Militia After New Clashes With Rivals – On October 4, Iranian news agencies said the Revolutionary Guard Corps launched new strikes against the positions of “separatist groups” in the Sedikan area of Iraqi Kurdistan using artillery, rocket launchers, and armed drones. Iranian shelling, which killed at least 13 people and injured dozens last week, forced the evacuation of several villages near the borders. On October 6, Muqtada al-Sadr appealed to the government to “rein in the insolent militias of Qais [al-Khazali].” The message came after reports of rocket fire and heavy clashes between Sadr’s and Khazali’s militias in the southern city of Basra, and offered to “freeze” Sadr’s militia to “avoid strife.” In other developments, between October 2 – 6, the explosions of seven IEDs in Kirkuk, Najaf, Salah ad-Din, Baghdad, and Basra killed one member of the Iraqi security forces and injured two. On October 4, supporters of Sadr’s militia stormed the offices of Iraqi TV network, Channel 4, and destroyed its contents after one of the network’s presenters suggested that Sadr’s militiamen had negotiated with, and sold their weapons to, U.S.-led Coalition Forces after 2003. more…
• Data Shows 1.17 Million Remain Displaced, With Thousands In “Critical Shelters” – On October 3, new data released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) pointed to a small decrease in the number of IDPs across Iraq. During the second quarter of 2022, that number dropped by 7,584 to 1,177,234 people living in 2,792 locations across eighteen provinces. The data attributes new returns to “improvements in living conditions at areas of return,” but warns that more than 76,000 of the remaining IDPs are staying in “critical shelters,” where they face “elevated risk accessing essential services such as health care, WASH, adequate food supplies and above all face multiple protection issues.” In other developments, on October 3, Iraq’s Health Ministry reported that between September 25 – October 3, there were 674 new infections with COVID-19, a single new fatality, and 31,713 people who received vaccines. Average new cases decreased to 96 per day, down from 105 per day during the previous 7-day period. more…
• Oil Exports To Remain Steady Despite OPEC Cuts; Iraq And Jordan Launch Grid Connection Project – On October 1, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said that crude oil exports during September averaged 3.292 million bpd and generated $8.773 billion in revenue, almost $1 billion lower than in August. Next month, Iraq plans to reduce oil production by 220,000 bpd–its share of the two million bpd production cuts that OPEC agreed to this week–without impacting exports, according to the country’s oil marketing company, SOMO. Instead, Iraq will adjust domestic consumption levels to keep exports steady. On October 6, PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi arrived at the country’s border with Jordan to meet with his Jordanian counterpart to lay the cornerstone for a project to connect the power grids of the two countries. A spokesman for Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity says the project will provide 150 megawatts of electricity, as a first stage, by “next summer.” In other developments, on October 4, a local environmental group focused on protecting Iraq’s marshlands said that fishing in the Chibayish marshes of Dhi-Qar had shrunk by nearly 97% as drought wiped out large areas of the wetlands. more…

For more background on most of the institutions, key actors, political parties, and locations mentioned in our takeaways or in the stories that follow, see the ISHM Reference Guide.

Dozens Injured As Iraqis Mark Anniversary Of 2019 Protests; UN Mission Offers Grim Assessment Of Political Situation

On October 1, Iraqi authorities and medical sources said that dozens of people were injured during protests in Baghdad, Dhi-Qar, Najaf, and Basra commemorating the third anniversary of the October 2019 anti-government protests. The Security Media Cell blamed the violence on “provocateurs” hiding among protesters who used Molotov cocktails and other projectiles against security forces. The clashes in Dhi-Qar resumed on October 3, with reports of protesters setting trailers used by the guards of the provincial government on fire, resulting in more injuries and prompting authorities to impose a curfew in the city of Nasiriyah. In terms of political demands, the protesters in Baghdad had issued a statement demanding the withdrawal of all political parties from government by October 25, and the formation of a transitional government under UN supervision.  

On October 4, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court rejected a case filed by the opposition New Generation party in which the plaintiffs argued that the election commission of the Kurdistan region was unconstitutional. The Court document detailing the decision, however, shows that the Court struck down a phrase in the region’s 2014 election law concerning the commission’s “exclusive authority” on grounds that it violated articles 20 and 102 of Iraq’s federal constitution.

On October 4, Shafaq, citing an unnamed senior member of the Sadrist movement, reported that the Sadrists are planning to organize fresh mass protests in Baghdad and some southern provinces. These protests, to be timed with the 40-day anniversary of the August 29 clashes, will aim to prevent the Coordination Framework from pushing its plan to form a government led by Mohammed Shya al-Sudani. Iraq’s parliament is scheduled to meet next on October 8 and again on October 10. The published agenda of neither meeting mentions any motions related to government formation. 

On October 4, the head of the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) delivered a new briefing to the Security Council that included a scathing critique of the country’s political elites’s failure to resolve Iraq’s political crisis, a full year after the 2021 election. The UNAMI chief, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, lamented that over the last 12 months, “discord and power play prevailed over a sense of common duty,” adding that Iraq experienced “some very critical and dangerous hours” because of the protracted political deadlock. The UN envoy cautioned that the situation remains “highly volatile,” citing the August 29 deadly violence between the Sadrists and their rivals that put Iraq “on the brink of total chaos.” The UNAMI chief noted that “public disillusion is running sky-high,” as Iraqis lost confidence in the political leaders ability to put the national interest above personal and partisan gain “further fuelling already simmering anger.” Hennis-Plasschaert stressed that political leaders must show responsibility and return to the negotiation table, warning that “a continued failure to address this loss of faith will only exacerbate Iraq’s problems.” She pointed out that forming a functioning government would be “merely the first step to overcoming the current crisis in a sustainable way,” noting that Iraq’s deep problems require “work towards transformative change.” Critically, the UN envoy remarked, “Iraq’s political and governance system ignores the needs of the Iraqi people, or even worse, actively works against them.” She warned that allowing this system of “pervasive corruption…will backfire, sooner rather than later.” Turning to the calls for early elections, the UN official said she made it clear to Iraqi politicians that UNAMI may not be able to help with preparations for a new vote, and questioned the value and feasibility of asking Iraqis to go to the ballots again against this backdrop of dysfunction.  

Sources cited in this section include: al-Hurra, INA, al-Sumaria, NINA, Shafaq, Rudaw, the Security Media Cell, UNAMI, ISHM archives, Iraq’s parliament.

Iran Launches New Attacks On The Kurdistan Region; Sadr Offers To Suspend Militia After New Clashes With Rivals

On September 30, security sources in Baghdad said that an unidentified gunman on a motorcycle shot and killed a member of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in an attack in al-Amin neighborhood, in southeast Baghdad. 

On October 1, security sources in Basra said that at least two rockets struck houses near the presidential palace area in central Basra, causing material damage to the buildings. Another report said the incident involved three rockets, and that one civilian was killed as a result.

On October 2, an Iraqi military spokesman said that counter-terrorism service troops backed by military aircraft killed an ISIS militant during a security operation that targeted a tunnel in the Badush area, northwest of Mosul. 

On October 2, security sources in Kirkuk said that one Iraqi soldier was injured when he attempted to defuse an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Wadi al-Shay region in the southern part of the province.

On October 2, the Turkish Defense Ministry said its aircraft had conducted airstrikes against 16 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions on September 30. The airstrikes, which took place 90 miles inside Iraqi Kurdistan, killed 23 PKK militants, according to the Turkish military. On October 4, the counter-terrorism service of the Kurdistan region said that an armed Turkish drone struck a vehicle transporting members of the PKK in the Zalani subdistrict of Sulaymaniyah. The attack killed two PKK members and wounded a third person. 

On October 2, security sources in Baghdad said that unidentified gunmen opened fire on a vehicle in al-Latifiyah, south of the capital, killing an officer working for the interior ministry and a civilian who was with him in the same vehicle. The next day, a former Sahwa (Awakening) fighter was wounded in an attack by gunmen in the nearby town of al-Yusufiyah. 

On October 3, local sources in Najaf said that a small IED detonated under a vehicle that belongs to an engineer working for the municipality of the city of Najaf. The explosion damaged the vehicle without causing casualties.  

On October 4, Rudaw reported that intermittent Iranian shelling of border areas, which had started in late September, had forced the evacuation of seven villages in the Baradost region of Erbil. A local Peshmerga commander said the Iranians have also sent ground forces deeper into border areas, bypassing Peshmerga and border guard outposts in some places. As of reporting, the bombardment by Iranan forces had been going on for 12 days.  

On October 4, Iranian news agencies said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched new strikes against the positions of “separatist groups” in the Sedikan area of the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The reports said the IRGC used artillery, rocket launchers, and armed drones. The latest bombardment comes after a series of deadly missile and drone attacks that killed 13 people and injured more than 50 across the Kurdistan region last week. IRGC officials said their operations would continue until the Iranian Kurdish opposition groups are disarmed.  

On October 4, the chief of the Basra operations command said that four gunmen opened machine gun fire on the presidential palace area in central Basra, a group of buildings that houses the local PMF command and elements of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia. The commander, major general Ali al-Majidi, said the PMF responded to the attack and was attempting to identify the attackers, whom he described as “outlaws.” Footage on social media appeared to show heavy gunfire targeting an area across Shatt al-Arab in Basra, in what local sources said was a conflict between Asaib Ahl al-Haq and the Saraya al-Salam militia of Muqtada al-Sadr over economic interests. A message by a top Sadr aide appeared to confirm that the fighting in Basra was between these two militias as it appealed to the government to “rein in the insolent militias of Qais [al-Khazali].” The message offered to “freeze” Sadr’s militia in Basra to “avoid strife.” Earlier clashes between Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Saraya al-Salam militia on August 31 in Basra killed four people from the two sides.

On October 4, supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr’s militia stormed the offices of Iraqi TV network, Channel 4, and destroyed its contents. The attack in central Baghdad took place after one of the network’s presenters made remarks in which she suggested that Sadr’s Mahdi Army negotiated with, and sold their weapons to, U.S.-led Coalition Forces after 2003. 

On October 4, security sources in Salah ad-Din said that a legacy IED exploded in the Baiji district of the province, and injured two fighters from the tribal mobilization forces. One of the injured died later as a result of his wounds.

On October 4, security sources in Baghdad said that one Iraqi soldier was wounded when he was struck by a bullet while on duty at an observation tower in the Tarmiyah district, north of the capital. The next day, a homemade IED exploded near a grocery shop in the same area, causing material damage but no casualties. To the south, another small IED exploded near the Andalus hotel in central Baghdad, causing damage to the building’s exterior without reports of casualties. Then on October 6, another homemade IED exploded under the vehicle of an Electricity Ministry employee in the al-Baladiyat neighborhood of east Baghdad. The explosion destroyed the vehicle without causing casualties. 

On October 5, security sources in Basra said that a homemade IED exploded in al-Jamiyat neighborhood in central Basra, targeting the home of Sarmad al-Tamimi, a local Sadrist activist. The explosion did not result in casualties. 

Sources cited in this section include: INA, NINA, al-Sumaria, AP, ISHM archives, Rudaw, Shafaq, Kurdistan24, Nas News, social media. 

Data Shows 1.17 Million Remain Displaced, With Thousands In “Critical Shelters”

On October 3, new data released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) points to a small decrease in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Iraq. During the second quarter of 2022, the number of IDPs dropped by 7,584 to 1,177,234 people living in 2,792 locations across the country’s eighteen provinces. The data attributes the growing number of returnees to “improvements in living conditions at areas of return, and the lack of jobs in areas of displacement.” The data warns that more than 76,000 of these remaining IDPs are staying in “critical shelters,” where they face “elevated risk accessing essential services such as health care, WASH, adequate food supplies and above all face multiple protection issues.” This high-risk population is concentrated primarily in Anbar (22,068 people), Duhok (20,184), Ninewa (18,072), and Salah al-Din 16,110). 

On October 3, the Iraqi Ministry of Health reported that there were 674 new infections with COVID-19, a single new fatality, and 31,713 people who received their vaccines during the period between September 25 – October 3. Cumulatively, the ministry reported 2,460,572 infections, 25,356 deaths, and 11,178,991 vaccinations. The average number of new cases during the last 7-day reporting period decreased to 96 per day, down from 105 per day during the 7-day period ending September 25. 

Sources cited in this section include: Reliefweb, Nas News, ISHM archives.

Oil Exports To Remain Steady Despite OPEC Cuts; Iraq And Jordan Launch Grid Connection Project

On October 1, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said that crude oil exports during September totaled 98.765 million barrels, for an average of 3.292 million barrels per day (bpd), roughly unchanged compared to August. The September exports generated $8.773 billion in revenue, almost $1 billion lower than the $9.784 billion achieved in August. Iraq sold its crude oil at an average price of approximately $88.83 per barrel, about $7.2 below previous month’s average of $96.05 per barrel. Shipped exports from fields in southern and central Iraq averaged 3.214 million bpd in September, while average exports from the northern fields in Kirkuk, which were exported through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, recovered to more than 109,000 bpd. Next month, Iraq plans to reduce its oil production by 220,000 bpd, which is its share of the two million bpd production cuts that OPEC agreed to this week. The cuts, however, will not impact Iraq’s exports, according to the head of the country’s oil marketing company, SOMO. Instead, Iraq will adjust its domestic consumption levels in a manner that maintains current exports volume.  

On October 4, a local environmental group focused on protecting Iraq’s marshlands said that fishing in the Chibayish marshes of Dhi-Qar province had shrunk by nearly 97% as drought wiped out large areas of the wetlands. A spokesman for the National Campaign to Rescue the Iraqi Marshes said that Chibayish fishermen are currently marketing approximately five tons of fish a day, down from an average of nearly 150 tons a day in recent years. The spokesman noted a decline in the size and diversity of fish in the marshes, with the catch consisting mostly of smaller fish from fewer species than before. 

On October 5, the association of Iraqi private banks reported growth in key banking indicators during the first half of this year. According to Ali Tariq, the association’s president, lending to consumers increased by IQD3.7 trillion to reach IQD57.3 trillion, representing 7% growth from last year. Likewise, deposits grew by IQD8.3 trillion to reach IQD106.4 trillion, reflecting 8% growth during the first six months of 2022. Tariq said that assets also increased by IQD13.7 trillion to reach IQD164.1 trillion, reflecting a 9% increase. 

On October 6, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi arrived at the country’s border with Jordan to meet with his Jordanian counterpart to lay the cornerstone for a project to connect the power grids of the two countries. In June, Jordan’s foreign minister had said that the project, which will also involve Egypt, could allow his country to send electricity to Iraq as soon as “early next year.” A spokesman for Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity said on Thursday that the project will provide 150 megawatts of electricity as a first stage by “next summer.”

Sources cited in this section include: Iraq’s Oil Ministry, INA, al-Mirbad, OPEC, ISHM archives, Iraq’s prime minister’s office. 

IED Incidents and Resulting Casualties

Casualties Due To IEDs from September 29, 2022 - October 6, 2022

Please note: some geographic locations represented are approximations and this map may not represent all incidents.

Derived from firsthand accounts and Iraq-based Arabic and Kurdish news sources, the Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor is a free publication of the Enabling Peace in Iraq Center.

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