Key Takeaways:

• Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), assisted with air support by the U.S.-led coalition, clashed with and continued to target militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in Tikrit, Anbar, and Ninewa provinces. However, no significant territorial gains were made against ISIS.
• This week, peaceful public demonstrations occurred in Baghdad, Babil, Dhi-Qar, Wasit, and al-Diwaniyah provinces calling for stronger reform plans, fighting corruption, and better government accountability. Baghdad hosted the largest of the demonstrations, attracting hundreds of protesters.
• Another violent and bloody week in Baghdad with 21 bombings across the capital, killing at least 35 Iraqi civilians. While the focus remains on the fight against ISIS in other provinces, it is critical to address the rising violence in Baghdad, and provide security measures to end these attacks and better protect innocent civilians.
• Even though many Iraqi government officials, as well as international experts, have warned about the possible collapse of the Mosul dam, the Ninewa provincial council denied these claims and said that these “rumors are false and unfounded.” The Mosul dam is Iraq’s largest and its collapse would kill or displace as many as 1.5 million civilians.
• An unknown group burned the shrine of Imam al-Hassan in Kirkuk, a religious site visited by thousands of Iraqi Muslims, both Sunnis and Shias. Police officials said that they are currently investigating this incident and will bring the perpetrators to justice. ِ
• Citizens of al-Rumaitha district in al-Muthanna province voiced their concerns about the lack of safe drinking water and demanded that government officials intervene to swiftly resolve the crisis. The provincial council attributed this problem to disputes between the governments of al-Muthanna and al-Diwaniya provinces over water quotas which have only recently been addressed.

Ongoing Clashes between Iraqi Security Forces and ISIS, with No Significant Advancements

On January 22, the Falcon Intelligence Cell killed 92 Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) militants, arrested 20, and injured many more. In conjunction with Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), the cell attacked ISIS militants and their camps north of Tikrit in the Hamrin mountains.

On January 23, al-Khalidiya district council reported that 50% of the areas east of Ramadi have been cleared of ISIS militants.

On January 23, the Jabour tribe killed 12 ISIS fighters and injured “dozens” more. The clash took place on the outskirts of Qayyarah when ISIS militants tried and failed to coerce Jabour youths to join the terrorist group.

On January 23, an International Coalition airstrike struck al-Qods, Karama, and al-Kokjelly in central Mosul killing 18 ISIS militants.

On January 24, ISF killed 11 ISIS militants and injured six others. The clash took place in the Husaybah area west of the city of Ramadi and also destroyed four ISIS defensive positions.

On January 25, ISF killed nine Islamic ISIS militants in al-Houran valley, west of Ramadi.

On January 26, ISF killed 40 ISIS fighters, including two suicide bombers, in northwest Fallujah. Brigadier General Saad Maan of the ISF reported that the operation was in conjunction with International Coalition and succeeded in killing notable ISIS leader Tariq Shabal Al-Qarguli.

On January 27, the Iraqi Security Forces killed 35 ISIS fighters in Husaybah neighborhood, east of Ramadi.

On January 27, Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) killed ISIS leader Abdul Hamid Mishaan al-Jumaily, aka Abu Obeida, and eight of his aides. Obeida was the commander of ISIS militants in the Fallujah and was targeted in the al-Sabihat area east of Fallujah along with vehicles and a rocket launcher.

On January 27, ISF repelled an ISIS suicide vehicle born improvised explosive device (SVBIED) in al-Baghdadi district, west of Anbar. However, the head of the district city council, Mal Allah al-Obeidi, said that “the attack resulted in killing Basim al-Hadithi, the police chief of al-Bagdhadi district, as well as Captain Saeed al-Obeidi, and Major Mashkoor al-Hadithi. The blast also injured tens of soldiers, including memebers of the PMU.

Demonstrations Call for stronger Reforms, Fighting Corruption, and Better Government Accountability

On January 22, dozens of protesters gathered al-Tahrir Square in the city of Hilla, central Babil province, and demanded the enactment of reforms as well as the removal of the governor of Babil. The protesters also called on the government to re-activate the agricultural and industrial sector as well as diversify Iraq’s revenue sources.

On January 22, Hundreds of protesters demanded an end to corruption in all levels of government. The protesters gathered in Tahrir square in central Baghdad and urged for the application of real reforms to hold the corrupt to justice and to force accountability in all government institutions. .

On January 22, dozens of protesters gathered in Habboubi Street in central Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar province, to renew their demands of holding corrupt government officials accountable and disclosing their names to the public. Activist and participant in the demonstrations, Edwar al-Shami, said in an interview that the protester’s demands also include implementing governmental and political reforms, solutions to the economic crisis, and an end to the manipulation of staff salaries.

On January 22, dozens of citizens protested economic stagnation and the decline in the quality of life outside the Wasit Provincial Council building in Kut. Protestors demanded accountability for corrupt government officials and warned of an economic “collapse.”

On January 26, dozens of farmers gathered in front of the Wasit Provincial Council building, central Kut, in protest against the delayed dues from the last agricultural season and threatened to demonstrate in the Green Zone in Baghdad. One of the demonstrators, Bader Saadoun al-Jabari, explained that the current agricultural season is threatened by the fact that they are unable to procure fertilizers and pesticides as a result of the financial situation.

On January 27, dozens of contract employees demonstrated in front of the government complex building in Diwaniya province and demanded their salaries, which have been stalled for seven months. The protesters blame influential parties responsible for the salary freeze and urge the provincial council to listen to their demands and administer justice accordingly.

21 Bombings Across Baghdad Kill Nearly 35 Civilians

On January 22, a roadside bomb detonated, killing two people and injuring seven others. The attack happened in the area of Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad.

On January 22, a roadside bomb exploded, killing two people and injuring eight others. The attack took place in the afternoon near shops in the district of al-Taji, north of Baghdad.

On January 22, a roadside bomb detonated, killing one person and injuring five others. The attack took place in the afternoon near a parking garage in the al-Dawam area southwest of Baghdad.

On January 22, a roadside bomb exploded, killing one person and injuring five others. The bombing occurred in the morning near shops in the al-Bayaa area southwest of Baghdad

On January 23, a roadside bomb detonated, killing one person and injuring five others. The explosion happened in the afternoon near shops in the al-Turath neighborhood southwest of Baghdad.

On January 23, a roadside bomb exploded, killing two people and injuring five others. The attack occurred in the morning in the al-Hurriah area of northwest Baghdad.

On January 23, a roadside bomb detonated, killing one person and injuring four others. The bombing took place in the morning in the al-Khanasah district, south of the city of Baghdad.

On January 24, a explosive device detonated, killing one person and injuring seven others. The explosion took place in the afternoon in the Yusufiyah district, south of the city of Baghdad.

On January 24, a bomb exploded, killing two people and injuring eight others. The bombing occurred in the city of Abu Ghraib near shops, west of the city of Baghdad.

On January 24, an explosive device detonated, killing one person and injuring seven others. The attack took place in the afternoon near shops in the Mahmoudiya district south of Baghdad.

On January 24, a bomb exploded, killing two people and injuring six others. The bombing happened in the evening near a market in the al-Shaab district north of Baghdad.

On January 24, an explosive device detonated, killing one person and injuring five others. The attack took place in the evening in the al-Baya neighborhood of southwest Baghdad.

On January 25, a bomb exploded, killing three people and injuring seven others. The attack took place in the morning near a market in the al-Obeidi district east of the city of Baghdad.

On January 25, a roadside bomb detonated, killing two people and injuring seven others. The bombing occurred in the afternoon in the Furat neighborhood of southwest Baghdad.

On January 25, an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded, destroying the bus to which it was attached, killing one passenger, and injuring five others. The attack took place in the afternoon in the Mashtal neighborhood in the district of New Baghdad.
On January 26, a roadside bomb exploded, killing two people and injuring eight others. The attack occurred in the afternoon in the Taji district, north of the city of Baghdad.

On January 26, a roadside bomb detonated, killing one person and injuring six others. The bombing took place in the afternoon in the al-Mada’in District, south of the city of Baghdad.

On January 26, a roadside bomb exploded, killing one person and injuring eight others. The attack happened in the afternoon near industrial buildings in the al-Basmaya area, southeast of Baghdad.

On January 26, an explosive device detonated, killing two people and injuring four others. The bombing occurred in the afternoon near a market in the al-Amil neighborhood in southwest Baghdad.

On January 27, a roadside bomb detonated, killing one person and injuring five others. The bombing happened in the morning near shops in the al-Ni’ariyah neighborhood of the New Baghdad district, east of Baghdad.

On January 27, a roadside bomb exploded, killing two people and injuring six others. The attack took place in the morning near a restaurant in the Sheikh Omar neighborhood of central Baghdad.

On January 27, a roadside bomb exploded, killing two people and injuring six others. The bombing occurred in the evening near shops in the al-Dora neighborhood of southern Baghdad.

Iraqi Officials Deny Claims about the Severity of the Mosul Dam

On January 22, the Ninewa Provincial Council denied claims that the Mosul dam is on the verge of bursting. The Chairman of the Committee of Construction and services in the Ninewa provincial council Abdul Rahman Olokua said that rumors about the dam’s imminent collapse are “false and unfounded” and that there is “no real reason to worry,” pointing to recent maintenance work. However, the New York Times and the US Department of State have both found the threat of a collapse to be very real and warned that the dam’s failure could result in the death and displacement of over one million Iraqis. Earlier this month, officials from the U.S. State Department warned that if the dam were to collapse, it will threaten the lives of as many as 1.5 million civilians. President Obama spoke with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on the phone and underscored the need to make emergency repairs to the dam.  

On January 26, the Ministry Council discussed the necessary actions the government should take to address the issues surrounding the Mosul Dam and the need for international expertise in this arena.

An Unknown Group Burns a Popular Religious Shrine

On January 24, an unknown group lit fire at the shrine of Imam Hassan, located in the Laylan district, east of Kirkuk. The arson took place at dawn, causing some material damage to both the shrine and many of its religious texts. The shrine is visited by thousands of Iraqi Muslims, both Sunnis and Shias. Police and ISF forces are investigating the perpetrators of this crime. Al-Hassan is the second Shia Imam succeeding his father Ali Ibn Abi Talib,the cousin of Prophet Muhammad, and proceeding his younger brother Al-Husayn Ibn Ali. Al-Hassan is the oldest son of Ali and Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatima al-Zahraa.

Al-Muthanna Province Suffers from Scarcity of Drinking Water

On January 25, the citizens of Rumaitha, Muthanna province, voiced their concerns about the scarcity of drinking water and demanded government officials to intervene and find quick solutions to the crisis. The provincial council attributed the causes of the crisis to disputes between the government of al-Muthanna and al-Diwaniya over water quotas that have not been addressed until now.

Derived from firsthand accounts and Iraq-based Arabic and Kurdish news sources, the Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor (ISHM) was developed by EPIC’s Senior Visiting Fellow Ahmed Ali (@IraqShamel). This week’s final report was compiled and authored by EPIC Program Manager Taif Jany (@TaifJany).