Weekly Iraq .Xplored Report 14 September 2019
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Weekly Iraq .Xplored report 14 September 2019 Prepared by Risk Analysis Team, Iraq garda.com Confidential and proprietary © GardaWorld Weekly Iraq .Xplored Report 14 September 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................................... 2 ACTIVITY MAP .................................................................................................................................................... 3 OUTLOOK ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Short term outlook ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Medium to long term outlook ............................................................................................................................ 4 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Approximately 14 wounded in multiple blasts across Baghdad ................................................................... 5 Drug-related crimes continue to increase, Basra and Baghdad seeing the highest concentration of arrests.................................................................................................................................................................. 5 PMU weapons depot in Hit suffers fire; conflicting reports as to the .......................................................... 5 THREAT MATRIX ................................................................................................................................................ 5 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Political ................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Security ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Economy ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 WEEKLY OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................... 8 Countrywide Military/Security Situation .......................................................................................................... 8 ACRONYM LIST ................................................................................................................................................ 14 GARDAWORLD INFORMATION SERVICES .............................................................................................. 15 GARDAWORLD.................................................................................................................................................. 15 This report is an abridged version of GardaWorld Weekly Iraq .Xplored August 31, 2019. 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In particular, the comments in this Report should not be construed as advice, legal or otherwise. Confidential and proprietary © GardaWorld [2] garda.com Weekly Iraq .Xplored Report 14 September 2019 ACTIVITY MAP Confidential and proprietary © GardaWorld [3] garda.com Weekly Iraq .Xplored Report 14 September 2019 OUTLOOK Short term outlook ▪ Current US-Iranian tensions, compounded by the downing of a US drone by Iran on Jun 20 and the June 13 attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Oman, have led to the heightened possibility of Iranian-sponsored attacks against US interests in Iraq. Rocket attacks targeting the International Zone on May 19, 2019, the Rumaila oilfield and Burjisiya in Basra province on Jun 18 and 19, 2019 were most likely carried out by rogue militia factions with ties to Iran. ▪ A series of explosions at Shia militia camps between the months of July and September have been tentatively linked to the supply of Iranian missile systems to Shia militias. On Monday September 09 an alleged airstrike hit a camp on the Syrian side of the Iraqi border at Albu Kamal, resulting in several deaths. On Aug 20, an explosion took place at a PMF arms depot adjacent to Balad air base in Salah-al-Din. On Aug 12, a large blast at an arms depot in the PMF owned Saqr camp (Camp Falcon) set off munitions and sent projectiles into surrounding neighbourhoods, killing an Iraqi citizen and injuring 37 others. On Jul 19, an explosion rocked another militia base in Amerli, Salah-al-Din province and on Jul 28, three explosions were reported at Camp Ashraf in Diyala province, located northeast of Baghdad. The nature of the incidents, simultaneous explosions at three widely separated locations in 10 kilometre by 10 kilometre camps, probably rules out accidental causes. Although hard facts are illusive and following a drone strike on a static PMF callsign in Al-Qaim, Anbar Province on Aug 25, five major incidents have now occurred within a month with a large question mark over them, and retaliatory foreign military involvement cannot be ruled out. ▪ Although defeated militarily, IS continues to pose a serious and long-term security challenge, especially in the northern provinces and Anbar, where high levels of asymmetric activity continues. The suicide vest (SVEST) attack in Sadr City on May 09, 2019 and the multi-IED attack in across Baghdad on September 07 underlines the continuing threat posed by IS cells in Baghdad City who retain intent to escalate operations. Absent a significant escalation in IS activity, the attacks are not assessed to change the security situation in the capital which has been relatively stable in 2019, however, the attacks demonstrate that IS continues to have the capability to launch operations of this nature within the City. ▪ Following weeks of speculation with regards to the longer-term status of the International Zone (IZ) that was partially opened to the public in December 2018, on June 04, 2019 the IZ was fully opened to the public on a 24/7 basis. The move is seen as part of an attempt by the government to head off criticism that security is starting to deteriorate in the country, amidst reports of an IS resurgence in northern Iraq. Regardless, the move marks an important moment that symbolizes the increased stability that has been felt in the capital over the last two years. Medium to long term outlook ▪ Sectarian violence can be expected to continue in areas of Northern Iraq which remain permissive to IS operations, including Nineveh, Salah al-Din, Diyala and southwestern Kirkuk. Attacks will continue to target security checkpoints and outpost, especially in Sunni dominated areas controlled by Shia dominated security forces. ▪ Islamic State activity will continue to dominate security reporting with focus on the potential resurgence of an insurgent campaign in northern and western Iraq. Despite ongoing ISF efforts to clear remaining IS pockets, the group retains a degree of freedom of movement in the desert regions of Anbar, near the Syrian border, and along the Hamrin Mountains. Confidential and proprietary © GardaWorld [4] garda.com Weekly Iraq .Xplored Report 14 September 2019 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS Approximately 14 wounded in multiple blasts across Baghdad Local media sources have reported that approximately 14 people were injured by a series of blasts across Baghdad on September 07. The explosions happened through the early evening in Talbiyah, where two coordinated explosions injured at least five people and another explosion occurred in the municipal area, which injured another two people. Further explosions were reported in the area of Bab al-Sheikh, leaving three injured and approximately two people suffered injuries when they were hit by a blast in the Shurta al-Rabi’a area. Another blast occurred in the al-Ilam neighbourhood, resulting in another two people being injured. Drug-related crimes continue to increase, Basra and Baghdad seeing the highest concentration of arrests There has been a sharp rise in the number of drug-related arrests and convictions in Iraq, predominantly in Basra and Baghdad, leading to speculation that the Iraqi state is under-resourced to deal with the problem. Statistics released by the Supreme Judicial Council has shown an increase in the number of people convicted of drug- related crimes