Americans Dominate Casualties In Iraq In Aug 2024

More than half of the casualties in Iraq in August 2024 were Americans. This resulted from an attack by pro-Iran groups and a joint Iraq-U.S. raid on an Islamic State camp. This was a decided change from previous months.

US Withdrawal Date From Iraq Postponed

On August 15 the Sudani government announced that a date for an American withdrawal from Iraq would not be made because of recent attacks by pro-Iran groups. This was a convenient excuse to delay talks which the administration has not been enthusiastic about.

Security In Iraq, Aug 8-14, 2024

During the second week of August there were two incidents in Iraq by the Islamic State.

Security In Iraq, Aug 1-7, 2024

Both the Islamic State and the Iraqi Islamic Resistance were active in Iraq during the first week of August.

Security In Iraq July 22-28, 2024

The Islamic State was absent from Iraq for another week while pro-Iran groups focused back upon the United States.

Security In Iraq July 15-21, 2024

After being silent the week before Iraq’s Islamic Resistance returned during the 3^rd week of July. The Islamic State on the other hand was not active again.

Review Meltdown in Haditha, The Killing of 24 Iraqi Civilians by U.S. Marines and the Failure of Military Justice

Englade, Kenneth, Meltdown in Haditha, The Killing of 24 Iraqi Civilians by U.S. Marines and the Failure of Military Justice, McFarland & Company, 2015

 

Meltdown in Haditha, The Killing of 24 Iraqi Civilians by U.S. Marines and the Failure of Military Justice by Kenneth Englade deals with a deadly incident in November 2005 in the Iraqi town of Haditha in Anbar province. This eventually led to 8 Marines being charged with various crimes. The author claims there was a failure by the Marines to prosecute the cases because it was more interested in protecting its image. That’s not quite supported by the evidence presented. Instead it appears that Haditha was badly handled by Marine commanders leading to years of missteps that probably should’ve never happened. Most importantly Meltdown in Haditha is not an enjoyable read because it gets bogged down in the court proceedings.

US Army In The Iraq War Volume 2 Ch 4 “The Awakening Gathers Momentum”

Chapter 4 of the second volume in the U.S. army’s history of the Iraq War is about how the Anbar Awakening expanded in the province. That eventually led to other tribes and insurgent groups to turn against the Islamic State of Iraq across central Iraq in what became known as the sahwa.

Islamic State And Pro-Iran Groups Pick Up Operations In Iraq In May 2024

May saw a relatively high level of activity by the Islamic State and the Islamic Resistance In Iraq.

Security In Iraq May 22-28, 2024

The Islamic State made a return to Iraq during the last week of May. Pro-Iran groups continued attacks upon Israel during the Gaza War.

Islamic State Continues To Fade In Iraq While Pro-Iran Groups Restart Attacks In April 2024

April was dominated by attacks by pro-Iran groups. The Islamic State on the other hand almost disappeared.

Islamic State Makes Brief Return To Iraq In March While Pro-Iran Groups Continue Ceasefire With US

After almost disappearing from Iraq in February the Islamic State let everyone know it was still present in the country. Pro-Iran groups maintained a ceasefire with the U.S. while claiming a number of attacks upon Israel.

Security In Iraq Mar 8-14, 2024

The Islamic State suddenly lurched back to life in Iraq during the second week of March carrying out the most attacks in a year. Pro-Iran groups also claimed another attack upon Israel.

New Provincial Govts In Iraq After Dec Election

 

Most of the new provincial governments in Iraq were decided in February. The Coordination Framework took most of the governors as expected because their main rival Muqtada al-Sadr boycotted. The list did not have its way however.

Islamic State Picked Up Attacks In Iraq While Pro-Iran Groups Maintained Campaign Against US And Israel

The Islamic State has been increasing its attacks in Iraq in the last 3 months but they are still insignificant. Pro-Iran groups on the other hand have kept up a steady pace of operations against the U.S. and Israel over the Gaza War.

Security In Iraq Jan 22-28, 2024

Security news during the fourth week of January was dominated by attacks by pro-Iran groups, which led to American retaliation. There was only one Islamic State incident but it was significant.

Violence In Iraq Jan 1-7, 2024

The Islamic State and Pro-Iran groups were both active in Iraq during the start of the new year.

Review No Time For The Truth, The Haditha Incident And The Search For Justice

Helms, Nathaniel and Faraj, Haytham, No Time For The Truth, The Haditha Incident And The Search For Justice, New York: Arcade Publishing, 2016

 

No Time For The Truth, The Haditha Incident And The Search For Justice by Nathaniel Helms and Haytham Faraj is about the Haditha massacre where a group of Marines were charged with killing civilians in western Iraq in 2006. The authors were both sympathetic to the Marines with Faraj being one of their defense lawyers. They argue the Marines were following their training when they attacked two houses and therefore did not commit murder. The authors then focus upon how the government tried to scapegoat one Marine for the entire incident.

Final Results For Iraq’s Provincial Elections

(Wikipedia)

The final results of Iraq’s provincial elections have been announced. The ruling Coordination Framework won the most seats and wants to control the south. That will put it into conflict with several governors that won the most votes in their governorates. On the other hand the Kurds misplayed their hand running separately because the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) wanted to dominate the community.

Pro-Iran Groups Continue Their Campaign Against US Forces In Iraq In Dec

Pro-Iran groups which are part of the Iraqi government’s Hashd al-Shaabi forces continued their offensive against US forces in December. The Islamic State was present as well but barely carried out any attacks.