By Jessa Rose Dury-Agri and the ISW Iraq Team
ISIS is setting
conditions for its annual Ramadan campaign, anticipated to begin on May 26 with
intent to exploit security vulnerabilities across the country. ISIS tested
security in and around Baghdad by conducting a successful Suicide Vehicle-Borne
IED (SVBIED) attack in central Baghdad and attempting additional attacks in
Balad, Tarmiyah, and Jurf al-Sakhr. ISIS strained Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)
resources by increasing the tempo of attacks in Ramadi and far west Anbar
Province. ISIS attempted numerous attacks in Salah al-Din province, which the
ISF foiled. The attacks indicate ISIS's continued attack capabilities in this
zone. ISIS attacked Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) near Mosul in a
potential bid to incite sectarian violence and detract from Mosul operations.
Security forces must complete the campaign for Mosul while protecting Baghdad
and repelling ISIS attacks across Anbar, Salah al-Din, Diyala, and Ninewa
Provinces. ISF resources are further strained in Maysan and Basra Provinces,
which mobilized two operations commands to address tribal violence. ISIS will
continue to create and exploit weaknesses in Iraqi security prior to its
Ramadan offensive.
