As has been the pattern for 2009, the number of monthly deaths in Iraq continues to go up and down with each month. August saw a large increase compared to July, and then September took a dip. For example, Iraq Body Count, the organization that usually has the highest casualty numbers, recorded 395 deaths in July, 537 in August, and their preliminary figure for September is 296. The three other groups that keep track of deaths in Iraq, icasualties.org, Iraq's ministries, and the Associated Press, while all having different numbers, showed the same fluctuations. For all four, September had the second lowest death total for the year. Last month also had the fewest mass casualty bombings (10 or more dead and wounded) since May 2009. In September there were 13 such attacks, resulting in 70 deaths and 263 wounded. May had 9 bombings, 111 deaths, and 262 wounded.
What the statistics show is that Iraq's militants have lost their luster, and are incapable of sowing the death and destruction they once did even a year ago. In 2009 they have only been able to mount large-scale attacks for one month, and then need to re-group for an entire month before they can do it again. Even then, the months with high numbers of deaths do not reach the levels of 2008. In fact, 2009 has so far, seen fewer casualties then 2003 when the U.S. invaded. For instance, according to Iraq Body Count, there were 3,900 deaths from May to December 2003, for an average of 487.5 per month. In comparison, from January to August 2009 they counted 3,271 deaths, and an average of 408.8 per month. That in no way means that violence in Iraq is at an acceptable level, but it does mean that things have dramatically changed in the country since the height of the sectarian war from 2006-2007.
Iraqi Deaths
Iraq Body Count | icasualties. Org | Iraqi Ministries | Associated Press | |
July 08 | 584 | 419 | 465 | N/A |
Aug. 08 | 592 | 311 | 431 | 475 |
Sep. 08 | 535 | 366 | 440 | 503 |
Oct. 08 | 528 | 288 | 318 | N/A |
Nov. 08 | 473 | 317 | 340 | N/A |
Dec. 08 | 522 | 320 | 316 | N/A |
Jan. 09 | 276 | 187 | 191 | 242 |
Feb. 09 | 343 | 202 | 258 | 288 |
March 09 | 416 | 278 | 252 | 335 |
April 09 | 484 | 347 | 355 | 371 |
May 09 | 332 | 188 | 165 | 225 |
June 09 | 488 | 367 | 438 | 447 |
July 09 | 395 | 240 | 275 | 309 |
Aug. 09 | 537 | 439 | 456 | 425 |
Sep. 09 | 296 | 158 | 203 | 238 |
Last 6 months of 2008 Average | 539.0 | 336.8 | 385.0 | N/A |
First 6 months of 2009 Average | 389.8 | 261.0 | 276.5 | 317.5 |
Number of Bombings and Casualty Statistics – April to July 2009
April 2009
Bombings: 21
Deaths: 198 + 32 Iranians
Wounded: 497 + 105 Iranians + 10 Americans
May 2009
Bombings: 9
Deaths: 111
Wounded: 262
June 2009
Bombings: 14
Deaths: 174
Wounded: 517
July 2009
Bombings: 35
Deaths: 180
Wounded: 655
August 2009
Bombings: 44
Deaths: 359
Wounded: 2,252
September 2009
Bombings: 13
Deaths: 70
Wounded: 263
SOURCES
Agence France Presse, "Iraq attacks death toll rises to eight," 9/4/09
- "Iraq death toll falls by half in September: officials," 10/1/09
Ahmed, Hamid, "Car bomb kills 8 at checkpoint in western Iraq," Associated Press, 9/7/09
Associated Press, "Car bomb kills 7 in market south of Iraqi capital," 9/18/09
- "Iraq: Key figures since the war began," 10/1/09
Aswat al-Iraq, "4 killed, 6 wounded in Kirkuk explosion," 9/9/09
- "Suicide blast in Diala leaves 27 casualties," 9/7/09
icasualties.org
Iraq Body Count
Karadesh, Jomana, "Scores killed in multiple Iraq bombings," CNN, 9/10/09
Press TV, "Bomb attacks claims 13, injures 150 in Iraq," 9/4/09
Reuters, "FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Sep 27," 9/27/09
- "FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Sep 28," 9/28/09
- "Iraq market bombs kill four, wound 29," 9/10/09
Rising, David, "Back-to-back bombs at Shiite shrine," Associated Press, 9/12/09
- "Bombs at Shiite shrine kill 4 Iraqis," Associated Press, 9/13/09
Xinhua, "Car bomb kills two in Iraq," 9/3/09
- "Roadside bomb kills 3 Iraqi soldiers in Baghdad," 9/28/09
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