October closed with a significantly higher number of casualties than did September. At least 6,715 people were killed across Iraq, and another 2,805 were wounded. Due to the nature of the conflict zone, these figures are only rough estimates. Two U.S. servicemembers were also killed during the month, from non-combat causes. Our analysis is below. On Saturday, at least 205 were killed and 104 more were wounded.
In this column, Antiwar.com compiled the deaths of 1,572 civilians and security personnel during October. "Security personnel" includes police, soldiers, Shi’ite militiamen, tribal and other volunteer fighters. The figure falls between the very conservative figure of 1,273 dead from the United Nations and the 1,725 killed reported by the Iraqi government. Antiwar.com found that 2,078 were wounded. The U.N. and Iraqi figures both came in over 2,000 as well.
Those numbers are likely low. Even with all the significant battles taking place, a remarkably low number of Iraqi soldiers are being reported killed. It is also impossible to know the actual number of deaths in Islamic State-controlled territory. Hundreds if not thousands of unreported deaths are occurring, with only hints of their deaths leaking out. Just this week, Human Rights Watch estimated that 600 prisoners were killed in June, but their bodies have not been found.
Likewise, there is a high number of militant deaths in comparison. At least 4,990 militants were reported killed, mostly Islamic State members. Another 505 were reported wounded. Those wounded were likely counted because they were captured. Many of the wounded returned to their camps for treatment. This figure also does not include any of the numerous reports of militant casualties behind enemy lines in airstrikes.
Combining the higher Iraqi government figures with the militant casualties, at least 6,715 were killed and 2,805 were wounded. These figures are higher than September’s, which were 3,790 killed and 1,949 wounded.
On Saturday:
An Albu Nimr tribal leader says the tribe is ready to attempt an operation to take back the city of Hit, but they will need to coordinate it with the Iraqi and U.S. governments. There are also reports that 50 tribe members were kidnapped on Saturday. Airstrikes were launched on Saturday.
In Baghdad, a suicide truck bomber killed 24 people and wounded 52 in Doura. Eleven were killed and 42 were wounded in a blast on Palestine Street.
Three people were killed and four were wounded during shelling in Falluja.
Shelling in al-Baghdadi left two security members dead and six civilians wounded.
Militants arrested 30 young people in the greater Mosul region.
Airstrikes in Duluiya, Albu Geli, Aziz Balad, and Rowashed, left 110 militants dead.
Twenty-two militants were killed in an airstrike on Baiji.
An airstrike killed 18 militants in Khasfah.
In Baaj, an airstrike killed 13 militants.
The body of a militant spokesperson was found dumped in Saidiya.
Many militants were killed during operations in the Thar Thar, Samarra and Falluja regions.
Clashes took place in Ramadi.
Many were reported killed as Peshmerga forces worked their way towards Sinjar.
