Iraq: conflict events in May 2026
Monthly report from UCDP event data.
9events8 the month before
20est. deaths
0civilian deaths
In May 2026, UCDP recorded 9 organized-violence events in Iraq, with 20 estimated deaths. That is +13% compared with 8 events the month before.
89% of the month's events were state-based armed conflict.
Events were concentrated in Kirkūk province (4), Nīnawá province (2), Al Anbār province (2).
The most active pairing was Government of Iraq - IS with 6 events.
Where events happened
Regions, May 2026
| Region | Events | Est. deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkūk province | 4 | 12 |
| Nīnawá province | 2 | 4 |
| Al Anbār province | 2 | 3 |
| Maysān province | 1 | 1 |
Deadliest events, May 2026
| Date | Where | Parties | Est. deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2026 | Kirkūk province | Government of Iraq vs IS State-based | 4 |
| 23 May 2026 | Dāqūq district Kirkūk province | Government of Iraq vs IS State-based, 2 sources | 4 |
| 23 May 2026 | Qaḑā’ al Ḩaḑar Nīnawá province | Government of Iraq vs IS State-based, 2 sources | 3 |
| 6 May 2026 | Kirkūk province | Government of Iraq vs IS State-based, 2 sources | 3 |
| 4 May 2026 | Qaḑā’ ar Ramādī Al Anbār province | Unidentified armed group vs Unidentified armed group Non-state | 2 |
| 28 May 2026 | Maysān province | Unidentified armed group vs Unidentified armed group State-based | 1 |
| 15 May 2026 | Sinjār district Nīnawá province | Government of Iraq vs IS State-based | 1 |
| 14 May 2026 | Dāqūq district Kirkūk province | Government of Iraq vs IS State-based | 1 |
| 1 May 2026 | Al Anbār province | Unidentified armed group vs Unidentified armed group State-based | 1 |
Parties
| Party | Events |
|---|---|
| Government of Iraq | 6 |
| IS | 6 |
| Unidentified armed group | 6 |
Type of violence
| Category | Events |
|---|---|
| State-based | 8 |
| Non-state | 1 |
| One-sided | 0 |
All months
Monthly reports:Jul 2026Jun 2026May 2026Apr 2026Mar 2026Feb 2026Jan 2026Dec 2025Nov 2025Oct 2025Sep 2025Aug 2025Jul 2025Jun 2025May 2025Apr 2025Mar 2025Feb 2025Jan 2025Dec 2024Nov 2024Oct 2024Sep 2024Aug 2024Jul 2024
Source: UCDP GED and Candidate Events, CC BY 4.0. Counts use the "best" fatality estimate. See methodology.