Daijiworld Media Network - Baghdad

Baghdad, Aug 23: Iraq's military intelligence on Friday announced the arrest of seven suspected Islamic State (IS) operatives, including two women, in a major crackdown across northern Nineveh province. The arrests were carried out in various locations based on precise intelligence and sustained surveillance efforts.

A statement from the intelligence directorate confirmed the suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.

Major Moataz al-Luhaibi of the Nineveh Operations Command stated that the detainees were long-wanted individuals for their roles during IS's occupation of Nineveh in 2014. He added that the suspects continued their affiliation with IS networks and were involved in attacks targeting both Iraqi security forces and civilians.

Although Iraq declared a formal victory over IS in 2017, the group’s remnants remain active, launching periodic assaults in urban centers, deserts, and remote border regions.

This latest arrest follows a broader pattern of intensified anti-terror operations. On August 12, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) detained 11 IS-linked individuals in coordinated raids across Nineveh, Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, and Salahuddin provinces. Troops also uncovered and destroyed multiple hideouts, tunnels, and a cave packed with explosives.

Earlier on July 23, security forces captured 10 more IS operatives in operations across six provinces — including Diyala, Anbar, and Kirkuk — and eliminated six militant hideouts in Anbar’s desert.

The ICTS has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing and dismantling remaining IS cells and ensuring national security in Iraq.