ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi security forces on Saturday announced the arrest of nine suspected members of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Salahaddin province amid a countrywide spike in anti-ISIS operations, state media reported.
“The intelligence agency’s detachments specialized in combating terrorism in Salahaddin were able to arrest nine wanted suspects through separate operations and high-level efforts and planning,” state media said, citing a statement from Iraq’s Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency.
They were arrested in accordance with Article Four of the Counter-Terrorism Law of 2005, which says that anyone found guilty of committing a terror offense is given a death sentence, with life imprisonment given to those who assist or hide those convicted of terrorism.
“Upon investigation, they explicitly confessed to belonging to the remnants of the terrorist ISIS gangs and to carrying out many terrorist attacks in Salahaddin province,” the statement added.
ISIS seized control of large swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in 2017 but continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces.
The militants have taken shelter in a security vacuum in areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, stretching across several provinces including Kirkuk, Salahaddin, Nineveh, and Diyala.
Iraqi security forces have intensified their operations against ISIS cells in recent months, particularly in the disputed areas.
On Friday, three ISIS suspects were arrested by Iraqi intelligence forces in the capital Baghdad.
“The intelligence agency’s detachments specialized in combating terrorism in Salahaddin were able to arrest nine wanted suspects through separate operations and high-level efforts and planning,” state media said, citing a statement from Iraq’s Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency.
They were arrested in accordance with Article Four of the Counter-Terrorism Law of 2005, which says that anyone found guilty of committing a terror offense is given a death sentence, with life imprisonment given to those who assist or hide those convicted of terrorism.
“Upon investigation, they explicitly confessed to belonging to the remnants of the terrorist ISIS gangs and to carrying out many terrorist attacks in Salahaddin province,” the statement added.
ISIS seized control of large swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in 2017 but continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces.
The militants have taken shelter in a security vacuum in areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, stretching across several provinces including Kirkuk, Salahaddin, Nineveh, and Diyala.
Iraqi security forces have intensified their operations against ISIS cells in recent months, particularly in the disputed areas.
On Friday, three ISIS suspects were arrested by Iraqi intelligence forces in the capital Baghdad.
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