SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi counter-terrorism service said it had carried out more than 253 military operations against Islamic State (ISIS) this year.
The counter-terrorism service said in a statement on Saturday that its forces had arrested 292 ISIS militants during military operations against the group in 2020.
As many as 206 ISIS militants were also killed during the operation backed by Iraqi air force and U.S.-led Coalition forces, the statement read.
The counter-terrorism service added that its digital teams had been able to track 26,280 accounts of “terrorist gangs” on social media platforms and instant messaging sites.
“The operations … aimed to create a safe and stable environment for the Iraqi people,” the counter-terrorism service said.
The federal government announced victory over Islamic State by the end of 2017 after Iraqi and Kurdish forces backed by U.S.-led Coalition regained control of areas once captured by the militant group.
Despite its defeat, ISIS still poses a threat to the security and stability of the country as there are still sleeper cells in Iraq.