SULAIMANI (ESTA) — An Islamic State (ISIS) leader was arrested in coordination with Kurdish forces in the Kurdistan Region’s district of Chamchamal, Iraqi intelligence service said on Thursday (October 1).
Iraqi Intelligence Service said in a statement that its forces had arrested “one of the terrorists” in the outskirts of Chamchamal district in coordination with Kurdish forces in Sulaimani governorate.
The detainee “worked in what it called the Wilayat of Kirkuk, known as Abu Najah … he confessed his affiliation to the organization,” the agency said.
The senior ISIS member had carried out more than 22 “terrorist operations”, including attacks on civilians and security forces, the statemen read.
Iraq declared victory over Islamic State in December 2017 but the militants have regrouped in the Hamrin mountain range which extends into the northern provinces – an area described by officials as a “triangle of death”.
On Tuesday, Yehia Rasool, spokesman for commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said Iraqi counter-terrorism forces arrested nine ISIS militants in coordination with Kurdish security forces in Sulaimani.
On September 8, Rasool also said a senior ISIS member was arrested alongside another wanted person in coordination with the Kurdish counter-terrorism forces in Sulaimani province.
In July, Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service said there was “high-level coordination” between the agency and the Kurdistan Region’s counter-terrorism service to unify security efforts to defeat ISIS militants.
