SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi forces detained 10 members of the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group in several provinces, a military spokesperson said on Monday.
The counter-terrorism forces carried out a series of operations in Kirkuk and Saladin provinces, detaining two ISIS members, said Yehia Rasool, spokesman for commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Rasool added that a special force of the counter-terrorism service also detained three ISIS militants in Rutba desert in west of Anbar.
Five more ISIS members were detained by the security forces in Baghdad and Anbar provinces following the confession of other arrested militants, he said in a statement.
Iraqi forces have stepped up operations to arrest ISIS members in the provinces of Kirkuk, Baghdad, Saladin, Diyala, Nineveh and Anbar.
The federal government announced victory over ISIS 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.
