Security forces (Asayish) in Sulaimani on Friday announced the arrest of 55 Islamic State (ISIS) suspects, including three emirs, in a five-month-long operation.
The Asayish carried out tens of raids against several ISIS groups it claimed were planning terrorist attacks in multiple cities, the force announced in a statement late on Friday.
The raids were carried out in Sulaimani and Halabja provinces and disputed areas of Kirkuk.
The operation was launched following “an intensive investigation” and after obtaining “detailed evidence and intelligence,” said the Asayish.
ISIS seized control of swathes of Iraqi land in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in 2017 but it continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces.
Thousands of people have been detained across Iraq since 2014 for suspected links to terrorist groups, including ISIS, and hundreds have been executed.
In August, Sulaimani Asayish arrested three ISIS suspects based on intelligence from federal Iraqi forces.
Source : Rudaw