Captured ISIS operative held in Erbil, Baghdad demands his handover

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A Kurdish military official has told Rudaw that a high-ranking Islamic State (ISIS) operative captured by US commandos on Sunday is now being held in Erbil despite Baghdad’s demand for his handover.

The Kurdish military official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the ISIS operative was captured by a special team of American commandos near Zab in Kirkuk province.

The Peshmerga did not participate in the commando raid, said the official but the operation was conducted with Peshmerga knowledge and cooperation.

“The ISIS operative was in charge of all of Kirkuk and was a high-ranking commander in the former Iraqi army,” he said.

The Kurdish official said that the Iraqi government has demanded the handover of the ISIS operative which has been rejected by both the Americans and the Kurdish government.

The US Defense Department said late Tuesday that its commandos in Iraq had detained an important ISIS militant who would be handed over to the Kurdish or Iraqi authorities once interrogations are complete.

The Kurdish military official said that arguments have ensued between the Americans and Iraqi authorities over the operative.

US commandos have conducted several raids against ISIS west of Kirkuk in the past and in 2015 in Syria they killed ISIS leader Abu Sayyaf and captured his wife who is now being held in Erbil.