Iraqi forces target ISIS militants in fresh security operation in Diyala

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi forces on Wednesday launched another security operation north of Baghdad to clear out Islamic State (ISIS) remnants from a hotspot for the militant group.

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) pursued ISIS sleeper cells in a new operation in northeastern Diyala to the east of Hamrin Lake, state media reported as the security forces aim to search and secure the area from the terror group.

ISIS seized control of swathes of Iraq 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.

Two ISIS officials were arrested in Nineveh on Tuesday night, according to Security Media Cell.

Diyala, which is an area disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, sees frequent security operations where militant cells are destroyed and ISIS members are arrested.

On Sunday, Iraqi security forces concluded a two-day operation in the Hamrin mountain range where they destroyed 18 ISIS hideouts and seized rockets, equipment, and other explosives.

The PMF also conducted a large security operation in the mountain range earlier this month, which came a week after ISIS killed 15 people and injured 17 others in a bloody attack on Diyala's Miqdadiyah.

The incident was followed by another offensive on Kurdish forces in Kirkuk, another disputed area, where ISIS killed two members of the Peshmerga forces. The lack of coordination between Iraqi and Kurdish forces is blamed for leaving the troops vulnerable to attack.

In July, the Peshmerga ministry said they were working with their Iraqi counterparts on the formation of two joint brigades to counter ISIS remnants in these disputed areas. The deputy Peshmerga minister had said the brigade will be formed after Iraq's October 10 election.

Iraqi forces target ISIS militants in fresh security operation in Diyala

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