Iraqi forces destroy ISIS cell hideout in Zagaitoun Valley

KIRKUK — Iraqi forces destroyed a hideout belonging to a four-member ISIS cell in Kirkuk’s Zagaitoun Valley on Saturday evening, in an operation directed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

The Joint Operations Command confirmed the operation was conducted using precise intelligence provided by the Military Intelligence Directorate and coordinated with the targeting cell of the Joint Operations Command. At 6:50 p.m., F-16 fighter jets struck the hideout, “successfully neutralizing all four members of the group,” according to a statement.

“The operation represents another significant victory for Iraq in its fight against terrorism,” the statement said. “Our security forces and intelligence units remain steadfast in their efforts to track and eliminate the remnants of ISIS.”

Located southeast of Al-Hawija in western Kirkuk province, the Zagaitoun Valley has been a hotspot for ISIS sleeper cell activity. The region has seen periodic attacks on security forces, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by the group. On September 25, 2024, a similar airstrike in the valley killed five militants.

Although ISIS lost its territorial hold in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, the group continues to pose a threat to regional stability. Using guerrilla tactics such as ambushes and targeted attacks, ISIS operates in areas like Syria’s Badiya desert and Iraq’s disputed territories. Reports indicate the group is actively rebuilding networks in Syria and carrying out large-scale attacks.

In Iraq, ISIS remains capable of deadly assaults, resulting in casualties among Iraqi forces. The country has intensified its campaign against the group, eliminating over 100 militants, including several senior leaders, in 2024. In October, Prime Minister Al-Sudani announced the death of ISIS’s leader in Iraq and eight senior operatives in a targeted operation.

Approximately 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria remain part of the international coalition against ISIS, aiding in efforts to prevent the group’s resurgence.