Court sentences ISIS member to life imprisonment

BAGHDAD — The Central Criminal Court in Baghdad issued a life sentence on Monday for an Islamic State member involved in an attack on security forces in Anbar’s Hit district in 2016.

In a statement, the judiciary’s media office stated, “The Central Criminal Court has sentenced a terrorist affiliated with ISIS to life imprisonment. The criminal participated with ISIS in an attack against security forces in Hit district in 2016.”

Six individuals suspected of belonging to an ISIS sleeper cell were arrested in the Al-Abbasi subdistrict of Kirkuk, the Iraqi Federal Police announced Monday in a statement released by the Ministry of Interior.

Although Iraq declared military victory over the Islamic State in December 2017, the country continues to face threats from remnants of the group. Despite being significantly weakened, ISIS has maintained a covert insurgency, carrying out sporadic attacks and operating sleeper cells in various regions throughout Iraq.