Iraqi Military Intelligence arrests alleged ISIS logistics operative in Kirkuk’s Hawija

KIRKUK — Iraqi Military Intelligence forces operating under the Ministry of Defense have reported the arrest of an alleged ISIS logistics operative in Hawija, Kirkuk governorate, following a targeted operation based on precise intelligence information.

According to a statement from the Directorate of Military Intelligence, “In line with the directives of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to intensify intelligence efforts and combat terrorism, our forces, relying on accurate information from the intelligence units of the 8 th Division, successfully arrested an individual suspected of being a logistics operative for ISIS.”

The suspect was wanted under Article 4 of the Iraqi Anti-Terrorism Law and is accused of acting as a primary transporter for ISIS cells, allegedly facilitating the delivery of food, medicine, military equipment, and other logistical supplies to the group through various means.

The statement added that the suspect has been transferred to the relevant authorities for further investigation and legal proceedings.

ISIS cells continue to exploit security gaps in Iraq’s disputed territories, particularly in areas disputed between the Kurdish Region and the federal government. These regions, including parts of Kirkuk, Salah Al-Din, Nineveh, and Diyala governorates, have witnessed a resurgence of ISIS activities, taking advantage of the lack of coordinated security efforts.

Recent incidents highlight this ongoing threat. In October 2024, an ISIS ambush near Kirkuk resulted in the deaths of four Iraqi soldiers and injuries to three others. The previous month, Iraqi warplanes conducted airstrikes in the disputed areas, killing six suspected ISIS members, underscoring the group’s persistent presence.

In October 2024, a joint operation between U.S. and Iraqi forces resulted in the death of Jassim al-Mazroui Abu Abdul Qader, the ISIS leader in Iraq, along with eight senior leaders in the Hamrin Mountains.

The evolving situation in Syria following the fall of Bashar Al-Assad further exacerbates the risk of ISIS regrouping, raising concerns about the fate of camps and detention sites holding thousands of captured ISIS fighters. This instability could facilitate ISIS’s resurgence and cross-border operations into Iraq, although the authorities are giving assurances that borders are fortified.