Two vehicles destroyed

Joint Operations Command says three terrorists killed in Anbar Desert

ANBAR — Iraq’s Joint Operations Command announced Wednesday the killing of three individuals described as “terrorists,” including a reportedly “important leader,” during a military operation in the Anbar Desert. The operation also resulted in the destruction of two vehicles.

In a statement, the Joint Operations Command detailed that the mission followed a week of surveillance, planning, and monitoring. The operation involved a “coordinated ambush” early Wednesday morning.

The statement noted that the identities of the killed militants are under technical verification, with preliminary information indicating that the individuals were involved in extortion and the collection of funds from shepherds in the area under “false pretenses.”

“Our armed forces will continue to stand against anyone who threatens the security of the country,” the statement read.

Militant activity, particularly involving groups like the Islamic State, remains a persistent security concern in Iraq. ISIS, also known as Daesh, has been responsible for widespread violence, including bombings, extortion, and attacks on civilians and security forces. The group declared a so-called “caliphate” in 2014, seizing large territories across Iraq and Syria.

Although ISIS was militarily defeated in Iraq in December 2017, remnants of the group continue to operate in rural and desert areas, particularly in provinces like Anbar, Salah al-Din, and Nineveh.