Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service arrests 11 terror suspects, destroys hideouts in nationwide sweep

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service said Tuesday it has arrested 11 people on terrorism charges and destroyed hideouts, tunnels and caves in multiple governorates in coordination with the National Intelligence Service and Kurdistan Region security forces.

The service said its forces carried out “a series of major operations as part of ongoing national efforts to pursue the remnants of ISIS,” resulting in the arrests and the clearance of several sites.

Five suspects were detained in separate operations in Nineveh, while four others were arrested in different areas of Kirkuk based on “accurate intelligence.” Another suspect was detained in Sulaymaniyah in cooperation with the Asayish security forces, and one more in Salah al-Din.

Supported by army aviation, the operations destroyed seven hideouts in Nineveh. In other missions, forces searched and destroyed three hideouts, three tunnels and a cave containing explosives in the same governorate.

In Salah al-Din, working with the Asayish, forces searched and cleared 13 hideouts, destroyed three tunnels and seized assorted ammunition, detonating landmines and explosive devices under control.

In Kirkuk, in coordination with the National Intelligence Service, six hideouts were searched, while separate operations cleared multiple buildings, four hideouts and three tunnels. The operations concluded with the destruction of a rock hideout in Diyala.

The statement said the missions were carried out under judicial orders, with the courts “playing a key role in completing the work of security forces by issuing arrest warrants,” following intelligence monitoring that enabled “preemptive strikes to eliminate what remains of the terrorist cells targeting the safety and stability of citizens.”