Iraqi forces capture three suspected ISIS members in Nineveh, including cell leader

NINEVEH – Iraqi forces have captured three suspected members of the Islamic State group in Nineveh province on Sunday, according to a statement from the country’s Military Intelligence Directorate.

“Based on precise intelligence from the 16th Division’s intelligence unit, the heroes of the Military Intelligence Directorate, in cooperation with the security forces holding the ground, carried out several special operations that resulted in the arrest of three terrorists wanted by the Iraqi judiciary,” the statement read.

The arrests occurred in the Hammam al-Alil and Wanna areas of Nineveh. The captured individuals played significant roles within ISIS, including a cell leader, a primary transporter, and an administrator. A third detainee was identified as a fighter. All three had been involved in multiple attacks on Iraqi security forces.

The detainees have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further legal action.

ISIS, which declared a caliphate in 2014 and seized large parts of Iraq, including Mosul, was largely defeated by 2017 through combined efforts from Iraqi forces, Kurdish fighters, and international support, particularly from the United States. Despite losing its territorial hold, ISIS remnants continue to pose a security challenge in remote regions.

A United Nations report published in July estimated ISIS’s presence in Iraq and Syria had dwindled to 1,500-3,000 fighters due to battlefield defeats, desertions, and recruitment difficulties. The report noted that while ISIS activity in Iraq has been “mostly contained,” the group still retains the capability to carry out sporadic, impactful attacks across the region.