Islamic State senior leader arrested in Baghdad: Military

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) An Islamic State senior leader, who is known to be the main funder of the so-called South Baghdad State, was arrested in the capital, the military intelligence said.

In a statement, the department said troops, in collaboration with intelligence of the Interior Ministry, managed to arrest one of the main IS members in al-Aadhamiya region in Baghdad.

“The terrorist is known as Abu Dalia. He is the main funder of the so-called South Baghdad State. He was possessing fake identities to mislead security services,” the statement said.

“The militant is the brother of three terrorists who were previously arrested,” it added.

Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

A total of 117 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 264 injured, excluding police, in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in November, according to casualty figures recorded by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

Baghdad was the worst affected Governorate, with 201 civilian casualties (51 killed, 150 injured). Salahuddin Governorate followed, with 24 killed and 60 injured, and Kirkuk had 12 killed and 28 injured.

Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, have been fighting since October 2016 to retake territories Islamic State had occupied.