Iraqi troops arrest 3 Islamic State militants, including group’s chef, in Mosul
Iraqi security forces arrest a suspected member of the Islamic State group in Iraq. File photo
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that its troops captured three Islamic State militants, including the group’s cook, in Mosul city.
“Military intelligence forces carried out a specific operation in Hamam al-Alil district in Mosul, managing to arrest three militants belonging to Islamic State group,” Sputnik quoted the Iraqi Security Media Center as saying.
“One of those arrested was working as a chef for the terrorist group’s commanders,” the center added.
Iraq declared victory over Islamic State in December with the help of a US-led alliance, having retaken all the territory captured by the extremists in 2014 and 2015.
IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens, most notably the city of Mosul, the group’s previously proclaimed capital.
Isolated cells believed to be linked to the Islamic State group remain active in some parts of the country. In recent weeks, suspected Islamic State insurgents have carried out several attacks targeting security forces in the areas north-west of Kirkuk.