Security forces arrest two Islamic State terrorists in Baghdad
Soldiers from the Iraqi Special Forces 2nd Division run to take up positions as troops engage Daesh militants, while pushing through the Samah area and into the Arbagiah neighborhood of Mosul on November 11, 2016. (Photo by AFP)
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Two Islamic State terrorists were arrested Wednesday while trying to infiltrate into the Iraqi capital Baghdad coming from Anbar, the country’s intelligence service was quoted as saying.
Almaalomah website quoted the Iraqi intelligence and security directorate as saying that the two terrorists were attempting to sneak into Baghdad from Anbar when they got arrested at a security checkpoint upon intelligence reports.
“The pair were wanted on terror charges pursuant to article no. 4/1 of the anti-terrorism law,” the directorate said, adding that they were handed over to the competent authorities for interrogation.
Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence in November 2017 with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.
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.