ISIS attacks decreased by 68% in Iraq
A member of Iraqi Federal Police waves an Iraqi flag as they celebrate victory of military operations against the Islamic State militants in West Mosul, Iraq July 2, 2017. Photo: Reuters
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Global Coalition against Daesh (ISIS) reported a decline in the attacks in Iraq and Syria during the first quarter of 2023 when terrorists are still active despite their defeat.
US Major General Matthew McFarlane, commander of the anti-jihadist coalition, stated that ISIS attacks in Iraq declined by 68 percent from the beginning of 2023 till the first week of April compared to the same period last year, i24 News reported.
McFarlane also explained that the attacks in Syria declined during the same period by 55 percent, i24 News explained.
The United Nations estimated in a February report that ISIS still has ‘5,000 to 7,000 members and supporters’ across Iraq and neighboring Syria, ‘roughly half of whom are fighters,’ i24 News added.
McFarlane also said that over 1,300 third-country nationals had been repatriated from the Kurdish-administered Al-Hol camp in northwest Syria, which is home to about 50,000 people, including family members of suspected jihadists, The Defense Post reported.
Last month, an Iraqi general said ISIS still had up to 500 active fighters in the country, now based in remote desert and mountain hideouts, The Defense Post illustrated.
A UN report mentioned that ISIS cells operate in rural mountain areas, leveraging the porous Iraqi-Syrian border and retaining maneuverability to evade attacks while trying to rebuild and recover, The Defense Post clarified.
The report estimated ISIS cash reserves at 25 million to 50 million USD and said it had started investing in hotels and real estate to launder money and engaging in cattle rustling to raise funds, The Defense Post added.