Asayish Dismantles Terrorists' Kurdistan State

Kurdistan 09:12 PM - 2024-11-24

Asayish's logo.

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, the General Directorate of Security (Asayish) Operations announced the dismantling of the Islamic State's (ISIS) so-called Kurdistan State cell after extensive operations conducted over several months throughout the Kurdistan Region and the disputed areas.

The directorate announced in a statement that it had conducted a series of operations from August 9 to November 22, in coordination with Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG), Kurdistan Commando Forces, and the Iraqi army. 

The operations covered Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, and Kirkuk provinces, targeting the group's so-called Kurdistan Wilayat (state), which Asayish classified as "dangerous."

According to the Asayish statement, the terrorists were plotting to:

- Connect the ISIS sleeper cells in Kurdistan and Iraq with terrorists in Turkey and Iran.

- Maintain ongoing activity in the area.

- Implement temporary checkpoints staffed by personnel in military attire.

- Abduct merchants to extort funds for the ISIS terrorist organisation.

- Target against security services, government and party officials, civilians, checkpoints, and military bases.

The statement also revealed that five ISIS terrorists were eliminated, 14 arrested, and various weapons, explosive devices, suicide belts, and thermal military cameras were confiscated, with all their hideouts being destroyed.

Three members of the Asayish forces were martyred during the operations, and three further members sustained injuries. There are reportedly three injuries among the Iraqi security forces. 

Furthermore, the statement noted several ISIS suspects were captured in Shahrizor and were reunited with their families after rehabilitation.

ISIS seized large swathes of Iraqi land in 2014, declaring a "caliphate" and killing thousands of people there before Baghdad declared victory in 2017. However, remnants of the terrorists are still active in the country, especially in the regions disputed between Erbil and Baghdad.

The terrorists ambush, kidnap, and extort both civilians and members of the security forces in the disputed areas, which stretch across several provinces, including Kirkuk, Nineveh, Diyala, and Saladin.

Last week, an IED explosion in Tuz Khurmatu, Saladin Governorate, martyred a regiment commander, an engineering officer of a brigade from the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and an Iraqi soldier.

Security forces conduct frequent operations to completely eliminate the terrorists. 

 

PUKMEDIA