Asayish Announces Arrest of Nine Terrorism Suspects

PUKMEDIA

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The Kurdistan Region Security Agency (Asayish) has announced the arrest of nine individuals on terrorism-related charges.

The General Directorate of Asayish Operations, in coordination and intelligence-sharing with Iraqi security agencies, carried out a series of operations across Sulaymaniyah, Chamchamal, Sharazur, and the Raparin administration.

According to the statement, the arrests took place between 1 and 27 April 2026 following surveillance operations that led to the identification and detention of all members of the group. The individuals are reported to have previously been active members of Islamic State (ISIS).

Authorities confirmed that all suspects have been detained under Articles 2 and 4 of Iraq’s counter-terrorism law, with investigations ongoing.

In 2014, ISIS seized vast areas of territory across Iraq and Syria, declaring a so-called “caliphate” with the northern Iraqi city of Mosul as its de facto capital.

The group’s territorial control in Iraq came to an end in 2017 following military operations by Iraqi and Kurdish forces, supported by a United States-led international coalition. ISIS was subsequently defeated in Syria two years later.

Despite its territorial defeat, ISIS sleeper cells and hit-and-run attacks continue to pose an ongoing security threat in the region.



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