Iraqi troops detained Islamic State terrorist in southern Baghdad

Iraqi troops arrested on Wednesday an Islamic State terrorist, who is involved in launching attacks against security forces and civilians in Baghdad.

“Troops of the 42nd brigade of military intelligence managed to arrest a terrorist in al-Mada’in district in southern Baghdad while trying to flee the area,” the Iraqi Baghdad Today website quoted the Iraqi Military Intelligence Directorate as saying in a statement.

“The arrestee had launched terrorist several terrorist attacks against security forces and civilians in al-Mada’in district,” the statement added.

Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The surge in violence between armed groups and government forces has resulted in over five million internally displaced persons across Iraq and left more than 11 million in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

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.

Source: Iraqi News