Iraqi troops apprehend Islamic State terrorist in Diyala

The Iraqi army announced on Wednesday that its troops arrested an Islamic State terrorist in the eastern province of Diyala.

The terrorist, according to a statement by the Military Intelligence Directorate, had been fighting against Iraqi troops during the military operations to liberate the country’s territory from the Islamic State group.

He was arrested in al-Khalis district in Diyala on terror charges, the statement read, adding that his arrest is pursuant to the fourth article of the anti-terrorism law.

Iraq’s anti-terrorism law empowers courts to convict people who are believed to have helped jihadists even if they are not accused of carrying out attacks.

In January 2015, Iraqi forces announced liberation of Diyala province from Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The province has seen months of fighting between Iraqi troops and IS militants especially in the Jalawla and Saadiyah areas in the province’s north and areas near the town of Muqdadiyah.

Source: Iraqi News