Wives of three Islamic State leaders arrested with fake IDs

Security forces arrested on Tuesday wives of three Islamic State leaders, including the terrorist group’s wali (governor) in Mosul, a security official said.

“The three wives were arrested at a security checkpoint in Tal Afar district west of Mosul, while trying to move to another area using fake IDs,” Captain Ahmed al-Obeidi from Nineveh police told the semi-official Al-Sabah newspaper on Tuesday.

“They were remanded into custody for interrogation on crimes committed by their husbands,” Obeidi said, adding that prosecutors will ask the three women about where their husbands could be hiding.

In August, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced that Nineveh province has been “fully liberated” from Islamic State, after the district of Tal Afar was re-captured.

Abadi’s announcement followed the defeat of the militant group in the town of Ayadiya, where the militants had fled to from Tal Afar. The group has suffered a string of territorial losses in recent months.

On Saturday, Abadi declared final victory over Islamic State three years after the militant group captured about a third of Iraq’s territory.

In a speech during the international media conference held at the journalists syndicate in Baghdad, Abadi said, “Our troops gained full control on the Iraqi-Syrian borders. We announce the end of war against Islamic State.”

“Our battle against the enemy, who wanted to destroy our civilization, is over. Thus, we gained victory through our unity and determination that made us defeat IS in short time,” he said.

Abadi’s announcement comes two days after Russia announced a similar victory over Islamic State militants in neighboring Syria. Abadi declared Dec. 10 an annual national holiday on this occasion.

Source: Iraqi News