Prominent Islamic State leader arrested west of Anbar

A prominent leader with the Islamic State militant group has been arrested in a security operation, west of Anbar, a security source said on Wednesday.

Speaking to Almaalomah website, the source said “security troops managed to kill a prominent Islamic State member in an operation in the 5 kilometers region, west of Anbar.”

The militant, according to the source, “was taken to a detention cell for investigations.”

Last week, Eight Islamic State members were killed in airstrike launched by the Iraqi army in al-Ogeirsha region in the desert of Hit town, west of Ramadi. Earlier in May, the Iraqi military intelligence department announced foiling a terrorist scheme against troops in the desert of Anbar province. On the same day, a paramilitary leader was quoted saying that Iraqi army warplanes killed seven Islamic State militants after bombarding their locations in Wadi Jaal in Hit, west of Anbar.

Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced, in December, full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

Source: Iraqi News