Iraqi security forces detained at least 27 Islamic State terrorists in Mosul

As many as 27 Islamic State militants were arrested Monday during a security campaign in Hamam al-Alil district in Mosul, a policeman in the Nineveh Operations Command said.

Speaking to the Iraqi Basnews website, Lieutenant Colonel Roshdy Abbas said that “the Nineveh Operations Command launched a security campaign after receiving intelligence reports about the presence of Islamic State infiltrators in the central island in Hamam al-Alil, 20 km south of Mosul.”

“The troops, backed by the Iraqi Air Force, raided the whole area and arrested 27 IS militants,” he said, adding that the arrestees were later taken into the headquarters of the Nineveh Operation Command for interrogation.

Last year, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced liberation of the second largest Iraqi city of Mosul from IS militants, who had captured it in 2014. More than 25,000 militants were killed throughout the campaign, which started in October 2016.

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

Abadi’s announcement came 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.

Despite the group’s crushing defeat at its main havens across Iraq, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks against troops with security reports warning that the militant group still poses a threat against stability in the country.

Source: Iraqi News