CTG Forces Arrest IS Member in Joint Operation With Iraq's CTS

CTG's Media Office

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Following a detailed intelligence investigation, the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG), in cooperation with the Iraqi Anti Terrorism Service (CTS), carried out a security operation in the Abu Ghraib area of Baghdad Province, during which, a suspected wanted under Article 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Law by the Baghdad Investigation Court, was arrested.

In a statement obtained by PUKMEDIA, the CTG said the arrest was carried out during a joint security operation conducted by the CTG forces in coordination with the Iraqi CTS.

According to the statement, the suspect had operated as a fighter within the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organisation in the so-called Anbar State and was involved in carrying out multiple terrorist attacks targeting security forces and civilians.

The statement further explained that the suspect fled to Syria following the liberation of Anbar State, along with other IS elements, before illegally re-entering Iraq and resuming terrorist activities in Baghdad and Anbar provinces. He was arrested during a security operation carried out on the night of 26 January 2026.

In 2014, IS seized large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring a so-called “caliphate” with the northern Iraqi city of Mosul as its de facto capital.

The group’s territorial control ended in Iraq in 2017, following operations by Iraqi and Kurdish forces, backed by a US-led international coalition. IS was finally defeated in Syria two years later.

Despite the loss of its territories, IS sleeper cells and hit-and-run attacks have continued to pose security threats in the country.



PUKMEDIA