Iraqi forces arrest four ISIS members, including female smuggler

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi counterterrorism forces on Tuesday announced the arrests of four suspected Islamic State members, including a woman who had allegedly attempted to smuggle SIM cards to remnants of the group in Anbar Province.

The four were apprehended north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a statement issued by the Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) read, without specifying further details. The arrest was based on “precise intelligence,” ICTS spokesman Sabah al-Nu’man said.

Nu’man added that among the detainees was a woman “who is responsible for the distribution of funds to members of the organization.”

The spokesman also pointed out security forces had found in her possession 600 SIM cards hidden inside olive oil cans and silicon paste tubes. The department also posted a video claiming it was of them identifying and uncovering how the devices were hidden.

He alleged the detainees were planning to smuggle the electronic items into Anbar Province and distribute them among Islamic State fighters who still operate in the barren desert region.

Although militarily defeated in Iraq in December 2017, the Islamic State continues to wage an insurgency in several provinces across the country through suicide bombings, roadside explosions, ambushes, and kidnappings.

Last week, the Directorate of military intelligence said security forces had killed a would-be suicide bomber, without specifying his allegiance. It also announced the arrest of a member of the Islamic State’s al-Hisbah, also known as the “morality police.”

Editing by Nadia Riva