Politics

Iraqi forces capture five senior IS leaders in cross-border operation

Iraqi security forces have captured five top Islamic State (IS) leaders in a cross-border raid done in coordination with US-backed forces in Syria.

Karzan Sulaivany 2018/05/10 16:05

middle east Iraq Syria Islamic State

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi security forces have captured five top Islamic State (IS) leaders in a cross-border raid done in coordination with US-backed forces in Syria.

Army Colonel Ryan Dillon, Spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the US-led coalition against IS, confirmed the news in a statement on Thursday.

Dillon described the capture as “a significant blow” to the extremist group who remains active in parts of Syria and Iraq.

The US-led coalition “is committed to [the] lasting defeat of Da’esh [and] setting conditions for stabilization,” the spokesperson added, using the Arabic pejorative for IS.

#Iraq captures 5 key Daesh leaders during #OperationRoundup. The arrest is a significant blow to Daesh & demonstrates close coordination between #ISF & #SDF in their fight to #defeatDaesh. @CJTFOIR is committed to lasting defeat of Daesh & setting conditions for stabilization.
— OIR Spokesman (@OIRSpox) May 10, 2018

US President Donald Trump also confirmed the news via his favorite social networking site, Twitter.

“Five Most Wanted leaders of ISIS just captured!” Trump tweeted.

Five Most Wanted leaders of ISIS just captured!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2018

The US-led coalition has supported Iraqi troops as well as Kurdish-led forces in the years-long war against IS, providing air support as well as military advice and assistance.

According to a report by the New York Times, the capture of the militants ended a three-month operation which tracked a group of senior IS leaders who were hiding in Syria and Turkey.

NYT cited two unnamed Iraqi intelligence officials who said those captured included four Iraqis and one Syrian “whose responsibilities included governing [IS’] territory around Deir al-Zor, Syria, directing internal security, and running the administrative body that oversees religious rulings.”

Iraq has recently engaged in cross-border operations against IS in Syria, most recently on May 6 in the al-Dashisha area, located near the Iraqi border.

Iraqi warplanes also bombarded IS targets on April 19, killing at least 36 IS members, the Prime Minister’s office revealed.