Politics

Iraq captures first IS fighter responsible for death of six hostages: Security

Iraq security forces announced the arrest of one of the Islamic State (IS) militants responsible for the kidnapping and death of six Iraq security force members that sparked anger across the nation and led to a controversial decision to execute multiple death row inmates.

John J. Catherine 2018/06/30 08:55

middle east Iraq ISIS Baghdad Abadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq security forces announced the arrest of one of the Islamic State (IS) militants responsible for the kidnapping and death of six Iraq security force members that sparked anger across the nation and led to a controversial decision to execute multiple death row inmates.

Soldiers "were able to provide accurate intelligence and arrest one of the perpetrators of the kidnapping and murder of six citizens from Karbala and Ramadi that occurred on the road to Kirkuk," read a statement released on Friday by Baghdad Operations Command, the coordinating command of all security forces in the province.

The units that took part in the operation were listed as the Iraqi Army's 6th Infantry Division, Counter-Terrorism forces, and unspecified intelligence forces.

Earlier this week, IS released a video in which they threatened to kill six males shown who identified themselves as security force members if Iraq did not release Sunni female prisoners.

Iraqi authorities refused and security forces later found the captives’ bodies, dismembered and dumped by the roadside on Wednesday in Salahuddin Province’s Tuz Khurmatu district.

Following news of the discovery of the corpses, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi promised to avenge the deaths of the IS hostages.

“Our security and military forces will take forceful revenge against these terrorist cells,” Abadi told senior military officials and ministers, according to Al Jazeera. “We promise that we will kill or arrest those who committed this crime.”

A government statement released on Friday read, “Based on the directive of the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, twelve convicted terrorists whose sentences had passed the decisive stage were executed on Thursday.”

More immediate executions have been promised, causing condemnation by human rights organizations. On Friday, Human Rights Watch said, "In Iraq, where the trials of ISIS suspects fail to meet even the most basic markers of due process, [the death penalty's] application is particularly concerning."