Iraqi Forces Thwart ISIS Plot, Arrest Key Operatives

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi security forces captured two ISIS operatives in Sulaiman Beg on Friday, disrupting what officials described as an imminent terrorist plot targeting the region, security sources confirmed to Kurdistan 24.

In a counter-terrorism development, Iraqi forces apprehended two ISIS militants in Sulaiman Beg township who were allegedly plotting multiple explosions and terrorist acts across the area. The arrests come in the immediate aftermath of two suicide bombings that claimed several lives over the past 48 hours.

According to the security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of ongoing operations, the two suspects were part of a larger ISIS cell responsible for coordinating recent attacks in the region.

"These individuals were directly connected to the suicide bombings earlier this week and were preparing additional attacks that could have resulted in significant civilian casualties," the source told Kurdistan 24.

The successful operation represents the latest effort in Iraq's ongoing campaign against ISIS remnants that continue to operate in various parts of the country despite the territorial defeat of the terrorist organization in 2017.

Sulaiman Beg, located in Saladin Province approximately 90 kilometers south of Kirkuk, has previously been a flashpoint for terrorist activity due to its strategic location and diverse demographic makeup.

Iraqi security officials have intensified counter-terrorism operations across central and northern provinces in recent months following intelligence reports suggesting ISIS was attempting to reconstitute its operational capabilities in rural areas.

The source added that security forces seized explosive materials and communication devices during the raid, providing valuable intelligence about potential ISIS networks still active in the region.