Iraqi military intelligence has arrested seven suspected Islamic State (IS) operatives, including two women, in the northern province of Nineveh, officials confirmed on Friday. The arrests followed &ldquo;accurate intelligence information and intensive field monitoring,&rdquo; the military said.
Major Moataz al-Luhaibi of the Nineveh Operations Command said the detainees were linked to IS activities dating back to the group&rsquo;s control of the province in 2014. &ldquo;They continued working with their cells and participated in attacks against Iraqi security forces and civilians,&rdquo; he added.
The suspects have been handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation. This comes amid ongoing counter-terrorism operations across Iraq, aimed at eliminating residual IS networks despite the group&rsquo;s declared defeat in 2017.
Earlier this month, Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) forces arrested 11 IS suspects in Nineveh, Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, and Salahuddin provinces. The operations also led to the destruction of IS hideouts, tunnels, and explosives caches.
Even after their 2017 defeat, IS remnants continue to carry out sporadic attacks in cities, deserts, and remote regions. Security forces have intensified intelligence-led operations to prevent further threats and dismantle underground networks.
The ICTS confirmed that it will continue its mission to eliminate the remaining IS elements across Iraq, ensuring public safety and stability in the region.

Iraqi forces detain 7 suspected IS members in Nineveh amid ongoing operations

Iraq arrests 7 suspected IS terrorists

Iraqi forces detain 7 suspected IS members in Nineveh amid ongoing operations

August 23, 2025 | 22:27 IST