Asayish Dismantles Two ISIS Cells, Captures Sharia Emir
At a Glance
- The Kurdistan Region Security Agency dismantled two armed ISIS cells and arrested 22 suspects of Kurdish ethnicity.
- A prominent ISIS sharia emir was apprehended following an armed clash in Khurmal.
- The 96-hour operation thwarted imminent mid-September terror attacks and uncovered a massive stockpile of heavy, medium, and light weaponry.
The Kurdistan Region Security Agency (Asayish) has dismantled two armed ISIS cells and captured a senior sharia emir following an armed clash in Khurmal, arresting twenty-two suspects and thwarting imminent mid-September terrorist attacks.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Asayish stated that, “The General Directorate of Asayish Operations, in an operation involving an armed clash, successfully apprehended a sharia emir (religious leader) of ISIS in Khurmal at 23:20 on the night of September 12, 2026.”
- “All arrested members of the group are of Kurdish ethnicity,” Asayish confirmed.
The Kurdistan Region Security Agency announced on Saturday that it had dismantled two armed ISIS cells and several sleeper networks, arresting 22 suspects across Slemani and Halabja provinces.
The multi-agency counter-terrorism operation was executed over a 96-hour period under judicial warrants issued in accordance with Article 2 of the Anti-Terrorism Law.
According to Asayish, security forces seized a large cache of heavy, medium, and light weaponry, alongside explosives and hand grenades, disrupting the group's plans to execute multiple terrorist attacks in mid-September.
“Currently, all suspects have been detained, and the investigation into the case is ongoing. All evidence and intelligence are at the disposal of the General Directorate of Asayish Operations and the Honorable Investigative Judge,” the statement added.
Asayish further reported that gunfire broke out at 23:20 on Saturday during the apprehension of the group's sharia emir; however, tactical forces successfully secured the suspect and concluded the operation with no reported casualties.
Asayish stated that full confessions and all accompanying evidence will be disclosed to the public in the near future.
FYI
Despite losing its territorial control in Iraq in 2017, ISIS continues to operate as an insurgency through clandestine sleeper cells that exploit security vacuums in Kurdistan Region an Iraq.
The Kurdistan Region Security Agency routinely conducts preemptive intelligence sweeps to counter these networks and prevent localized attacks.
ISIS militants launched an attack on a military outpost yesterday belonging to the Kirkuk Operations Command's Commando Regiment in Batma village, located within the Hawija district.
While the assault resulted in no casualties, security forces have deployed to the scene and initiated a search operation after a thermal surveillance camera at the post was destroyed.
These security operations come as the U.S.-led International Coalition accelerates its final withdrawal from Iraq. Under a formal agreement between Baghdad and Washington, the Coalition’s counter-ISIS mission is scheduled to officially conclude on September 30.
While Kurdish and Iraqi security officials maintain that local forces are fully capable of protecting sovereignty, defense analysts warn that ISIS sleeper cells are attempting to leverage the transition period to stage localized insurgent attacks across disputed territories.
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