At a Glance

• The Kurdistan Region Security Agency (Asayish) successfully dismantled the ISIS "5th Battalion" of "Wilayah Kurdistan", arresting 22 members during a targeted 96-hour operation.
• The cell planned to establish a terrorist emirate in Hawraman or Sharazoor, plant IEDs in Halabja, launch armed assaults on security forces, and link localized sleeper cells with international networks.
• Security forces confiscated an RPG launcher, a mortar shell, 6 hand grenades, 6 Kalashnikovs with 300 rounds, 2 pistols, surveillance cameras, and military gear.

The Kurdistan Region Security Agency (Asayish) announced the dismantling of an ISIS armed group affiliated with 'Wilayah Kurdistan' and the arrest of 22 of its members during a series of targeted anti-terror operations.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Asayish stated that, “The General Directorate of Asayish Operations, based on intelligence data and comprehensive investigations conducted between September 8 and September 12, 2026, executed a series of operations over a 96-hour period.”
• According to the agency, the group planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and orchestrated bombings inside Halabja Province. 
• Following the successful disruption of the cell, security forces confiscated a massive tactical cache consisting of diverse military hardware, heavy arms, and specialized gear. 

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The captured cell, operating as the "5th Battalion" of the ISIS "Wilayah Kurdistan," had formulated comprehensive plans to organize their ranks and secure formal pledges of allegiance (Bay'ah) among members.

Beyond local sabotage, the terrorists actively monitored regional security forces with the intention of launching armed assaults on tactical training sessions using medium and heavy weaponry. 

Their strategic blueprint also envisioned establishing a hardline terrorist emirate (Amarat) centered within the Hawraman or Sharazoor regions.

To sustain their network, the cell worked to coordinate operational channels between localized ISIS sleeper cells in greater Iraq and international terrorist organizations abroad while systematically collecting financial funds to secure additional weaponry.

The recovered arsenal contained an RPG launcher paired with three rockets and five propellant charges, alongside a standalone mortar shell and six high-explosive hand grenades. 

Officers also seized six Kalashnikov assault rifles backed by 13 magazines and 300 active rounds, in addition to two pistols containing 100 rounds of ammunition. 

The comprehensive raid further uncovered critical surveillance equipment, including an integrated monitoring camera and a pair of military-grade binoculars, wrapped among various standard-issue military uniforms and logistical tactical gear.

The suspects are currently detained under Article 2 of the Anti-Terrorism Law as legal investigations into the case remain ongoing.

Asayish also has released a video containing the confessions of the detainees, who discuss their group's plans and how they joined the network. 

FYI

Following its territorial defeat in Iraq in 2017, ISIS shifted from holding large swathes of land to using independent local networks. 

This major counterterrorism operation took place just weeks before the formal conclusion of the U.S.-led Global Coalition's military mission in Iraq on September 30, 2026. In response to this departure, Baghdad declared October 1st as a national "Sovereignty Day" holiday, marking a permanent transition toward a traditional, intelligence-sharing bilateral relationship with the United States. 

Following the Coalition departure, the Kurdistan Regional Government reaffirmed that the withdrawal marks a transition—not an end—to their defense partnerships, urging public unity and self-reliance while pivoting toward direct bilateral alliances and closer joint-security cooperation with Baghdad to block any potential ISIS resurgence.

Kurdish security forces remain heavily focused on security gaps in disputed territories, especially as the federal government prepares to enforce a June 2027 disarmament deadline for independent regional militias.

Demonstrating their heightened state of readiness, Asayish forces have conducted multiple major sweeps this year, including an August operation that captured seven militants and a July raid that successfully rescued two hostages from an active cell. 

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