ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s National Security Service (INSS) said counter-terrorism forces arrested an Islamic State (ISIS) “supplier” and seized weapons caches in the country’s western Anbar province, state media reported Friday.
The state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) cited INSS spokesperson Arshad al-Hakim as saying that “a precise intelligence operation carried out by the Counter-Terrorism Cell in the Anbar desert resulted in the arrest of the individual known as the ‘general supplier’ for arming the ISIS terrorist entity, Abu Sayel, and the seizure of various weapons in his possession.”
He said the operation was based on “in-depth investigations with recently arrested terrorist leaders, which led to the discovery of an arms cache and the tracking of support networks,” adding that investigations are ongoing to dismantle remaining ISIS cells.
The announcement comes amid growing concern among Iraqi officials in Anbar and Nineveh provinces over renewed ISIS activity. Authorities have warned that the group is attempting to exploit security gaps in neighboring Syria following clashes in January between Damascus-affiliated armed groups and Kurdish-led forces, during which ISIS detainees escaped from several detention facilities.
The INSS said on Tuesday that it had dismantled a key ISIS cell in Anbar province, arresting senior figures and seizing weapons and explosives.
Iraqi officials have also voiced concern that the group is exploiting security gaps in Syria following prison breaks involving ISIS detainees during the January clashes.
Convoys of ISIS detainees have been arriving in Iraq in stages from northeast Syria, also known as Rojava. According to Iraqi security data obtained by Rudaw, about 6,000 detainees were recently transferred in 34 convoys.
The transfers were carried out by air and land as part of an ongoing operation coordinated with the US-led international coalition, Iraqi Security Media Cell spokesperson Saad Maan told AFP on Tuesday.