Dropping what was described as a much-needed ordnance on suspected Daesh hide out in the Hamrin Mountains, Iraqi aircraft eliminated four elements of the group, including two high-ranking commanders. This was however, revealed by the country’s security officials at the weekend as they continued their battle to hunt down fully the ISIS group.
The Iraqi Security Media Cell, an official communication apparatus of the Iraqi Security Forces responsible for communicating security incidents and information disclosed that four Daesh militants’ bodies were found at the scene of attack. Described below, this strike carried out by Iraqi F-16 fighting aircraft on Friday demonstrates Iraq’s determination to keep up the pressure on Daesh and its leadership.
Talib Al-Mousawi of the PMF and hailing from Iraq revealed to Reuters that 45 martyrs included two eminent Daesh commanders in Diyala, which is one province that has experienced high levels of militant activity. The PMF that was created as an alliance of factions in 2014 to fight the Daesh threat is now an official branch of Iraq’s security forces, which has a crucial role in defending the country’s security.
The identities of three militants have been confirmed while the identity of the fourth suspect is still being authenticated by Iraqi authorities, according to the Security Media Cell. This ongoing analysis proves us how it is like to disintegrate Daesh’s invisible structure that remains a menace though the so-called caliphate crumbles.
At its peak of power between 2014 and 2017, Daesh ruled over large swaths of areas in Iraq and Syria, imposing a reign of violence over hundreds of millions of people. In the Middle East, the hateful activity of the extremist faction extended its reach, casting a dark, ominous pall over regional security.
Nevertheless, Daesh caliphate collapsed in 2017 in Iraq (formerly a major enclaved hold right at the gate of Baghdad) and in 2019 in Syria (after a firm military campaign directed by a US-led coalition). Though deprived of its territorial base, Daesh has adapted, resorting to operating in discrete, autonomous cells with a leadership structure veiled in secrecy. The lack of organization of the group makes it difficult to get an idea of its real power, and United Nations estimates indicate that the 10 000 core members of the group are still present in its areas.
The community recently executed an airstrike in the mountainous Hamrin Range, which exemplifies Iraq’s continuous attention and its anticipatory efforts to combat residual Daesh threats. As an integral part of a broader strategy, Iraqi security elements are still utilizing intelligence and aerial actions to further disrupt and weaken the operational capacity of residual elements of a terrorist group.
This concerted effort is indicative of a broader governmental commitment to restoring and maintaining peace, security, and stability in regions once blighted by extremist violence. Through the ongoing partnership between Iraqi forces and coalition partners pressure on Daesh is maintained and it is prevented from growing into a resurgent force capable of inflicting unprecedented terror across the land.
Iraq continues to be on high alert moving forward, both dealing with the immediate danger posed by Daesh, and dealing with the root causes that allowed Daesh to flourish. By means of continued collaboration and actions through strategic operations and community resilience efforts, Iraq hopes to one day achieve a life of extremism free, and usher in an age of peace and prosperity for its population.
