Iraq keeps focus on terror funding
Iraqi operations against Islamic State cells continue to rely on intelligence and airstrikes more than group battles.
BAGHDAD — Operations resulting in dozens of arrests and the destruction of weapons caches of alleged Islamic State (IS) cells across Iraq in recent weeks continue to rely to some extent on US-led international coalition intelligence and air power.
Iraqi forces arrested 81 people, including four who had infiltrated across the Syrian border, in the week between May 14 and May 21, the Security Media Cell of the Joint Operations Command said May 28, adding that seven alleged “terrorists” had been killed.
During the same week, coalition aircraft carried out nine airstrikes and destroyed five “terrorist hideouts” in the Hamrin Mountains, military spokesman Yehia Rasool said May 15 on Twitter.
The Hamrin Mountains and the surrounding area have long served as an insurgent hideout and US-trained Iraqi Counterterrorism Services forces sent in on the ground often call in coordinates for airstrikes.
