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IS militants exploit political unrest in Iraq to rise again

Islamic State sleeper cells use the protests’ crisis to their advantage to operate in Iraqi cities.
Iraqi demonstrators take part at the ongoing anti-government protests, in Baghdad, Iraq, December 10, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani - RC2BSD9HE2SO

As protests in Iraq maintain momentum, the Islamic State (IS) has been carrying out more frequent attacks in multiple parts of the country. An IS suicide bomber in a car killed four members of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in Samarra in Salahuddin province and attacked Dibis district in Kirkuk province Dec. 10. 

IS also tried Dec. 10 to target the border camera surveillance system between Salahuddin and Diyala. As a preemptive measure, the Iraqi army has begun pursuing IS members in the northern parts of the country.

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