By Anas al-Bar | 2026-09-25

The Iraqi army has significantly intensified efforts to pursue and eradicate remaining "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) elements.

Through precision airstrikes conducted over recent weeks, the army systematically obliterated their hidden sanctuaries.

Within the rugged Wadi Narin area, situated deep inside the Hamrin mountain range, Directorate of Military Intelligence assets successfully identified a clandestine command headquarters.

Iraqi F-16 fighter jets decisively engaged this site on September 13, neutralizing the threat with two perfectly placed, high-impact missiles.

Intelligence drives effective military action

The remote, treacherous Wadi al-Shai region south of Kirkuk witnessed a fierce, calculated offensive on September 9.

Military authorities launched four coordinated airstrikes, successfully destroying multiple terrorist safe houses while simultaneously eliminating two dangerous insurgents.

This operation followed critical detections of hostile movement by the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), utilizing precise intelligence gathered through vigilant surveillance networks.

This verified data was immediately shared with the elite "targeting cell," which directed specialized Air Force pilots, known as the "Air Falcons," to execute surgical strikes.

These campaigns rely on the tactical element of surprise and vital information harvested from both local residents and sophisticated intelligence assets, signaling growing public trust.

"Defeating ISIS remnants remains a complex process demanding collective effort and shared responsibility from every Iraqi citizen, rather than relying solely on security personnel," said security analyst Fadel Abu Ragheef.

"Progress in uncovering hidden cells within remote valleys is proceeding remarkably well due to integrated, high-level intelligence cooperation," he added.

Abu Ragheef explained that security forces now possess a vast repository of actionable data on terrorist capabilities, operational ranges and the specific locations of lingering insurgent networks.

Counter-terrorism agencies heighten global reach

Security forces now actively track and strike targets through coordinated operations that begin with raw intelligence analysis, transition into precise monitoring and culminate in neutralization.

The exceptional performance of counter-terrorism and military intelligence agencies is no longer limited to pursuing domestic threats within Iraqi borders alone.

"Instead, these agencies now provide crucial information that assists international partners in uncovering terrorist plots, apprehending recruitment networks and dismantling global terrorist financing operations," abu Ragheef noted.

In recent months, intense aerial campaigns have focused on the Wadi Zghaitoun area, a region that ISIS remnants frequently utilized as a supposed safe haven.

Following multiple strikes throughout late July and August, the Joint Operations Command successfully dismantled several operational sites and sleeper cells.

These persistent actions, bolstered by informant tips and continuous field surveillance, reflect a hardening security posture.

By dismantling these networks, Iraq continues to reclaim its stability and security from the remnants of a defeated, yet persistent, extremist ideology.