By Anas al-Bar | 2026-11-03

Remnants of the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) are under relentless pursuit by advanced Iraqi aviation forces, even within their secure remote hideouts.

Throughout October, a series of intense airstrikes decimated secret headquarters positioned deep within the remote, rugged valleys of Diyala and Kirkuk.

On October 11, Iraqi F-16 fighter jets obliterated a dangerous ISIS safe house in the Narin area through two consecutive precision strikes.

Just two days later, the air force targeted three additional insurgent dens in Kirkuk’s Zgheitoun Valley, successfully neutralizing those positions.

According to official reports, these tactical operations struck their targets with devastating accuracy, directly eliminating extremists entrenched within these isolated and difficult strongholds.

These persistent actions highlight the government's unwavering commitment to removing any remaining threats that attempt to destabilize the recovering provinces.

Local intelligence fuels security success

Kirkuk Operations Command officials confirmed that at least two terrorists were eliminated during the critical operation in the Zgheitoun Valley sector.

Such tactical success demonstrates that Iraqi security forces possess highly accurate, real-time intelligence regarding the movements and hideouts of these extremist cells.

"This vital intelligence network is constantly refined through direct reports from local villagers observing any suspicious activity nearby," military analyst Safaa al-Aasam told Al-Fassel.

"Security personnel immediately cross-reference these local tips with existing classified information to confirm active terrorist hubs before any aircraft deployment," he added.

Once a site is verified, the Iraqi Air Force launches decisive strikes, followed immediately by sweeping operations to pursue any survivors in the area.

These missions also involve searching captured dens for communication devices, cameras, and computers, while systematically destroying any remaining stockpiles of weapons and ammunition.

Civilian trust empowers Iraqi security

"The trust once exploited by extremist groups has completely collapsed among the local civilian population today," researcher Raad al-Dulaimi told Al-Fassel

He noted that the "lingering, painful tragedies from the brutal ISIS era have forced communities to categorically reject the terrorists and their twisted ideologies."

Consequently, citizens now eagerly cooperate with security forces, reporting even minor suspicious details as a vital step toward long-term regional stability.

These residents have endured years of devastating war and displacement, and they now prioritize living in peace and economic prosperity, al-Dulaimi said.

Sustained public support for intelligence operations serves as the definitive guarantee that Iraq remains focused on lasting security, growth, and national unity.