Iraq targets lingering ISIS pockets with airstrikes, operations in security vacuum after US pullout

In the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, the Iraqi government intensified airstrikes and operations against remnants of ISIS. Despite its weakened state, ISIS remains active in scattered cells across rural areas, presenting a potential threat to stability. The Iraqi government aims to convey its resolve against ISIS exploitation of the security vacuum.

ISIS gained prominence in Iraq in 2014, capitalizing on sectarian tensions and the perceived failures of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government. Al-Maliki, known for his pro-Iran stance, was viewed with disdain by Iraqi Sunnis, who found refuge in the alternative offered by ISIS. The group swiftly defeated two Iraqi army divisions and seized control of military equipment, cementing its strength.

Today, ISIS lacks the former vigor and influence, reduced to aging fighters and a few new recruits. However, certain pockets persist, notably in the Hamrin mountains and Hawija region. Some of these cells maintain connections with ISIS operatives in the Mount Qarachokh area, where they exploit the power vacuum between Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Iraqi federal troops.

On October 11, Iraq's Security Media Cell announced two F-16 airstrikes that completely destroyed an ISIS hideout in the Nareen area of Diyala Operations Command sector. The attacks were based on accurate intelligence from Military Intelligence Directorate, conducted in collaboration with aerial reconnaissance and surveillance centers.

Iraq's concerns extend to ISIS activity west of Kirkuk. The government dispatched Brigadier General Abdul Amir Al-Shammari to Kirkuk, where he coordinated with key military officials regarding security measures and border protection. The meeting concluded with recommendations emphasizing intensified intelligence efforts and coordination among security units to ensure stability and protect citizens.

ISIS recently struck the same village in Kirkuk's Hawija district twice within a 24-hour period, targeting thermal imaging equipment used by Iraqi forces to monitor open farmland and valleys at night. These attacks have reignited attention on northern Iraq's security gaps, areas previously deemed secure by local commanders. Iraqi and Kurdish forces have been engaged in a decades-long fight against ISIS, with significant victories achieved over the past nine years.