BAGHDAD – On Tuesday, the Prime Minister of Iraq disclosed that a key leader of the Islamic State (IS) group in the country was eliminated during a military operation, alongside eight other senior figures within the organization.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed that Jassim al-Mazroui, also known as Abu Abdul Qader, was killed in a mission carried out by the anti-terrorism forces and the national security service, coordinated under the Joint Operations Command in the Hamrin Mountains located in Salahuddin province.
In his statement, al-Sudani emphasized Iraq’s commitment to ridding the country of terrorism, asserting, “There is no place for terrorists in Iraq, and we will pursue them to their hideouts and eliminate them.” The Joint Operations Command later highlighted that the operation was executed with the aid of collaborative intelligence and technical support from international coalition forces, underscoring the importance of global partnership in the fight against terrorism.
Details regarding the identities of the other individuals who perished during the operation will be disclosed following confirmation through DNA tests. Additionally, the statement from the Joint Operations Command indicated that the operation yielded substantial amounts of weapons, ammunition, and equipment that were confiscated.
In a related development last month, the United States announced a new agreement with the Iraqi government aimed at concluding the military mission of the American-led coalition combating the Islamic State group by next year. This move includes the withdrawal of U.S. troops from several bases that have been maintained for nearly two decades during their military involvement in Iraq.
The coalition, which consists of more than 80 nations led by the United States, was established to confront IS, which lost control of its territory in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019. Despite these losses, sleeper cells associated with the group continue to exist in both nations and beyond.
Iraqi officials have frequently expressed the desire for a reduction in coalition forces, and discussions to decrease the U.S. military presence have been under way for several months. Authorities maintain that Iraqi security forces are capable of managing the residual sleeper cells and preventing any potential resurgence of the Islamic State within the region.