DUBAI, UAE – Four Islamic State (ISIS) suspects, including a senior commander were killed in an airstrike by Iraqi forces on Sunday in a “targeted operation” in Salahaddin province, according to a Joint Operations Command, Security Media Cell statement.

The operation, directed by Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, was carried out following “days of surveillance and intelligence gathering” by the Military Intelligence Directorate. The strike, conducted by Iraqi F-16 jets, targeted “a terrorist cell in the Al-Ith area, a known stronghold for remnants of the terrorist group.”

“Among those killed was an individual known as Al-Bazi, commander of ISIS operations in Salahaddin province,” the statement said. “The strike also destroyed a cache of weapons, explosives, communication equipment, and other logistical materials.”

“This operation is a continuation of the efforts to eradicate the remaining elements of ISIS,” the statement said, adding that Iraqi forces will “relentlessly pursue and eliminate the group’s leadership.”

The Iraqi government has intensified operations against ISIS remnants following the group’s territorial defeat, though sporadic insurgent activities remain in remote areas.

Despite being territorially defeated in 2017, ISIS militants continue to pose a security threat in Iraq through hit-and-run operations and attacks on remote areas. Iraqi forces have intensified their efforts to eliminate these remnants, especially in provinces like Kirkuk, Anbar, and Nineveh, where ISIS cells remain active. 

In a recent airstrike on Thursday, four alleged ISIS militants were killed in the village of Tapakur in Kirkuk province after they had infiltrated the area. 

Similar operations have been carried out across Iraq, as the military targets the group's hideouts and leadership in an ongoing campaign to maintain security and stability.