ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The bodies of six Islamic State (ISIS) militants were discovered on Friday who were killed in Iraqi army airstrikes in Kirkuk province days earlier, including a senior member. 

The “preemptive” operation was carried out on Wednesday in Mount Hamrin by Iraqi F16 aircraft, targeting "an important hideout for terrorists,” Iraqi Defense Ministry's Security Media Cell announced on Friday. 

Among the six slain ISIS militants was Abu Ubaida, the so-called Deputy Assistant Governor of ISIS.

"These preemptive operations, which are based on accurate intelligence information, have had impressive, high-level results in eliminating the remaining defeated remnants of the terrorist gangs,” the security cell detailed. 

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.

Iraqi security forces on Saturday announced arresting four suspected members of ISIS, in operations carried out in coordination with the Kurdistan Region's local security forces (Asayish).

In November, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani reiterated support for the security forces in their pursuit of ISIS remnants, stressing that “there is no place for terrorists in Iraq” and that armed forces will continue their operations until the country is “cleansed” from ISIS.