ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi security forces on Monday identified and destroyed six suspected Islamic State (ISIS) hideouts in Kirkuk province during an airborne operation, the army said.

“An airborne force of heroes from the special forces carried out a swift security operation at dawn today, Monday,” Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said in a statement.

“Field operations resulted in the identification of six terrorist hideouts in the Zghitun Valley area, within the Kirkuk Operations Command sector. The brave pilots … targeted and destroyed them with precise airstrikes,” it added.

Zghitun Valley is an area in Kirkuk province located east of Hawija district and is infamous for ISIS activity.

Although ISIS was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017, the group continues to pose a security threat through sporadic hit-and-run attacks and operations in remote areas. Iraqi security forces, often coordinating with Kurdish forces, have stepped up efforts to eliminate the group's remaining cells.

Later on Monday, the Kurdistan Region Security Agency (Asayish) said it captured two suspected ISIS members in separate operations coordinated with Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) in Sulaimani province earlier this month.

“On June 14, 2026, in two separate operations…both wanted terrorists were arrested within the jurisdiction of Sulaimani and the Raparin Administration. After the operations were carried out, the wife and child of one of the terrorists were also rescued, having previously been held captive by that armed terrorist,” the Asayish said.

Earlier this month, the CTS announced that one of its personnel was killed during clashes with ISIS militants in Kirkuk province, following a series of security operations targeting the group.

In May, Iraq's defense ministry announced that it had killed “several” alleged ISIS members during a security operation in Kirkuk and destroyed their hideouts, which are “used by terrorist groups as shelters and logistical support centers,” according to the ministry.