Dhi Qar governor urges firm action against Islamic State sleeper cells

Dhi Qar (Iraqinews.com) – Dhi Qar Governor Yahya al Nasseri warned on Tuesday of the threat of Islamic State sleeper cells at the recently-liberated areas and urged security men to be more cautious following the defeat of Islamic State throughout Iraq.

“The post-Islamic State era is more dangerous and makes it necessary for troops to be on high security alert to face terrorism,” Knooz Media quoted Nasseri as saying in a speech at a ceremony marking the 96th anniversary of the Iraqi Police Day.

In his address, Nasseri called on security forces to take a firm stance against Islamic State sleeper cells, which, according to him, will try to undermine Iraq’s victory over terrorism.

He also urged the central government in Baghdad to provide security forces with additional weapons and ammunition to help them in the fight against extremists.

Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence in Iraq earlier in November with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.

IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary troops, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens.

Last month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.