Iraqi command: Islamic State cells still active, may cause future unrest

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State cells are still active in Iraq after the government had announced that militants lost all their bastions, a spokesman of the Iraqi security operations body was quoted saying on Tuesday.

Yahia Rasoul, a spokesperson of the Joint Operations Command, told Sputnik agency in a phone call that “the group’s sleeper cells are still existent at some regions, and could cause some unrest during the coming period”.

Rasoul noted, however, that intelligence services have intensified their activities to paralyze those cells. He said that “the group, today, would not be able to take over any territory, but rather depends on terrorist attacks at various parts of the country, especially at mountain areas where it hides and launches its attacks”.

According to Rasoul, “it takes time to uncover those cells and to eliminate them,” adding that “the war against terrorism in Iraq is not over yet”.

Iraq declared victory over Islamic State militants and the recapture of all of the group’s strongholds in December, but forces continue to hunt for remnant militants hiding at desert areas. The group has launched several attacks against civilians and security forces since then, leaving tens dead and wounded.