Islamic State senior member, brother arrested, south of Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Security services have arrested Islamic State member senior member, along with his brother in south of Mosul, a security source from Nineveh police said on Tuesday.

“Security services arrested the group’s mufti (religious legislator) of executions along with his eldest brother, who was tasked with the collective executions of police personnel in south of Mosul,” Cap. Omar Saeed told BasNews.

Each of Hajim and Sultan Abu Theeb, according to Saeed, were arrested from their house in al-Shura region, south of Mosul.

“The arrests were carried out with assistance of the residents depending on intelligence information offered to Nineveh police,” he added.

Last week, security troops arrested four IS members in west of Mosul, while the Wali (governor) of Mosul and Wali of Qayyarah were apprehended in an operation carried out in al-Mahana village, south of the city.

Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against security troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced, in December, full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.