The Iraqi army commenced the initial phase of the “Frontline Strategy” yesterday in the depths of the Hamrin Hills, located in the far northeast of Diyala. This move is part of efforts to bolster urban security by advancing into strategic areas to sever the primary infiltration routes of ISIS terrorist cells from two provinces, thereby protecting over 300,000 inhabitants of liberated cities and villages.
A high-ranking security source stated, “The initial stages of the Frontline Strategy have begun in the Hamrin Hills, which for years resembled fiery hills due to the intensity of events and the spread of ISIS cells. However, the situation has changed in recent years thanks to a concerted security effort that has significantly reduced the organization’s threat.”
The source further explained, “The Frontline, extending at least 30km in depth, will be accompanied by the deployment of stationary points, especially as security responsibilities in Diyala are being transferred to the police and combat units are moving to the outskirts of major cities within permanent barracks. This strategy considers the distribution of positions across distant axes to ensure control over the peripheries with force.”
Since ISIS’s territorial defeat in 2017, Iraq has faced significant challenges, including a massive internally displaced persons (IDP) crisis and the legitimization of militias adopting the Hezbollah model in Lebanon. Despite the official victory, over a million IDPs remained in camps as of August 2018, with many unable to return home due to destruction and ongoing ethnic and sectarian tensions. Furthermore, the political landscape has shifted, with militias gaining both de facto power and political representation, significantly influencing Iraq’s security and political dynamics.
The Islamic State insurgency in Iraq, ongoing since 2017, continues as a low-intensity conflict following ISIS’s loss of territorial control. The insurgency involves ISIL’s armed opposition against the Shia-led Iraqi government, alongside other insurgent groups like the White Flags, composed of former ISIL members and Kurdish rebels. These groups employ guerrilla tactics against government forces, maintaining a presence in areas like the Kirkuk Governorate.
