The Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, announced that the terrorist organization ISIS has been militarily defeated. He also revealed the initiation of fortified defense lines to prevent remnants of the group from infiltrating Iraqi provinces.
In statements to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Tuesday, Yarallah said, “ISIS has been militarily defeated after liberating all territories it controlled. However, ideologically, it remains a doctrinal group present in hard-to-reach areas.”
Yarallah emphasized that while some may speak of ISIS’s capabilities, the group has been defeated militarily, though its remnants persist. He noted that Iraqi Military Intelligence provides daily updates on these remnants and their locations, with F-16 jets actively targeting them.
He reassured the public that there is no significant threat from these remnants that would alarm citizens about the possibility of ISIS’s return. He mentioned that the remnants are active in specific areas, primarily within the triangle of Kirkuk, Salahuddin, and Diyala, where any attempts to advance toward civilian or military targets are being thwarted.
Yarallah explained that Iraqi security forces have studied the operational patterns of ISIS remnants and have started constructing strong and fortified defense lines, akin to a barrier preventing access to the provinces. These measures include advancing gradually in regions such as Ninawa and Anbar islands to deprive ISIS of any potential safe havens, thereby ensuring the security of the Iraqi-Syrian border.
He added that these fortifications are effective in preventing the infiltration of terrorist groups, particularly into the Iraqi province of Ninawa from the Syrian direction.
