The deputy head of the Legal Committee in the Iraqi Parliament has issued a stark warning regarding the resurgence of Islamic State (IS) sleeper cells and the increasing threat of terrorism in Iraq. Murtaza Saadi, a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, highlighted the recent surge in terrorist attacks as a critical concern.

In a statement to Iraqi media on Tuesday, Saadi emphasized the potential for IS to regain strength and reactivate its sleeper cells. "The recent terrorist attacks in Diyala, Kirkuk, and Salahaddin provinces, which have killed and injured a number of security force members, are dangerous signs that terrorists have taken advantage of security gaps in these areas," Saadi stated.

He further urged immediate action to address these vulnerabilities. "The sleeper cells are a source of threat and the security gaps must be filled, otherwise the situation in Iraq could deteriorate at any time," Saadi warned.

The call for heightened security measures comes after a series of deadly incidents. Earlier this week, a security source reported that two blasts killed eight security personnel in southwestern Baquba, the capital of Diyala province. The explosions targeted a joint force of the Iraqi army and security forces near the village of Dawood al-Salem, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries among the joint forces.

In another incident, four Iraqi soldiers were wounded in an explosion in Salahaddin province. According to a security source, the explosion occurred during a military patrol near the village of Hafriya in the eastern Khurmatu district.

A recent United Nations report to the Security Council revealed that IS has between 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq, along with 11,000 detained former fighters held in Syrian camps. The report cautioned that "The Islamic State is still active and is likely to resurface in Iraq and Syria."

Brigadier Babakr Zebari, a former Iraqi army general, echoed these concerns in a recent interview with BasNews. He stressed that the threat from IS remains significant and that the tactics employed by the group have become more dangerous. "There are many sleeper cells of IS in Iraq, and we must work to dismantle them; otherwise, they will be active whenever they have the ability," Zebari said.

The Iraqi government faces a critical challenge in addressing these security threats to prevent a resurgence of IS activities and ensure the stability and safety of the nation.