Iraqi security forces arrested nine suspects on terrorism-related charges in Baghdad, state media reported on Thursday. The arrests were made during a security operation in the Sunni-majority towns of Mahmudiyah, approximately 30 kilometers south of Baghdad, and Tarmiyah, about 60 kilometers north of the capital.

According to a statement from the Baghdad Operations Command, the suspects are listed on the wanted list by the Iraqi judiciary. The operation targeted areas that have historically been vulnerable to terrorism, particularly during the conflict with the Islamic State (ISIS).

Northern and western Iraq, predominantly Sunni regions, were significantly impacted during the years-long conflict with ISIS. While the report did not confirm if the arrested individuals had direct ties to ISIS, it highlighted the ongoing security threats in these regions.

Tarmiyah, one of the towns involved in the operation, was notably susceptible to ISIS attacks between 2014 and 2017, when the jihadist group controlled large parts of Iraq. Even after ISIS was defeated territorially, militants continued to extort locals and use the area as a base for launching attacks on Baghdad.

Despite the loss of its territorial control, ISIS remains a serious threat in Iraq. The group has continued to carry out attacks, bombings, and abductions across various provinces, especially in disputed areas between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including Diyala, Salahaddin, and Kirkuk.