Iraqi security forces announced the arrest of six suspected members of the Islamic State (ISIS) on Monday during operations near the capital, Baghdad, and the seizure of a cache of explosives, just hours after two jihadists were killed in clashes in the northern city of Kirkuk.

According to a statement from the Baghdad Operations Command, the arrests were made during a series of preemptive operations aimed at curbing ISIS activity. "The security services carried out a number of preemptive operations during which six suspects were arrested according to various legal articles, and a pile of explosive materials (remnants of ISIS terrorist gangs), unlicensed weapons, and ammunition were seized," state media reported.

These arrests come amid an intensified campaign by Iraqi forces to crack down on remaining ISIS elements across the country. On Sunday night, two suspected ISIS members wearing explosive vests were killed by security forces in Kirkuk after being surrounded. The pair were engaged in clashes with Iraqi forces in the city, which has seen a rise in anti-ISIS operations in recent months.

The previous week, Iraqi forces in the northern Nineveh province reported the capture of a high-ranking ISIS leader, described as "one of the most dangerous" militants involved in attacks against Iraqi military personnel.

Although ISIS was territorially defeated in 2017 following a large-scale military campaign by Iraqi and Kurdish forces, supported by the US-led international coalition, remnants of the group continue to carry out guerrilla-style attacks, bombings, and kidnappings across Iraq. The group's operations are especially frequent in areas disputed between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including provinces like Nineveh, Diyala, Salahaddin, and Kirkuk.

In late August, a joint operation by the Iraqi army and US forces in the western Anbar province resulted in the deaths of 16 ISIS militants. The US army also confirmed on Saturday that the operation led to the elimination of four ISIS leaders, further disrupting the group's command structure.

Despite significant efforts to dismantle ISIS cells, the group remains a persistent threat to security across Iraq, particularly in remote and contested regions.