Iraqi security forces on Saturday announced the arrest of nine suspected members of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Salahaddin province, as part of a nationwide increase in anti-ISIS operations, state media reported.

According to a statement from Iraq’s Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency, specialized counter-terrorism detachments in Salahaddin successfully apprehended the suspects through separate operations, following high-level efforts and detailed planning. The individuals were arrested under Article Four of Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Law of 2005, which imposes the death penalty for those found guilty of terrorism and life imprisonment for those who assist or shelter terrorists.

The suspects reportedly confessed to belonging to remnants of the ISIS terrorist group and admitted involvement in several attacks in the Salahaddin region.

Although ISIS was territorially defeated in 2017, the group continues to carry out attacks, including bombings and abductions, across several provinces in Iraq. The militants have taken advantage of a security vacuum in disputed areas between Erbil and Baghdad, including Kirkuk, Salahaddin, Nineveh, and Diyala.

In recent months, Iraqi security forces have ramped up operations against ISIS cells, particularly in these disputed areas. On Friday, Iraqi intelligence forces also arrested three ISIS suspects in Baghdad.