On Saturday, Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) announced a successful airstrike on an ISIS hideout in the Hamrin Mountains, resulting in the elimination of four ISIS operatives. The operation was based on precise intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate and involved continuous surveillance that tracked the militant cell for two days.

The airstrike was conducted at 6:20 p.m. by Iraqi F-16 fighter jets, targeting a location near the border between Kirkuk and Saladin provinces. The JOC reported that the hideout was destroyed along with significant stores of weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials.

ISIS first gained control of large territories across Iraq and Syria in 2014, led by Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, who declared an Islamic caliphate from Mosul’s historic Great Mosque of al-Nuri. Although Iraqi forces reclaimed ISIS-controlled territories by 2017, the group has since adapted by shifting to guerrilla tactics. Operating from remote, rugged areas, ISIS continues to carry out attacks against Iraqi security forces, presenting a persistent threat in the region.

The recent airstrike marks a significant success in Iraq’s ongoing efforts to combat ISIS insurgency, reinforcing security in areas that remain vulnerable to extremist activity.