A coordinated deployment of Iraqi and Kurdish forces has significantly curtailed Islamic State (ISIS) activity in the southernmost areas of the Kurdistan Region, an area previously exploited by jihadists due to a long-standing security gap, local officials reported on Saturday.

Security Gains in Kifri Region

Kifri Mayor Sahir Ali confirmed that the movement of ISIS sleeper cells and armed fighters in the Kifri border areas has come to a halt following the establishment of a joint security brigade equipped with surveillance cameras and advanced security systems.

"The deployment of this brigade has had a significant positive impact on eliminating ISIS movements in the region," Ali told Rudaw.

Kifri, located in Sulaimani’s Garmiyan administration, borders federal Iraqi territories. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad are actively working to close security gaps that have historically allowed ISIS militants to maneuver freely between areas of divided control.

Peshmerga Forces Expand Presence in Garmiyan

Additional Peshmerga forces have been stationed in Nawjul, Ghara, Kariz, and other border areas, enhancing security and reassuring local residents, according to Ali.

A Peshmerga commander in Garmiyan, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that each Peshmerga brigade in the region has been assigned a specific security zone, including areas previously vulnerable to ISIS infiltration.

“Currently, about 80% of the security gaps in Garmiyan have been filled,” the commander said. “The majority of these areas are now secured by Peshmerga forces. However, there remains an eight to 10-kilometer-wide security gap between the joint brigade and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).”

Baghdad and Erbil's Joint Security Initiative

The Iraqi Army and Ministry of Peshmerga initially agreed in August 2021 to form two joint brigades tasked with securing areas plagued by ISIS activity. However, implementation of this agreement was delayed due to political turmoil following the 2021 elections and a lack of funding.

Iraqi Airstrikes Eliminate ISIS Fighters in Kirkuk-Salahaddin Border Region
In a separate development, Iraqi security forces confirmed on Friday that two airstrikes targeted four suspected ISIS militants on the border between Kirkuk and Salahaddin provinces, killing all of them.

ISIS, which seized large parts of northern and central Iraq in 2014, was militarily defeated in 2017 but continues to pose a security threat, particularly in disputed areas spanning Diyala, Salahaddin, Kirkuk, and Nineveh provinces.

The joint efforts between Iraqi and Kurdish forces mark a critical step toward stabilizing the region and preventing further ISIS resurgence.