Security and military sources indicate a significant growth in ISIS movements between Kirkuk and Salahaddin, accompanied by militants wearing military uniforms and carrying advanced firearms. Iraqi forces continue airstrikes in key regions, including recent attacks that have killed high-ranking ISIS leaders.
Despite efforts to eliminate ISIS, officials caution that ISIS remains a security threat, exploiting political instability to reorganize and maintain its presence, particularly in Arab villages. The Iraqi government has boosted military operations along the Iraq-Syria border to prevent the group’s resurgence.
According to security and military officials, the area is under the control of ISIS, but is occasionally bombed by Iraqi aircraft. “Some of the ISIL fighters and their leaders are clearly identified by the security agencies. They worked as smugglers during the Ba’ath regime. ISIL occasionally changes its leaders and replaces its forces,” the source said. Iraqi aircraft also hit the Gharaw Palkana area near Khurmatu district of Salahaddin province, killing many fighters of the organization.
On February 8, 2025, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command revealed that seven ISIL fighters were killed in an air strike on a shelter in Zarga area of Khurmatu district, one of the dead was Abu Saeed al-Dandusi, the governor of Kirkuk. The movement of ISIS has increased significantly. ISIS fighters are hiding in Arab villages.
The movements of ISIL fighters are closely tracked by Iraqi security and military agencies, while senior Iraqi government officials agree that ISIL is still a threat to security and stability in the region.
Iraqi security and military agencies have taken tough military measures in the border areas between Iraq and Syria. They continue to conduct military operations in Sunni provinces to prevent the strengthening and reorganization of ISIS.
On February 8, 2025, Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr. Fuad Hussein said,
“The movement of ISIS on the Iraqi-Syrian border is worrying and the situation on those borders should be handled with caution, because ISIS is a dangerous security threat to the region.”
Brigadier Sarhad Qadir, a former police director in Kirkuk, said:
“Whenever political conflict erupts in Iraq, ISIL’s movements and preparations increase and they prepare to take advantage of opportunities. ISIS has deployed its units, activated its sleeping cells, is trying to reorganize and even resume military activities,”
he said.
On November 23, 2024, the Iraqi National Security Agency also reported the arrest of a Kurdish emir of ISIS and six others in Kirku.
