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Between 400 and 500 ISIS jihadists active in Iraq

2023-03-12T17:11:43.201Z


The Islamic State (IS) group has between 400 and 500 active fighters in Iraq, a senior Iraqi military official estimated on Sunday March 12, at the...


The Islamic State (IS) group has between 400 and 500 active fighters in Iraq, a senior Iraqi military official estimated on Sunday March 12, as the jihadist organization continues its sporadic attacks against security forces and civilians.

UN estimates revealed in a report published in February evoked, they, “

5000 to 7000 members and supporters

” of the EI deployed between Iraq and Syria, of which “

about half

” would be combatants.

The report did not specify their distribution in the two neighboring countries.

After a meteoric rise in power in 2014, the IS saw its self-proclaimed "

caliphate

" waver under the blow of successive offensives launched in these two countries with the support of an international anti-jihadist coalition.

“Lost its ability to attract new recruits”

At the end of 2017, Iraq proclaimed its military victory against the jihadists, who had once conquered nearly a third of its territory.

But IS cells continue to sporadically target security forces and civilians.

Read alsoWhere is the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq?

"

According to information from intelligence agencies, the total number of IS members does not exceed 400 to 500 fighters, in three or four provinces

," said General Qaïs al-Mohamadawi, deputy commander of the operations cell. which oversees the cooperation of Iraqi security forces with the international anti-jihadist coalition.

"

The IS organization has lost its ability to attract new recruits

," he said at a press conference.

In addition, the general mentioned an operation carried out on February 26 which made it possible to dismantle a jihadist “

training camp

” in the desert of western Iraq.

During the intervention in Al-Anbar province, 22 jihadists were killed, he said.

"Operational Theater"

A UN report published in February for the Security Council assured that in Iraq, the EI still operates "

in mountainous rural areas, where it exploits the porosity of the Iraqi-Syrian border and maintains sufficient maneuverability to escape attacks. Iraqi forces

.

The jihadists are deployed in an "

operational theater

" covering the regions of Kirkuk (North), Diyala (North-East), Salaheddine (North) and the northern outskirts of Baghdad, where IS is targeting "

members of the security, local notables and civilians

,” according to the report.

Read alsoSyria: the American army captures an official of the Islamic State

Despite dwindling cash reserves - currently valued at between $25 million and $50 million, according to the document - ISIS began "

laundering money by investing in legitimate business activities, including hotels and hotels." real estate in Iraq and Syria

”, it is underlined.

He also allegedly resorted to cattle rustling to raise funds

.”

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-03-12

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