US-led Coalition confirms IS funding network arrests in Erbil and Baghdad

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) on Thursday released details of two joint operations where they assisted Iraqi and Kurdish forces in arresting ten alleged members of the terrorist organization’s funding network, two days after Kurdish counter-terrorism units released footage of the operation in Erbil.

The coalition confirmed in a statement that two operations, carried out over a three-day period, from Oct. 6 to the 9, resulted in the capture of 10 people suspected of being part of a key IS “financial facilitation group” in coordination with the Iraqi government.

“These were two separate days of operations and the Government of Iraq enabled partner forces in both cities [Erbil and Baghdad] to make a total of 10 arrests regarding the al-Rawi network, an [IS] financial facilitation group. The first was the Kurdistan Counter Terrorism Directorate rolling up the eight members, followed by the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service arresting two more members in Baghdad,” Army Colonel Sean Ryan, spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), told Kurdistan 24.

“Amazing work by both, and helps cripple [IS] capacity to finance terror in the areas,” he added

On Oct. 9, the Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) released footage of the joint operation with coalition forces where they arrested a significant group of IS financers. Stacks of money and weapons were confiscated during the operation.

“The arrests deal a major blow to IS’s capacity to threaten and terrorize civilians,” said Major General Patrick B. Roberson, commander of Special Operation Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.

“This demonstrates that those who assist in, sponsor, or provide financial, material or technological support to IS will face severe consequences.”

“The Government of Iraq enabled partner forces in both cities to make a total of 10 arrests,” the coalition highlighted, without naming the Kurdish forces specifically.

On Saturday, a warplane of the US-led coalition targeted IS militants on the outskirts of Erbil Province, killing five, according to a Kurdish Peshmerga official.

Despite Iraq declaring victory over IS last December, the group continues to launch insurgency-style attacks, kidnappings, and ambushes in provinces including Nineveh, Anbar, Baghdad, and the disputed areas of Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahuddin.

Article Credit:
https://www.kurdistan24.net/
Special Thanks to Charles Bright!!