Hawija security escalation revives militant fears and warnings over cells

Reports revealed warnings from Iraqi officials over the resumption of ISIS activity following attacks targeting security forces in rural areas north of Baghdad and Kirkuk governorate, which resulted in deaths and injuries among personnel, while authorities were forced to impose a curfew in several villages. Security information in Kirkuk governorate indicated that the second battalion of the 61st Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces was subjected to an armed attack late Tuesday in the village of Al-Bargheliyah - Al-Dandish in the Hawija district, southwest of the governorate. The information added that a sniper targeted a thermal camera mounted at a military site, putting it out of service, noting that security forces launched sweeping and pursuit operations in the vicinity of the village and nearby areas looking for the perpetrators. The data pointed out that the attack came one day after a person was killed and four others were injured when the 9th Brigade of the Federal Police was targeted in the same village. The sources confirmed that the attack also resulted in the destruction of a number of thermal cameras at the site. The Federal Police leadership mourned one of its members, stating in a statement that Warrant Officer Baker Majid Mohammed was killed while confronting a group of ISIS elements who tried to attack his guard post in the Al-Bargheliyah area, north of Al-Riyadh sub-district in Hawija, within the sector of the 3rd battalion, 9th brigade, 3rd division of the Federal Police. Following these developments, the Federal Police decided to impose a curfew in the Hawija district and its villages in Kirkuk governorate from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The measures included banning movement during curfew hours, tightening oversight on motorcycle and car owners, alongside strict rules on cargo bikes prohibiting their movement during the curfew except for urgent cases with official approval. It added that the Federal Police leadership called on residents to adhere to instructions and cooperate with security forces to preserve the security and safety of the area, warning that violating directives would subject perpetrators to legal accountability. Forces also tightened procedures in farms and villages near Federal Police deployment points, alongside organizing the movement of farmers whose lands are located near those points for security reasons. The head of the Security and Defense Committee in Kirkuk Provincial Council, Ahmed Ramzi Kوبرlu, stated that the assault targeting the Federal Police in Hawija confirms the continued danger of dormant cells, calling for intensified intelligence efforts and security operations to prevent the repetition of these attacks. Kوبرlu added that it is necessary not to give these cells an opportunity to reorganize their ranks or exploit remote areas to carry out attacks targeting security forces and civilians, pointing to the importance of continued coordination between various security agencies and information exchange regarding the movements of wanted and suspicious elements. Developments indicated that ISIS announced last Monday its responsibility for an attack that caused the martyrdom of an Iraqi policeman and the wounding of others southwest of Kirkuk, considering it the first attack by the organization on Iraqi security forces since the US forces completed their withdrawal from Iraq on September 30 and ended their military mission in the country. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi called on the day of the withdrawal for constant vigilance and readiness, raising the level of coordination and cooperation among all security forces and agencies, updating their plans, procedures, and databases, and relying on modern technological means to preserve security and stability across the country. In assessing the threat level, security expert Sarmad Al-Bayati stated that ISIS, or what remains of it, could pose a danger to military units in some areas given the weapons and suicide belts it possesses, but it no longer poses a threat to overall national security. Regarding the recent attacks in Hawija, Al-Bayati said they remain within the scope of dormant cell attacks with limited capabilities, suggesting they will be politically exploited in the ongoing debate over the US withdrawal and the disarmament file of factions. Security expert Mukhlid Hazem also stated that ISIS no longer poses a widespread threat that heralds a repeat of the 2014 scenario, pointing out that the capability of its gunmen is currently limited to moving squads in scattered areas, while Iraqi forces work to restrict and besiege them through preemptive operations. Hazem said that the organization's launch of attacks synchronized with the US withdrawal represents an attempt to prove its presence, adding that ISIS is no longer able to move in city centers to carry out operations, even if it has incubators there, but called for dealing with developments cautiously out of fear of attempts to mobilize broader groups. Meanwhile, political science professor Abbas Abboud stated that the intelligence capabilities Iraqi security now possesses differ from previous years, limiting the prospects of the organization's activity escalating or expanding. Abboud qualified that the danger may not come from ISIS alone, but also from terrorist groups that parties might employ to achieve specific goals.