On October 19, the Imam Ali Combat Division, a part of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), announced that it had arrested a prominent military commander of ISIS named “Abu Hassan al-Ani” during a special operation around the city of al-Fallujah.
“The operation was carried out in coordination with our sources after al-Ani entered Iraq coming from Turkey,” the Imam Ali Combat Division said in an official press release and added: “the operation was conducted by deputy commander of al-Fallujah axis with the participation of the Iraqi military 50th Brigade.”
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According to the Iraqi armed group, al-Ani was the top commander of ISIS’ assassination cells in the southwestern province of al-Anbar. Since its liberation in late 2017, the province has witnessed a series of brutal assassinations that targeted individuals and local figures who were working with the Iraqi government.
The arrest of al-Ani is considered a significant blow to ISIS cells in al-Anabr. However, the remaining terrorists will likely continue to carry out attacks as many of them are experienced and can operate on their own.
