Illustrative image, source: the official Facebook page of the Iraqi Federal Police
On May 24, a spokesman for the Iraqi Security Media Center, Brigadier General Yehia Rasool, announced that Iraqi security forces had foiled an attack of ISIS cells on the village of Sheikh Baba in the Jalawla district of the eastern Diyala province.
“According to accurate intelligence, an attack of ISIS terrorist gangs on Sheikh Baba village of Jalawla village was foiled,” Brig. Gen. Rasool said in the statement.
Brig. Gen. Rasool revealed that ISIS cells were planning to assassinate several civilian figures inside the village of Sheikh Baba, but security forces were able to stop the attackers and killed three of them. However, a fourth attacker managed to escape and blew himself up around the village killing two civilians, according to Brig. Gen. Rasool.
Since April, ISIS cells resurfaced in Jalawla district and carried out many hit and run attacks against Iraqi security forces and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). Moreover, ISIS cells conducted a series of assassinations against civilians figures who are known to be supporters of the Iraqi government in what observers believe to be an attempt to terrorize the locals into submission.
