According to reports, Iraqi intelligence led to the arrest of one of the Islamic State’s top financiers; Kadhimi claims it to be one of the most difficult foreign operations the country has ever executed.
This week, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi revealed that an arrest of one of ISIS’ (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) top financiers took place after “one of the most difficult” operations Iraq’s intelligence officers have ever carried out. Sammy Jassem Muhammad al-Jaburi, who is believed to have been one of former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s closest confidants, was arrested by Iraqi officers in recent hours.
Former ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi, was killed in Syria during a military raid in 2019, led by US forces under President Donald Trump. More than one source has indicated that the arrest of Jassem was made beyond Iraqi borders.
In an attempt to let Sunday’s national elections take the spotlight, Kadhimi told reporters, “Tomorrow, Monday, you will hear about a major security achievement. We don’t want to announce today because we want to give a chance to the elections to be the top story.”
The US State Department added a $5 million bounty on Jassem’s head a while ago, claiming him to be “instrumental in managing finances for IS terrorist operations.” The State Department added, “While serving as IS deputy in southern Mosul in 2014, Jasim reportedly served as the equivalent of IS’s finance minister, supervising the group’s revenue-generating operations from illicit sales of oil, gas, antiquities, and minerals.”
While ISIS’ abilities have been significantly depleted in the last four years, the Islamic terror group maintains responsibility for many attacks throughout the Middle East.
