Security brief in Iraq: ISIS arrest, PMF sweep, and violent crimes

2026-02-16 - 21:06

Shafaq News Below is a summary of key security and public safety incidents reported across Iraq on Monday, February 16, 2026. - ISIS Ideology Case (Diyala) Iraq’s National Security Service arrested a university student in Diyala for allegedly promoting ISIS ideology inside a local campus, a source told Shafaq News. - Security Operation (Nineveh) The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), backed by the Iraqi Army, launched a wide-ranging operation in Nineveh province targeting terrorist hideouts, sleeper cells, and hostile activity. - Airport Incident (Baghdad) Baghdad International Airport Police reported that a traveler carrying a forged Iranian passport attempted to board an Iraqi Airways flight but fled the terminal. Security forces continue searching for the suspect. - Prison Sentence (Kirkuk) A criminal court in Kirkuk sentenced an activist known as “Falah al-Iraqi” to four years in prison following a lawsuit filed against him. Authorities did not disclose details of the charges. - Fatal Shooting (Baghdad) Unknown gunmen shot and killed a retired Interior Ministry member in Baghdad. - Domestic Assault (Kirkuk) A woman poured hot oil on her husband’s face during a heated argument inside their home in Kirkuk, causing severe burns. - Fatal Stabbing (Kirkuk) A man was killed after sustaining multiple stab wounds during a dispute in Kirkuk. The suspect fled the scene. - Family Freed After Armed Robbery (Basra) Security forces freed a family held by five armed men during a home invasion in Basra and arrested three suspects, while two others escaped across rooftops. - Minor Luring Case (Kirkuk) Police arrested a gang accused of luring two underage girls in Kirkuk and initiated legal proceedings. - Blackmail Arrest (Wasit) Authorities in Wasit arrested a suspect accused of blackmail after a young woman reported threats to publish her photos on social media. The suspect was referred to the relevant legal authorities. - Officer Killed (Dhi Qar) An officer serving in the Dhi Qar Police Command was shot dead by an unidentified assailant riding a motorcycle. Authorities transferred the body to forensic medicine and opened an investigation. - Grenade Attack (Diyala) A man threw a hand grenade at his father’s house in Diyala following personal disputes, causing material damage but no injuries. Security forces arrested the suspect.