The country’s lions and their impregnable shield have led Operation Lion’s Leap to choke off and put an end to the work of terrorist leaders who were thinking of using the desert as a testing ground for attacks on Iraqi governorates and city centers.
The country’s lions would never allow them to do so. They launched an operation that gave Daesh a bitter taste of two things: the end of their activities in the desert and the failure and the destruction of its most notorious network in a highly complex geographic area.
The National Intelligence Service is a large institution, serving as Iraq’s external shield. We have witnessed the many battles fought by its men and their determination in confronting terrorism and bringing down foreign and domestic terrorist networks. They embody the greatest sense of national heroism in defeating terrorism and destroying one of the largest local networks linked to the Daesh terrorist organization in the Anbar desert.
Reports and articles often refer to Anbar’s Wadi Al-Qadhf, which used to be a safe haven for Daesh leadership. Since Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani assumed leadership of the Iraqi government, the National Intelligence Service has embarked on a new plan to lead the intelligence community in Iraq in pursuing and destroying Daesh’s senior leadership.
One of its first strategically vital operations was the destruction of Daesh supply, transport and transit capabilities. It also monitored remote plateaus and hills largely invisible to traditional reconnaissance from afar. We needed human intelligence to track and collect information, identify targets and select future theaters of operation.
The National Intelligence Service identified and selected targets and shared them with the Intelligence and Joint Targeting Branch of the Joint Operations Command, under the supervision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Prime Minister, with direct follow-up by the Deputy of the National Intelligence Service.
They succeeded in tracking the largest network of Daesh leaders in one of the most dangerous deserts in the world. This desert was home to the most important terrorist leaders, who exploited its geography for camouflage, concealment and escape. They are responsible for leading operations in the Arabian Desert, and it is widely believed that they are part of Daesh’s external and global command and control structure.
The operation in the Anbar desert was not the only major operation carried out by the National Intelligence Service in that region. It was proceeded by another operation of the same caliber and importance that could provide valuable lessons for intelligence services throughout the world.
Iraq launched Operation Lion’s Leap at dawn on Aug. 29, 2024, in the Anbar desert, targeting the headquarters and hideouts of Daesh leaders. It was the fruit of months of security meetings, intelligence gathering, technical and field work by the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, technical and logistical support and intelligence sharing by advisors from the International Coalition, and coordination and follow-up from Joint Operations Command.
The operation consisted of three ground operations and the landing of airborne forces with the planning and supervision of the Joint Operations Command. It was carried out by the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, the Special Forces Division and 5th Division units in coordination with the National Intelligence Service. They were also supported by the Air Force and Army Aviation and received technical assistance from advisors from the International Coalition. These operations culminated in the death of 14 Daesh terrorists. Some of the key criminal terrorist leaders were:
Abu Siddiq or Abu Muslim. Real name: Ahmed Hamed Hussein Abdul Jalil Zwain, self-proclaimed deputy governor of Iraq.
Mansour Abu Ali Al-Tunisi. Real name: Omar bin Suwaih bin Salem Qara, the so-called emir of manufacturing, development and chemical affairs.
Abu Himam. Real name: Saad Mohammed Nasser, the so-called governor of Anbar.
The terrorist criminal Shaker Hirat Al-Najdi, so-called Daesh military commander in Anbar.
Abu Abd Hanoub or Abu Abdul Rahman. Real name: Muammar Mahdi Khalaf Hussein, the so-called governor of the South.
Wiqas. Real name: Ali Rabah Raja, the so-called communications officer responsible for economic and financial affairs in Anbar Province.
The National Intelligence Service, which has operated for more than 20 years, has given a great deal to protect Iraq’s national security. It has worked alongside its brothers in the Armed Forces, in accordance with ministerial formations, as well as other security agencies and through the Joint Operations Command to defeat terrorism and seize material and human assets.
Countless operations outside Iraq have resulted in the capture and extradition of numerous terrorist leaders with the cooperation of the intelligence services of other countries, be they in the Middle East, Europe or other countries. Internally, the National Intelligence Service has destroyed terrorist networks in the liberated governorates as well as carrying out the intelligence tasks assigned to it. It performs these tasks effectively and is always ahead of other intelligence agencies in the region in the field of combating terrorism and destroying terrorist networks.
These men have dedicated their precious lives to Iraq, to protect its people and its democratic system, to support the Iraqi state and to safeguard Iraq’s national security. Bless the minds and hands of these heroes in the Operations Department and all departments of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service in eradicating terrorism in Iraq.