Iraqi forces carry out precision counterterror operation inside Syria

Iraqi security forces have carried out a high-precision operation inside Syrian territory, targeting key weapons and terrorist networks in what officials described as a major leap in Iraq’s intelligence and counterterrorism capabilities.

Major General Saad Ma’an, the head of the Security Media Cell (SMC) and Director of Relations and Information at the Ministry of Interior (MOI) in Iraq, said the operation resulted in the detention of two individuals who played a “critical role” in facilitating the transfer of weapons and terrorist operatives toward the Iraqi border.

Ma’an said the mission was the culmination of more than five months of intensive intelligence work, during which Iraqi agencies tracked the movements and networks of the suspects. He noted that the Suqour [Hawks] Cell, an intelligence or counter-terrorism unit, employed both advanced technical surveillance and human intelligence to execute the operation.

A new phase in regional counterterrorism coordination
According to Ma’an, the two targets were directly involved in coordinating the movement of arms and militants from camps inside Syria into Iraqi territory, posing a significant security threat. The operation was conducted by an air-mobile unit capable of rapid deployment and precision strikes deep inside hostile areas, preventing casualties and eliminating the possibility of escape.

He added that the mission was carried out in close coordination with Syrian security forces and the International Coalition, underscoring what he described as a shift in Iraq’s security doctrine from reactive crisis response to proactive, intelligence-driven counterterrorism operations.

Ma’an said the operation reflects Iraq’s growing ability to project security beyond its borders to disrupt terrorist supply lines before they reach Iraqi soil, marking a new phase in regional counterterrorism coordination.

Last Thursday, the Iraqi Security Media Cell announced the arrest of two high-value suspects wanted by the Iraqi judiciary during an operation carried out inside Syrian territory.

The operation was conducted in coordination with Syrian security authorities and with logistical and intelligence support from the International Coalition, the statement said, underscoring continued regional cooperation in counterterrorism efforts.