Intelligence Summary
Current Status
According to recent reporting from Reuters and AP, Iraqi security forces and Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) continue counterinsurgency operations against ISIS cell networks, with sporadic attacks reported across Anbar, Kirkuk, and Diyala provinces.
Situation 2026
• Reuters reports ISIS cells maintain a persistent insurgent presence primarily in rural areas of Anbar, Kirkuk, and Diyala, conducting ambushes and IED attacks against ISF and PMU patrols • AP indicates Iraqi security forces have intensified operations in these provinces, though Tier 1 sources note progress remains incremental and localized • According to DW reporting, coordination between ISF and PMU forces continues, though sources indicate occasional friction over operational priorities and territorial control • Al Jazeera reports civilian displacement remains a concern in affected regions, with some communities caught between security operations and ISIS activity • Unconfirmed reports via regional outlets suggest ISIS recruitment and radicalization efforts persist among disaffected populations in former conflict zones
Background
ISIS was militarily defeated as a territorial entity by 2017, but Reuters and AP report the group has since devolved into decentralized cells conducting hit-and-run attacks and bombings across Iraq. The conflict has resulted in over 200,000 casualties since 2013, per multiple Tier 1 sources. Iraqi security forces and PMU-aligned militias remain engaged in ongoing pursuit operations against remaining ISIS operatives.
Humanitarian Impact
• UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports ongoing protection concerns for civilians in Anbar and Diyala, including limited humanitarian access • ICRC sources indicate treatment availability remains constrained in rural areas affected by insurgent activity, affecting both conflict-wounded and general medical needs • Regional NGO reporting cited by Al Jazeera documents displacement of families from villages used as tactical staging areas, with limited resettlement support
Outlook
Security analysts cited in AP and Reuters assessments suggest ISIS cells will likely persist as a destabilizing force in Iraq for the medium term, though degraded operational capability limits strategic threat. De-radicalization and local governance improvements, per think tank analysis in Tier 2 sources, may be necessary complements to kinetic operations.
Key Actors
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)Popular Mobilization Units (PMU)Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL)Iraqi governmentCoalition advisors (US-led)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iraq – ISIS Remnants?
ISIS was militarily defeated as a territorial entity by 2017, but Reuters and AP report the group has since devolved into decentralized cells conducting hit-and-run attacks and bombings across Iraq. The conflict has resulted in over 200,000 casualties since 2013, per multiple Tier 1 sources. Iraqi security forces and PMU-aligned militias remain engaged in ongoing pursuit operations against remaining ISIS operatives.
Who are the parties involved in the Iraq – ISIS Remnants?
The main parties are ISF/PMU vs IS cells. According to recent reporting from Reuters and AP, Iraqi security forces and Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) continue counterinsurgency operations against ISIS cell networks, with sporadic attacks reported across Anbar, Kirkuk, and Diyala provinces.
What is the current situation in the Iraq – ISIS Remnants?
• Reuters reports ISIS cells maintain a persistent insurgent presence primarily in rural areas of Anbar, Kirkuk, and Diyala, conducting ambushes and IED attacks against ISF and PMU patrols • AP indicates Iraqi security forces have intensified operations in these provinces, though Tier 1 sources note progress remains incremental and localized • According to DW reporting, coordination between ISF and PMU forces continues, though sources indicate occasional friction over operational priorities and territorial control • Al Jazeera reports civilian displacement remains a concern in affected regions, with some communities caught between security operations and ISIS activity • Unconfirmed reports via regional outlets suggest ISIS recruitment and radicalization efforts persist among disaffected populations in former conflict zones
What is the humanitarian impact of the Iraq – ISIS Remnants?
• UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports ongoing protection concerns for civilians in Anbar and Diyala, including limited humanitarian access • ICRC sources indicate treatment availability remains constrained in rural areas affected by insurgent activity, affecting both conflict-wounded and general medical needs • Regional NGO reporting cited by Al Jazeera documents displacement of families from villages used as tactical staging areas, with limited resettlement support
What is the outlook for the Iraq – ISIS Remnants?
Security analysts cited in AP and Reuters assessments suggest ISIS cells will likely persist as a destabilizing force in Iraq for the medium term, though degraded operational capability limits strategic threat. De-radicalization and local governance improvements, per think tank analysis in Tier 2 sources, may be necessary complements to kinetic operations.