By Hussein al-Amir  

BAGHDAD

Iraqi security forces have arrested four members of the Daesh terrorist organization in northern city of Kirkuk, according to Iraq’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday.  

The four were arrested upon an intelligence tip-off in central Kirkuk, ministry spokesperson Yahya Rasoom said in a statement.  

He said arrest warrants had been issued for the four for terrorism crimes.  

Last December, officials in Baghdad declared that Daesh's military presence in Iraq had been all but dismantled over operations backed by the U.S.-led International Alliance. However, from time to time, Iraqi officials announce operations against Daesh-affiliated "sleeper cells" in certain parts of the country.