By Sulaiman al-Qubaisi

ANBAR, Iraq

The Daesh terrorist group has executed six people abducted earlier in Iraq’s western Anbar province near the border with Saudi Arabia, according to a local police source.

“Security forces on Tuesday discovered the bodies of six people abducted earlier from the Al-Nukhayb desert region about 400 kilometers west of provincial capital Ramadi,” Police Captain Ahmad al-Dulaimi told Anadolu Agency.

The slain individuals all appear to have been shot in the head, al-Dulaimi said, adding that the fate of another three abductees remains unknown.

In late 2017, Baghdad declared victory over the notorious terrorist group following a three-year war that ended with the fall of Mosul, Daesh’s last major stronghold in Iraq.

The Iraqi army, however, continues to wage frequent operations against Daesh "sleeper cells", which officials claim are still active in certain parts of the country.