Iraqi authorities executed 10 individuals convicted of terrorism offenses on Wednesday, according to security and health officials. The executions took place at a prison in the southern city of Nasiriyah, where the condemned were hanged under Article 4 of the country’s anti-terrorism law.

The health ministry’s forensic department in Dhi Qar province confirmed the receipt of the bodies, describing the convicted as Iraqis found guilty of terrorism-related crimes. A security source corroborated the information, both speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity surrounding such cases.

The Nasiriyah prison, locally known as Al-Hut or “the whale,” has long held a grim reputation among Iraqis, with many believing those detained there rarely leave alive. The facility is known to house a large number of suspected jihadists, including members of the Islamic State group.

Iraq has seen a surge in terrorism-related convictions in recent years. Courts have issued hundreds of death sentences and life imprisonments for terrorism offenses, including on foreigners who were arrested in Syria and subsequently transferred across the border to Iraqi custody.

The executions reflect ongoing efforts by Iraqi authorities to combat terrorism within the country, amid continued concerns over security and the resurgence of extremist groups in the region. Prisons like Al-Hut have become central to holding thousands of detainees linked to such activities, as the government intensifies its counterterrorism measures.