At last count, 31 people were killed, and almost 190 were wounded in two bombings at the airport and another in the Brussels subway system.
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It said the arrests were made during police searches in the Brussels boroughs of Schaerbeek in the north and Jette in the west, as well as in the centre of Brussels itself.
One of the officials said Iraqi intelligence officials believe that three other IS activists remain at large in Brussels and are plotting other suicide-bomb attacks.
Gunfire, grenades and explosions were all reportedly heard as police conducted the raids.
The announcement came after Belgium authorities lowered the country’s terror threat level one notch, while noting the situation there is “exceptional” and “grave” and that another attack is “likely and possible”.
The bombs used by ISIS terrorists during the attacks contained shrapnel, including nails and bolts, Belgian authorities say. Police sources have told AFP the second airport bomber was Najim Laachraoui, who was linked to the Paris attacks.
“We will do whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally Belgium in bringing to justice those who are responsible”, US President Barack Obama said.
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Van der Steur says that El Bakraoui had a valid Belgian passport when he arrived in Amsterdam “so there was no reason to take any action” at Schiphol Airport.
