Iraq tells North Press aim of security visit to Syrian border
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – On Saturday, two Iraqi military officials revealed the existence of extensive measures to control the Syrian-Iraqi border and disclosed the aim of a high-level security delegation to a border area in the western countryside of Sinjar (Shengal) district.
The two officials’ comments followed the arrival of Minister of Interior of Iraq Othman al-Ghanmi and deputy Commander of the Joint Operation Command General Abd al-Amir al-Shammari to the Syrian-Iraqi border close to the Sinjar district.
According to a statement of Joint Operation Command, the delegation went to the command of the Sixth Sector in west of Sijnar to “be informed on securing the Iraqi-Syrian border”.
Spokesman for Iraq’s Joint Operation Command Major-General Tahsin al-Khafaji told North Press that the aim of the “important” visit was to be informed on the military reinforcements and controlling border with Syria.
This came in high coordination between the Joint Operation Command and the security related ministries on the way to put concretes and barbed wires on the borders.
Such reconnaissance operations channel into cooperation and joint work to prevent any infiltration or contact between the Islamic State (ISIS) militants in and outside Iraq, according to al-Khafaji.
Baghdad lays much importance to the border with Syria more notably after the recent increase in the activities of ISIS.
The Western Nineveh Operations Commander Major- General Jabbar al-Tay told North Press that the all- security visit was to check preparations on the border under directives of the Supreme Commander of the Iraqi Armed Forces. The delegation was briefed on the recent developments regarding the status of the border.
Iraq shares more than 600 km border with Syria extending from the al-Rukban area up to the Faysh Khabur in the north closer to the Turkish border with the northern part run by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).