Iraqi PM marks Victory Day over ISIS, calls for unity among Iraqis
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Al-Sudani expresses hope that "regional and global powers will act responsibly to preserve Syria’s security and sovereignty."
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Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends a press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Baghdad, Iraq, April 22, 2024. (AP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani spoke, on Monday, during the commemoration of Victory Day over ISIS, highlighting "the day all Iraqis take pride in, marking seven years since the decisive victory over the defeated ISIS gangs."
He underscored "the importance of unity among the Iraqi people and the need to avoid fueling conflicts."
In his speech, al-Sudani praised "the sacrifices of the martyrs and the injured, as well as the fatwa issued by the supreme religious authority," which turned the victory into "a reality we proudly celebrate throughout history."
He noted that Victory Day has become "a defining moment in our nation’s history," asserting that "Iraqis fought extremist ideology on behalf of the free world, leaving no foothold for terrorism in Iraq."
Al-Sudani described this victory as "a triumph of humanity against a threat that terrorized the region and the world."
The prime minister called for addressing the gaps that allowed terrorism to infiltrate Iraq in 2014.
On Syria, al-Sudani affirmed Iraq’s commitment to closely monitoring "the developments there," expressing hope that "regional and global powers will act responsibly to preserve Syria’s security and sovereignty."
He emphasized "the importance of allowing the Syrian people to determine their own future, respecting their free will, and upholding international responsibility to safeguard Syria's territorial integrity and protect its diversity."
No fear regarding secure Iraq borders with Syria: Border Forces chief
Before the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced that armored units of the Iraqi Army have been deployed to secure the borders stretching from the al-Qaim in the South to the Jordanian border, following the reinforcement of the northern sector in western Nineveh with armored and mechanized units.
In a press conference, Border Forces Commander Lieutenant General Mohammed Abdul Wahab Sakr al-Saeedi stated that the Iraqi-Syrian border is equipped with advanced thermal cameras operating 24/7 to monitor any movements.
Al-Saidi emphasized that "our borders with Syria are secure and there is no fear regarding these borders, and there is no comparison between the reality of the borders in 2014 and today, as there is a great intelligence effort from all agencies to support what is happening."
“Iraq’s borders are secure and resistant to any attempt to violate the country’s sovereignty," he stressed.
Breaching Iraqi-Syrian border impossible
Speaking at the same conference, Brigadier General Muqdad Miri, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, underlined that the "Border Guard Forces Command is one of the most important commands of the Ministry of Interior, as it represents a fundamental pillar in Iraq's security."
"These forces have made exceptional efforts and achieved a qualitative leap in securing the borders, in light of the regional events witnessed by the region," he highlighted.
Miri underscored that "securing the Iraqi borders has reached an unprecedented level in the history of the Iraqi state."
He reaffirmed that "the Iraqi borders, which share six neighboring countries, are now witnessing the best security and fortification operations in the history of the Iraqi state," adding that the borders with Syria "are the best secured among all Iraqi borders."
Read more: PMF head: Increased security readiness along Iraq-Syria border
