No fear regarding secure Iraq borders with Syria: Border Forces chief
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The Iraqi President says the developments of events in Syria and their repercussions on the region as a whole are of great interest.
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In this April 17, 2019, file photo, Iraqi soldiers chant slogans against ISIS at Taji Base, north of Baghdad, Iraq (AP)
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid reaffirmed Monday Iraq’s commitment to the stability of Syria and the security of the region, as the Syrian Army continues to repel attacks by militant groups in the countrysides of Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo.
According to a statement from the Media Department of the Presidency of the Republic, obtained by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Rashid met with the Syrian Ambassador to Iraq, Sattam Jadaan al-Dandah, at Baghdad Palace.
The statement noted that the discussion focused on developments in Syria’s security situation, emphasizing "Iraq's support for consolidating stability, and working to prevent the expansion of conflict."
Rashid stressed that "the developments of events in Syria and their repercussions on the region as a whole are of great interest," affirming that "Iraq has worked to strengthen international peace and security."
Elsewhere, the statement mentioned that the Iraqi President was updated on recent developments in Syria, commending his country's "positions in support of Syria."
Iraqi Army reinforcing borders at al-Qaim
In a related context, 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."
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