Iraq to construct an additional 200km concrete barrier on the Syrian border

BAGHDAD — In an interview with Al Iraqiya TV, Tahsin Al-Khafaji, head of the Security Media Cell highlighted that coordination with the Syrian side is managed by the Iraqi government, while military leadership oversees efforts to raise readiness levels on Iraqi territory. It detailed efforts to secure the border with Syria, including the construction of an additional 200 km concrete barrier to complement an existing one. The cell emphasized enhanced coordination between the Ministries of Defense and Interior, as well as with Peshmerga forces, and the use of advanced monitoring equipment to detect any infiltration attempts by terrorist elements.

The Security Media Cell is a security-oriented media entity consisting of several Iraqi federal security and military agencies. Its core duties include collecting, analyzing, and disseminating security and military information.

In late-September, Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari inaugurated a 60-kilometer concrete wall along the Iraqi-Syrian border, expanding the existing structure to a total of 200 kilometers. The barrier runs through the Turayfawi area, south of Rabia district in Nineveh province.

Iraq’s 600-kilometer border with Syria spans territories controlled by various parties on Syrian side. In the northeast, it borders areas under the administration of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, while farther south, it adjoins regions governed by the Syrian government and backed by Iranian-aligned militias.

Excerpts from Al-Khafaji’s interview with Al Iraqiya TV:

The recent directives of the Prime Minister aim to enhance security measures along the Syrian border, as part of ongoing efforts since the liberation operations ended in 2017. Our intelligence efforts are well-defined and have achieved significant results in targeting terrorist groups in recent periods.

The visits conducted by the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and senior military leadership aim to raise the state of alert on the borders, address any potential gaps, and boost the morale of the fighters.

Our borders with Syria extend to the Fayshhabur area, and we coordinate at a high level with the Peshmerga forces to secure certain vulnerable areas. In addition, a 200 km concrete barrier has been established to address gaps in geographically challenging areas, and we are now working to reinforce it with an additional 200 km concrete barrier.

There is high-level coordination between the Ministries of Defense and Interior, and we use modern equipment to monitor any infiltration attempts by terrorists. This year alone, we have managed to eliminate over 150 terrorists using airpower exclusively.

We are in charge of military operations on the Iraqi side only, while coordination with the Syrian side is left to the Iraqi government.