Defense Minister: Iraq ready to respond to any threat near Syrian border

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi stated that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani had expressed concerns about the situation in Syria months ago. As a result, armored brigades were deployed as a precautionary measure. Al-Abbasi confirmed that Iraq had addressed more than six incidents near the border in recent weeks. He said that the government does not intend to interfere in Syrian affairs but emphasized that any suspicious individuals would be dealt with by all means, including airstrikes.

Iraq’s 600-kilometer border with Syria spans territories controlled by various parties on Syrian side. In late September, Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari unveiled a 60-kilometer extension of the concrete wall along the Iraqi-Syrian border, increasing the structure’s total length to 200 kilometers. The wall extends through the Turayfawi area, located south of the Rabia district in Nineveh governorate. Further, Iraq is planning to construct an additional 200km concrete barrier on the Syrian border.

Recent events in Syria have seen a resurgence of conflict, particularly in the northwest, where extremist armed groups, including Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, launched a major offensive, seizing control of dozens of towns and villages in Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama.

This sudden attack has raised growing concerns within the Iraqi government, which fears potential infiltration across the border by these groups and a scenario reminiscent of the 2014 ISIS crisis.

Excerpts from Al-Abbasi’s interview with Al Hadath:

This area has never been absent from our attention or presence throughout our tenure in the ministry. The events of 2014 served as a profound lesson for Iraq and Iraqis. We, along with our brothers in the Ministry of Interior and the Minister of Interior, have given special attention to this sector after the Border Forces Command dug a trench and established a concrete barrier. Months ago, the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces expressed his concern to me about the situation in Syria, and I shared his concerns. Based on this assessment, we reinforced the existing sectors with armored brigades as a reserve.

As you know, the Border Forces Command, with its divisions and brigades, is now stationed along the zero line, while Iraqi army units are deployed, backed by pivotal points held by the Popular Mobilization Forces.

The desert is almost entirely covered by military intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft, at nearly 100%. Any movement in any part of the desert is immediately addressed. Yes, there have been movements recently, and we monitored and addressed more than six cases over the past few weeks, killing leaders of ISIS and several of its members. These areas, particularly in the liberated provinces, have suffered greatly from what happened in 2014. Rest assured, there are millions of fighters from the populations of these liberated provinces ready to intervene alongside their brothers in the army and the Ministry of Interior. The security situation in provinces bordering the Iraqi-Syrian border—Anbar, Salah Al-Din, and Nineveh—is more than stable, and, thankfully, the existing units are sufficient to address any breach.

Just as we do not accept anyone interfering in our affairs, we will not interfere in Syrian affairs. However, if any suspicious individual approaches, they will be dealt with by all means, including airpower. The Air Force Command is ready for such an event.

I assure you that the border is completely closed, except for the official crossing, which is open to people and goods.

If the situation escalates, we have reserve numbers of combat divisions, fully prepared to intervene at any moment.

As the Ministry of Defense, we are continuing the process of modernizing armaments. We have signed contracts with major global companies in the field of air defense and have additional contracts forthcoming in the coming days.