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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Iraq Secures Border with Syria to Prevent Infiltration of ISIS Militants

FILE: Iraqi soldiers carry weapons during an operation against ISIS militants in the frontline in neighborhood of Intisar, eastern Mosul, Iraq, December 5, 2016. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

Iraq’s government announced taking a series of new measures to prevent the infiltration of ISIS militants through the border with Syria.

Commander of the Border Guards Lieutenant General Hamid al-Husseini announced on Thursday that fortifications have been initiated to secure the borders, including the installation of thermal cameras and control towers.

“More than 150 control towers will be erected in Mount Sinjar,” he noted, stressing the efficiency of the thermal-camera systems.

According to Husseini, the situation is constantly improving.

The 617 kilometer-long border will be under the border guards’ control, he stressed, pointing to their determination to eliminate the threat posed by ISIS remnants.

ISIS militants recently stepped up their attacks in Iraq, prompting the NATO to expand its training mission in the country from 500 to around 4,000 personnel.

Notably, Baghdad and Washington revealed earlier that US military has cut troop levels in Iraq to 2,500 amid continuous calls for foreign troops to leave the country.

Meanwhile, attacks on US targets in Iraq continue despite a number of armed groups announcing a truce and vowing not to attack US interests, including the US Embassy in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.

On Thursday, a roadside improvised explosive device targeted a convoy carrying supplies for the US-led coalition forces on an international road in Diwaniyah. No causalities were reported.

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