Iraq plans to remove 300 checkpoints, erect security fence in Baghdad

Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – Iraq has unveiled a plan to remove 300 security checkpoints in Baghdad and to go on with a project to establish a security fence around the Iraqi capital.

The Saudi-funded London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper quoted Director of Baghdad Operations Command Media Office Qasim Atiya as saying that more 600 streets will be “opened up in Baghdad and all concrete blocks will be removed from streets in order to ease traffic jam in the Iraqi capital.”

“Work is undergoing to remove 50 pct of the remaining checkpoints in Baghdad after removing 281 security checkpoints recently,” he said, stressing that the security file in Baghdad has witnessed great successes thanks to intensified intelligence efforts and wide-range military operations.

Atiya revealed that the “removed concrete blocks will be reused to set up a security fence around Baghdad to prevent terrorists from accessing the Iraqi capital and posing a threat to its residents.”

The Iraqi capital has seen almost daily bombings and armed attacks against security members, paramilitary troops and civilians since the Iraqi government launched a wide-scale campaign to retake Islamic State-occupied areas in 2016. Though most of the daily bombings go without a claim of responsibility, Islamic State has declared it had been behind many.