Iraqi army to control borders with Iran, Turkey

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The spokesperson of the Iraqi armed forces, Yahya Rasool, announced on Sunday that the Border Forces Command started taking measures to control the borders with Iran and Turkey according to orders issued by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

Rasool explained during a press conference that Al-Sudani order to send reinforcements such as weapons, equipment and security personnel to the borders, to ensure that the borders are well secured.

In regards to Iraq’s relationship with its neighbors, Rasool said that Baghdad seeks to strengthen the relations with all neighboring countries in a way that serves the interests of both Iraq and neighboring countries.

Rasool also explained that the government does not accept that the Iraqi territories be used to attack any of the neighboring countries.

Rasool elaborated that the goal of the Iraqi forces is to preserve Iraq’s security and sovereignty, indicating that there is a good cooperation with the Peshmerga.

Iraq announced last Tuesday that senior security leaders, including the commander of the Border Guard, were replaced following the recent border crisis in Iran and Iraq.

The step took place after tensions on the Iraqi-Iranian border on the Kurdistan side increased, following attacks carried out by Tehran against Kurdish rebels inside the Iraqi territories.

Baghdad and the international community considered the Iranian attacks a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and a threat to its stability.

Iran launched strikes last week targeting groups of the Iranian Kurdish opposition stationed in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

These strikes also coincided with similar Turkish strikes targeting Kurdish sites in northern Syria and Iraq during the past two days.