Iraq fortifies Syria border against Islamic State

Mohammed Hardan

Mar 30, 2021

Iraqi security forces stand guard as workers are digging a trench on the northern Iraqi border with Syria to prevent people from crossing over into Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, on April 13, 2014 in Zakho. — Iraqi security forces stand guard as workers dig a trench on the northern Iraqi border with Syria to prevent people from crossing into Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region, on April 13, 2014, in Zakho. — SAFIN HAMED/AFP via Getty Images)

Iraq's Joint Operations Command has secured about 140 kilometers (87 miles) of the border with Syria against Islamic State militants in coordination with Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime.

Despite the terror group's defeat in July 2017, IS continues to maintain sleeper cells in large areas of Iraq and Syria and its sporadic attacks kill and injure many people.

Since the beginning of 2020, there has been an uptick in IS attacks, reaching their highest level since the collapse of IS’ last strongholds in eastern Deir ez-Zor on March 23, 2019.

IS now conducts direct attacks on checkpoints and patrols and assassinates operatives or collaborators with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The militants plant improvised explosive devices and place booby-trapped vehicles on routes used by its targets.

Iraq fortifies Syria border against Islamic State

Iraq is cooperating on border security with Syria, Russia and Iran.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

Continue reading this exclusive analysis

Original reporting and analysis unavailable elsewhere. Subscribe to AL-MONITOR to read this story and access everything we publish

Read By